The Secular Community Learning Center

Recommended Resources

The Learning Center is intended as a starting point, not the last word. These independent resources can help you explore religion, history, philosophy, human origins, art, and critical thinking in greater depth.

We favor resources produced by universities, museums, research institutions, libraries, and other organizations with strong educational or scholarly standards. Inclusion here does not mean that The Secular Community endorses every viewpoint or conclusion found on an external site.

Religion & Religious History

Useful starting points for learning about religious traditions, their diversity, and their historical development.

Harvard University

The Pluralism Project

Introductions to religious and ethical traditions, with particular attention to diversity within traditions and the changing religious landscape of the United States.

Visit the Pluralism Project →

Yale University

Human Relations Area Files: Religion

A cross-cultural overview of religion from the Human Relations Area Files, useful for understanding how anthropologists compare beliefs and practices across societies.

Explore the HRAF overview →

Stanford University

The Concept of Religion

A detailed scholarly discussion of why “religion” is difficult to define and how the concept has developed. Best for readers who want to go beyond an introductory treatment.

Read the Stanford entry →

Library of Congress

Religion Research Guides

Guides to major collections, archives, databases, and primary-source material related to religion, religious history, institutions, and traditions.

Explore the research guide →

Ancient History, Archaeology & Human Origins

Resources that help place religion within the longer human story—from symbolic behavior to early civilizations.

Smithsonian Institution

Human Origins Program

Evidence and educational material on human evolution, behavior, tools, symbolic expression, burial, and other developments that help illuminate the deep human past.

Visit Human Origins →

Smithsonian Institution

Human Evolution Evidence

A focused collection of archaeological and fossil evidence, including early human behavior, symbols, art, tools, and other traces used to reconstruct human prehistory.

Explore the evidence →

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History

Essays, chronologies, and works of art organized across regions and periods. Especially valuable for connecting religion with ancient societies, architecture, visual culture, and material history.

Explore the Timeline →

Library of Congress

History Research Guides

Subject guides to historical collections and primary sources covering political, social, cultural, legal, and religious development.

Explore history guides →

Philosophy & Critical Thinking

Resources for evaluating arguments, examining concepts, and exploring philosophical questions in greater depth.

Stanford University

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

A scholarly reference work covering philosophy, ethics, logic, political thought, philosophy of religion, philosophy of science, and many related subjects.

Visit the encyclopedia →

OpenStax

Introduction to Philosophy

A free textbook that includes practical material on critical thinking, research, evaluating sources, logic, argument, ethics, and major areas of philosophy.

Read the OpenStax text →

OpenStax

Critical Thinking

A concise introduction to the habits involved in examining information, questioning assumptions, considering evidence, and making reasoned judgments.

Read the critical-thinking section →

Stanford University

Philosophy of Religion

A deeper philosophical examination of religious concepts and questions, including the nature of religion, ultimate reality, reason, belief, and religious experience.

Read the Stanford entry →

How to Use These Resources

A good research habit is to compare more than one reliable source, especially when a subject is controversial or when scholars disagree. Pay attention to who produced the material, what evidence is cited, when it was published or updated, and whether alternative interpretations are acknowledged.

We will continue adding resources as new Learning Paths and modules are developed.

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Return to the Learning Center to explore the lessons currently available and see the subjects planned for future development.

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