Religious Studies Courses in London and Online
Discover beliefs and traditions from across the globe. Explore iconography, sacred texts and rituals. Examine the history of different world religions and discuss contemporary issues around faith and belief. City Lit offers a wide range of short weekend courses in Religious Studies, from general introductions to close-up focus on specific issues, religious objects and texts.
Our classes are taught by experienced, professional tutors with a wide range of specialisms, many of whom also teach at London universities. Tutors also bring their expertise from other academic disciplines, for example history and literature. Please refer to specific course outlines for individual tutor biographies.
With our focus on short, weekend courses in religion and belief, it is easy to fit developing your interests into the busy week.
Browse our range of religion and belief courses in London and online below to choose your perfect option: both complete beginners and returning students are equally welcome at City Lit.
- Assisted dying: religion, ethics and the lawCourse start date: Sat 21 Feb 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Andrew GreyExplore key ethical concepts through religious and philosophical approaches to assisted dying. With a focus on Christianity, the course also introduces ideas from world religions and non-religious approaches.
Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00 - The art of burialCourse start date: Sun 8 Mar 2026
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Marilyn GreeneExplore the V&A’s collections and discover amazing objects associated with burial practices in world faiths from ancient Chinese and Buddhist burial practices, to more recent objects associated with Christianity and Islam,
NB: This course will take place at the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - Paganism: an introductionCourse start date: Sat 21 Mar 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ethan Doyle-WhiteToday, hundreds of thousands of people across the world follow modern Pagan religions – this course explores these traditions and the long history behind the concept of paganism itself.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - The Quakers: an introductionCourse start date: Sat 28 Mar 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Bruce JohnsonQuaker 'discernment' is used by big business for consensus decision-making, while Quakers are often invited to areas of conflict as mediators and peace-builders. This introduction to Quakers tries to explain why.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Heaven and hell in world religionsCourse start date: Tue 21 Apr 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Vanessa KingCompare and contrast the afterlife beliefs of the five major religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Explore how these ideas developed and influenced each other.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £142.00 - Islam and modernityCourse start date: Wed 22 Apr 2026
Location on this date: Online
This course explores how the complex and multifaceted transformation triggered by modernity challenges, reformulates and erases the beliefs, practices and narratives of Islam.
Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £139.00 Concession £90.00 - An introduction to Jainism
Course start date: Sat 23 May 2026Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ketan VariaThis course is an introduction to Jain philosophy, with a particular emphasis on its relevance to environmentalism.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £51.00 - The purchase of paradise: ideas of purgatory in the mediaeval worldCourse start date: Sat 6 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Vanessa KingIn order to reach heaven a medieval Christian had to spend time in purgatory being cleansed of sin. Come and find out what purgatory consisted of and how you could fast-track you way through it.Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00 - History of ideas: Conscience - a short explorationCourse start date: Sat 6 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Andrew GreyJourney through the evolution of the fascinating idea of conscience over the past 2,000 years. Explore ancient and modern understandings of this universal phenomenon, drawing on insights from psychology, sociology, philosophy, theology and neuroscience.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - An introduction to Indian comparative religions Course start date: Sat 8 Aug 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ketan VariaThe course is an introduction to Indian Religions. Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism all have common aspects, but also some fundamental differences in philosophy.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00
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