Martin Luther: The First Protestant Mystic?

Explore the relationship between Protestantism, evangelicalism, and mysticism through the lens of Martin Luther’s life and faith. Wrestle with the overlap between Protestant faith and medieval mystical writings by looking at Luther’s own well-documented interaction with Christianity’s mystical tradition. Discover how contemporary Protestants might similarly turn to the mystical tradition for wisdom and inspiration. Evaluate …
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Four Short Letters from Paul

Discover the immeasurable depths of four of Paul’s shortest letters: Colossians, Philippians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Though brief, these letters have much to offer Christians in our age. See how the Apostle Paul deals with issues that sound almost contemporary and discuss their relevance to today’s headlines. To deepen our understanding of these texts, we’ll …
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Black Gospel Music–Not for credit

This course studies the black gospel tradition, focusing on the genre’s distinctive combination of sound and belief. Music, movement, and conviction, the three expressions gospel holds together, will be explored through three interpretive lenses: exemplary performers, pivotal periods, and formal processes. This week’s work will bring material and approaches from the fields of musicology, music …
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Hacking Christian Ethics: Spiritual Resources for Living in a Digital World–Not for credit

In this course, we will bring theological and scriptural understandings into conversation with the current digital technological shifts.  In response to the new technologies, we will practice ethical discernment for our everyday digital lives and examine approaches grounded in forgiveness, integrity, diversity, and social and ecological justice.  We will center the question: what does God …
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The Lost Art of Community-Building: A Study of Paul’s 1 Thessalonians–Not for credit

In the midst of what Aetna Insurance calls a “loneliness epidemic,” which has only been exacerbated by a global pandemic, with political polarization of historic magnitude wearing away connections, we could all use a primer on how to build robust community. Blessedly, that’s what the apostle Paul did for a living. His First Letter to …
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Unity in Diversity: Making Sense of Muslim Culture and Practice–Not for Credit

This course begins by briefly outlining the history and development of Islam. After surveying the economic, racial and cultural landscape of the global Muslim community, it examines the internal diversity of the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims: Who are they? What do they really think and do? What are the differences between culture and religion? What …
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Living a Life of Forgiving: Honoring the Life, Ministry and Legacy of Archbishop Desmond Tutu–Not for credit

Our sense of “being” is grounded in a healthy self-esteem and satisfaction with our lives. These can be burdened by our feeling wounded with hidden grief and mourning. Today’s uncertainty and anxiety make it even more difficult for us to engage in self-care, and to theologically frame our understanding of self-care as something positive and …
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