Join The Dialogue Institute in 2026 for a series of thought-provoking events exploring the role of religion in American life, past and present, as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary commemoration. Each event will engage scholars, community leaders, and the public in meaningful conversations about how religious ideas, values, and communities have shaped and continue to shape American identity, pluralism, and civic life.
Check out the Dialogue Institute’s full list of upcoming events.
The Religious Freedom Trails App: A new way to experience Philadelphia’s diverse history
The Dialogue Institute at Temple University proudly present, Religious Freedom Trails, a free app that brings history to life with GPS-guided tours and rich historical insights you can access anytime. From the experiment of religious freedom to the foundations of American democracy, use the app as your walking companion to uncover key moments, people, and places that shaped the nation.
To celebrate America’s 250th, the Dialogue Institute partnered with Interfaith Philadelphia on the app’s first tour, the Religious Freedom Walk. This self-guided historic walking tour uncovers stories of Protestant Christians, Catholics, Jews, Freethinkers, Deists, Muslims, and others who were present during the founding era. It also explores historic episodes of conflict and cooperation, and considers the varied and uneven experiences of religious freedom among the city’s minority groups.
As the U.S. celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, take this opportunity to explore the range of experiences that have shaped our nation today!
Forthcoming digital tours include:
- Religion and the American Revolution
- The Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793: From Health Crisis to Social Crisis
- World Religions of Greater Philadelphia
- The Religious Landscape of North Philadelphia/Temple University
- Religious Freedom in Germantown
- Black Religious Freedom in Early Philadelphia
Whether you’re a curious visitor or a lifelong Philadelphian, explore the city’s history at your own pace—and see familiar places in a whole new way.
Now available for download on Google Play and Apple. Access on the web here.
Upcoming Events
The Promise of Pluralism: Religious Life in America at 250
September 17, 2026 — 5:00 PM-6:30 PM
Religious pluralism has long been at the heart of the American experience. The Declaration of Independence (1776) grounds one’s rights in the language of natural law, divorcing them from any particular church. Article VI of the U.S. Constitution (1787) states that “no religious test shall ever be required” for individuals to hold federal office. Individuals with diverse religious affiliations and spiritual traditions—Jews, atheists, Christians, and Muslims, among many others—have remade the fabric of American life.
This panel, made up of leading scholars of law, history, and religious liberty, will reflect on how pluralism has defined and continues to define the American experience.
Tickets: Free
Register here →In the Footsteps of Faith and Freedom: The Spiritual Roots of Revolutionary Philadelphia
September 22, 2026 — 10:30 AM-12:00 PM
This tour is promoted by the Main Line School Night, but is open to anyone. There are separate prices for members and non-members.
Under William Penn’s “Holy Experiment,” Philadelphia became a sanctuary where diverse faiths didn’t just coexist – they shaped the moral and intellectual landscape of a new nation. These walking tours take you through the cobblestone streets where the fight for spiritual and civil liberty intertwined. Discover how the nation’s founding documents were influenced by our city’s religious and cultural diversity: believers, dissenters, and reformers who demanded a society built on conscience. Entrance to venues subject to availability. (3 Feet: Extensive Walking and Lengthy Periods of Standing.)
South of Market: Old St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Mother Bethel A.M.E., Washington Square, Carpenter’s Hall, and more. Tour will be led by historian Dr. David Krueger of the Dialogue Institute
Tickets: $59 (non-members)
Register here →