Philosophy, Religion, Psychology, and Culture   

Venturing back to Europe in 1947, Martin Buber delivered six lectures to a group of Dutch religious socialists. As we closely read and discuss The Way of Humanity According to Chasidic Teaching, we may discern Buber's profound need to offer a spiritual, existential, and moral anchor to a European humanity shattered by the Holocaust, the devastation of World War II, and the alienation of modern life. Is the advice from a breakaway 18th-century Jewish movement applicable to us today? Martin Buber (1878–1965) was a renowned Austrian-Israeli philosopher, theologian, and educator, best known for his philosophy of dialogue and the "I-Thou" relationship, developed in his 1923 masterpiece I and Thou. A proponent of cultural Zionism, he advocated for a binational Arab-Jewish state before moving from Nazi Germany to Mandatory Palestine in 1938, where he became a professor of anthropology and sociology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The Way of Humanity will be on a shared screen during class discussions. If you wish a copy of your own, see: https://www.amazon.com/Way-Humanity-According-Chasidic-Teaching/dp/0881236373.

A class on discovering an understanding of the Soul and Karma. Delving into the historical background on reincarnation from several beliefs. Then taking this and studying verifiable instances of remembered reincarnation. In doing so, we can hope to expand our beliefs in what happens after death and possibilities of coming back again.

This course will explore the story of America's Great Migration, a large-scale movement of Black Americans from the rural American Southeast to cities in the Northeast, Midwest, Southwest, and West, beginning in 1917 and continuing through 1970. Pulitzer Prize winning author, Isabel Wilkerson's book The Warmth of Other Suns will be the required course text. Wilkerson employs inspiring, true stories to illustrate the real-life hardships and motives that were typical of women and men who chose to uproot their lives in search of a better future for themselves, their children, and future generations. Arthur Jones will provide his own perspectives and occasional music samples. His own parents were active participants in the Great Migration, moving from Norfolk, Virginia, to New York City in 1931.

Required Reading: Isabel Wilkerson, The Warmth of Other Sons. New York: Random House, 2010 (or paperback edition, 2011).

Archaeology fascinates many people, especially when there are structural ruins to visit. Most fans, including Americans, have focused on the Old World, primarily at sites around the Mediterranean—but we have equally fascinating cultures to study in the Americas. In this course, we will "visit" sites in North, Central, and South America to learn about human migration and settlement patterns, along with facets of their respective ancient cultures. We will also look at new research methods that have made this knowledge more accessible.

More familiar sites and cultures to be studied include the Ancestral Puebloans, the Maya, and Machu Picchu. Some less well-known cultures include the Nazca Lines, Mississippian, Iroquois, Woodland, and Pacific Coast settlements. Our "visits" will be made via lectures from The Great Courses, supplemented by handouts and guided discussions.

This course explores a series of imagined future societies and what they can teach us about the world we live in today. Through structured discussions, participants will examine several thought-provoking models, including Rationalia (inspired by Neil deGrasse Tyson), Symphonia (a society based on cooperation rather than competition), Aethel (a world without money), Equinox (a world without politics), Aura (a world without either politics or money), and Autonomized State (a society without formal social systems).

The discussions are organized around historian Yuval Noah Harari's idea that human societies are built on three shared systems: belief systems, political systems, and economic systems. Together, we will consider how changing these foundations might reshape human life.

When the word "God" is mentioned, most people in the West automatically assume a particular idea of God. The Asian religions challenge that idea. In this class we will look at the Hindu concept of Brahman, the Buddhist concept of Nirvana, the Taoist concept of Nature, and the Confucian idea of how our actions relate to the "Way of the Gods." But the class will not be limited to the concept of God. We will cover other central ideas like the nature of knowledge and what it means to be human. It is also inevitable, especially in the Asian religions, that many practices are connected to their philosophical ideas — their rituals and lifestyles. The ethical perspective of each religion will be central, as will the concept of an afterlife. Personally, I have found the Asian religions a rich challenge to the beliefs with which I grew up, and they have opened the door to other ways of seeing the world.

The origins of Judeo-Christian values that cemented the foundation of Western civilization must be studied and understood in order to preserve them for the future. This series of lectures covers Jewish history, addressing major points of positive and negative intersection with Christianity and their complex relationship, while emphasizing that Judaism and Christianity have more commonalities than divisions. Topics include Biblical and post-Biblical Jewish history through the First and Second Temples, the history of the diaspora, the birth of Christianity, the interplay between Church and Synagogue in antiquity, the Renaissance, the Middle Ages, the Reformation, the Enlightenment, and modern times. The goal of this series is to build a better understanding of the shared history and values within the Judeo-Christian world — and to construct bridges to a common future for generations to come.

Recommended Readings: 1) Max I. Dimont, Jews, God, and History; 2) Paul Johnson, A History of the Jews; 3) A.N. Wilson, Jesus: A Life; 4) James Carroll, Constantine's Sword.

There will be no class on 10/20.

Judith Shklar articulated a version of liberalism distinct from the rights-based liberalism associated with John Rawls's egalitarianism and Robert Nozick's libertarianism. In this course we will study some of her most important work - including 'Liberalism of Fear' - as well as critiques from other political theorists. This course will broaden your understanding of orthodox liberalism and provide a different perspective from which to consider contemporary political issues and discourse. This is an introductory graduate seminar in political theory. The only prerequisite is a commitment to engage thoughtfully with the texts and actively participate in class discussion.

Required Reading: The Faces of Injustice, Judith N. Shklar (Yale University Press, 1990)

Recommended Reading: Judith N. Shklar: Political Thought and Political Thinkers, Stanley Hoffman, editor (University of Chicago Press, 1998).

Puerto Rico sits at the convergence of the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and their intersecting influences make it unlike anywhere else. This four-session course takes curious learners on a lively journey through the island's layered history: from the ancient Taíno to the complexities of its unique political relationship with the United States, from the rhythms of bomba and salsa to the global phenomenon of Bad Bunny, from the economic upheavals of the 20th century to the hard-won resilience that followed Hurricane María and the mass protests of 2019. Participants will leave with a richer understanding of Puerto Rico's past and present, and a clearer sense of how the island's story connects to broader questions of identity, colonialism, and resilience. No tests, no homework, no pressure — just fascinating stories, lively conversation, and a few surprises along the way.

During retirement, many of us seek greater meaning in health, work, relationships, community, or spirituality, yet the path forward feels uncertain. This workshop series helps you reflect on what matters most and create a focused, realistic plan for the next chapter of your life. Drawing on behavioral science, we will explore meaning, purpose, resilience, mindset, and habits, and apply these ideas directly to your own life. Through guided reflection, creative exercises, peer collaboration, and a simple online interactive workbook, you will design a focused plan with achievable goals. You will leave with practical strategies to overcome barriers, along with an accountability group to support continued progress.

This course explores how psychedelics are used in religious practices. We begin by discussing different definitions of religion, who defines what a religion is, and how religions are viewed. This leads into a study of religious experiences involving psychedelics, using the following case studies: hallucinogenic mushrooms in Mexico, marijuana in Jamaica, peyote in North America, and ayahuasca in South America. We will also explore the concept of psychonauts and their use of DMT, as well as religious experiences linked to events such as dreams and near-death experiences.

Archetype Profiling explores seven personality types and how they influence communication, relationships, behavior, and emotional responses. Participants will gain a deeper understanding not only of the people around them but, more importantly, of themselves and who they authentically are as individuals. Through this course, students will identify personal strengths, recognize weak links, and learn practical tools for improving communication, reducing conflict, and building healthier relationships. The class encourages greater self-awareness, compassion, and respect for individuality without judgment or the need to change others. Participants can expect to leave with increased confidence in their interactions, stronger communication skills, and a new perspective on human behavior that can be immediately applied in everyday life.

What happens to human consciousness when we die? In 1975, Dr. Raymond Moody's landmark book Life After Life reported on 150 people who died clinically, but were subsequently revived. Because they reported similar extraordinary experiences, his book started a revolution in popular attitudes regarding an afterlife and forever changed how we understand both death … and life. Now five+ decades of research conducted on thousands of NDEs by physicians and professors at prominent universities, medical schools, and hospitals have brought us powerful evidence that there is indeed "life" after physical death—and what awaits us is both heart-warming and comforting. This course brings you up to speed on these findings and on what we now know about other exceptional paranormal phenomena, like “out-of-body” and “shared death experiences.”