Religion and Philosophy   

We will explore Islam as a comprehensive way of life— encompassing faith, ethics, law and culture—through the lenses of gender and social justice. We will examine how the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad’s example shaped the roles, rights and responsibilities of women historically and in the modern world. Prerequisites: None; we will briefly revisit the principles of Islam for better understanding.

Why did the early Christian church preserve four distinct gospels instead of one? We will explore the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John as separate theological voices addressing different first-century communities. Mark wrote for a traumatized church; Luke championed Gentile inclusion; Matthew defended Torah observance; and John embraced Hellenistic philosophy. We will move beyond harmonized readings to encounter the rich diversity of early Christianity's portraits of Jesus and their continuing relevance. Recommended textbook: The Bible (new revised standard version).

As the U.S. commemorates 250 years since it declared independence from England, one freethinker continues to inspire independent minds, particularly concerning religion. Thomas Paine (1737-1809) fired up two revolutions: the creation of a new secular form of government and the birth of a new, sensible form of religion based on reason. Through lectures, discussions and readings, we will get to know Paine as a major voice of freethought and consider what he might say about religious liberty today. Note: There are both an in-person and an online option for this course. Participants must choose only one option to attend; please ensure that you are registering for the option you prefer, as we may not be able to accommodate changes.

As the U.S. commemorates 250 years since it declared independence from England, one freethinker continues to inspire independent minds, particularly concerning religion. Thomas Paine (1737-1809) fired up two revolutions: the creation of a new secular form of government and the birth of a new, sensible form of religion based on reason. Through lectures, discussions and readings, we will get to know Paine as a major voice of freethought and consider what he might say about religious liberty today. Note: There are both an in-person and an online option for this course. Participants must choose only one option to attend; please ensure that you are registering for the option you prefer, as we may not be able to accommodate changes.