Snyder’s “essay” might be one of the shortest books you have read since you were three or four, but it could be one of the most important ones. As we discuss the relevance of his warnings for life in America in 2025 and beyond, we will also consider possible additional lessons Snyder might have overlooked or failed to address and why far more Americans still do not appear to share his alarm about the widespread assaults on democracy here and elsewhere. May we now finally use the “F” word in polite company?

Does it seem as if our world is headed to hell in a handcart? The work of Harvard professor Steven Pinker shows a gradual decline in the overall level of human violence over the course of historical time. In this course we examine Pinker’s explanation of why this gradual outbreak of peace is happening. We’ll face the key question: What does our current turbulent world situation say about the prospect of continued progress for humanity?

Does it seem as if our world is headed to hell in a handcart? The work of Harvard professor Steven Pinker shows a gradual decline in the overall level of human violence over the course of historical time. In this course we examine Pinker’s explanation of why this gradual outbreak of peace is happening. We’ll face the key question: What does our current turbulent world situation say about the prospect of continued progress for humanity?

This class will present an overview of the Baha'i faith and its teachings. Throughout history, God has sent to humanity a series of divine educators whose teachings have provided the basis for advancement of civilization. These divine educators include Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus and Muhammad. Bahà’ullah, the latest of these educators, explained that the religions of the world come from the same source and are in essence successive chapters of one religion from God. Humanity, having passed through the age of infancy and childhood, now stands at the threshold of its collective maturity for the unification of the human race in global civilization, both materially and spiritually.

This class will present an overview of the Baha'i faith and its teachings. Throughout history, God has sent to humanity a series of divine educators whose teachings have provided the basis for advancement of civilization. These divine educators include Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus and Muhammad. Bahà’ullah, the latest of these educators, explained that the religions of the world come from the same source and are in essence successive chapters of one religion from God. Humanity, having passed through the age of infancy and childhood, now stands at the threshold of its collective maturity for the unification of the human race in global civilization, both materially and spiritually.