In the not-all-that-distant past in Australia, New Zealand and in the West generally, those preparing for a vocation of ministry had a choice regarding whether they would prepare and plan to interact with people of different religious backgrounds and traditions. This has changed radically over the course of the past several generations, and so now, the question isn’t really whether one will choose to interact with and bear witness among those who follow other religions, but rather whether one will do so well, or poorly. This course will give students an overview of some of the major world religions. Our hope is that by the end of this course, students will not only be equipped with basic knowledge of various world religious traditions, but also motivated and enabled to continue their own research into religious communities among whom they find themselves in ministry, both in terms of relationship-building as well as for effective witness and mission.