Religion, Philosophy, & Spirituality   

In this class, you will learn mindfulness practices to help you cultivate a sense of well-being and even happiness in the midst of all the troubling personal, local, national, and world events. Every session will include a talk, discussion, a guided meditation, and additional mindful ness exercises to practice during the week. There is no required reading. A bibliography will be provided for diving more deeply into any of the practices we learn in class. New in-person course. Format includes hands-on learning, lecture, discussion, and movement.

America has provided fertile ground for new and alternative religions to sprout and grow. Some prosper and eventually become accepted as part of the normal religious landscape, some wither away and are forgotten, and some detonate, creating public scandal and in the worst cases, national tragedy. This course will examine New Religious Movements, popularly known as "cults", within the US context. We will examine these religious movements both from insider perspectives and outsider perceptions. We will analyze the history, practices, and beliefs of these organizations to better understand them and deconstruct misconceptions. This course covers the 18th and 19th centuries.

People throughout time and across cultures have looked to the mountains as powerful symbols. The Buddhists of the Himalayas, the Inca of the Andes, the Inuit of the far north, and the Romantics of Europe all created unique stories of what mountains mean and how they are to be approached. This course will provide an interdisciplinary exploration of the beliefs, traditions, and mythologies that have been inspired by the world’s mountains. Through richly illustrated lectures, short readings, and open discussion, this course will open a window into the world’s sacred mountains and encourage exploration of our relationship with the Earth’s high and wild places.

The Rule of St. Benedict has been in use since it was first introduced in the 6th century as a way to help serious Christian seekers live in community. In today’s modern, diverse, and troubled world, the Rule’s appeal is still very practical because of its flexibility to incorporate a strongly contemplative perspective through the prayer of silence of Christian Meditation, as well as its ability to adapt to a secular “monastery without walls” environment, regardless of anyone’s religious affiliation or background. Experience and learn about the vision of the Rule through topic discussions and the Benedictine practice of Christian Meditation. Repeat in-person course. Format includes hands-on learning.

SUGGESTED BOOK: Wisdom Distilled from the Daily: Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today, Joan Chittister, ISBN 0060613998

In this workshop we will learn the basics of Zen Buddhism and then explore how both Zen practice and the journey through our later years can provide perspectives on our past regrets, fears for the future, sense of self, and relationships. New in-person workshop. Format includes lecture and discussion.

SUGGESTED BOOK: Practical Zen: An Invitation, Tim Baehr