Five Cornerstone Seminars by Annabel Beerel
WINDOW ON THE WORLD:
AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE
WORLD’S RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
INSTRUCTOR: Annabel Beerel M.B.A., Ph.D.
New Course Starts February 19, Tuesday Evenings
This Course is full, please contact Annabel to learn when the next session begins.
1. COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides a “window on the world” by looking at the world’s most practiced religions. As globalization and communication networks move us ever closer together it is imperative that we learn about one another’s values, beliefs, and world views. At this time, when the world faces such religious and cultural turmoil it is essential that people educate themselves with respect to the religions and cultures of others. Without this effort on their part they will be vulnerable to the biases and prejudices so easily promulgated by an undiscerning media or the slogans of xenophobic, parochial groups who resist difference.
This is an introductory course. In this course we gain some basic understanding of the framework of other religious belief systems. We use a similar approach and framework to review each religion. We begin by looking at the history of the religion; the country in which it originated and the political-social-economic issues that prevailed at the time.
Because the discussion concerns religion, attendees are invited to enter into the experience of others through new understandings, and sensitive discussions around questions such as Who? or What? is God. How does the believer relate to this God? How does God make God’s self manifest to the believer? What is sacred and what is profane in this belief system? What do the mystics have to say and to communicate about this religion? How does this religion shape adherents’ world views? How do art, poetry, and mythology communicate various belief systems? What do adherents think about the world of work?
The goal of the course is to encourage curiosity and open-mindedness. While studying the beliefs of others, participants will also have an opportunity to gain further understanding and awareness of their own belief systems. These insights will invigorate their engagement with the diverse and pluralistic world in which we live.
2. COURSE GOALS
Four primary goals underpin this course.
- Participants will be exposed to the different views of people in the world who embrace different religions.
- They will gain an understanding of their own assumptions, expectations, and projections around their world views and their understandings of the world.
- Through highly interactive sessions, participants will have an opportunity to compare and contrast different religions, thereby gaining an understanding of their similarities and differences.
- Awareness of other religions and how people make meaning differently will make participants more aware, more empathetic and more understanding of others, consequently they will be able to relate and communicate better in a diverse and pluralistic world as well as being better managers and coworkers.
3. FORMAT
There are two possible formats for this seminar.
1) Ten classes to be be offered approximately every two weeks on a weekday evening from 6pm to 8pm.The dates are subject to change based on participants’ needs.
This format will be an initial first hour didactic with questions and discussion afterward. As a group we can make food available during the discussions.
Classes will be held at the Manchester campus of Southern New Hampshire University.
The exact classroom location to be announced.
2) Another possible format is a one day seminar customized for your organization. Dr. Beerel will cover the cultural and religious issues that most interest your company. The seminar would be presented at a location of your choosing.
4. READINGS
A binder of key readings in each religious tradition will be provided along with a detailed list of references for further reading.
Participants will NOT be expected to have read all the materials prior to the class. They will still be able to learn and participate if they have not had time to keep up with the texts.
THERE WILL BE NO HOMEWORK, NO EXAMS AND NO ASSIGNMENTS. The purpose of this course is to engage in sheer intellectual exchange and enjoyment as well as camaraderie and good food.
5. COST OF THE COURSE AND REGISTRATION
The cost of the course will be $275 per person. This includes all materials.
Please make checks out to:
Five Cornerstone – Window on the World
297 Willis Road
Sudbury, MA. 01776
6. REGISTRATION
Kindly contact abeerel@comcast.net.
7. COURSE SYLLABUS
The syllabus is designed to answer the following questions:
- What is Religion?
- Why Religion matters?
- How do religions differ and what are the factors that explain some of the differences?
- How religion influences people’s world views?
Class 1. What is Religion? Why Does it Matter?
Religion and Modernity
Religion versus Science
New Religious Movements in a time of Change and Uncertainty
The Perennial Philosophy
The Sacred and the Profane and how it affects every day life.
Class 2. Hinduism, The Upanishads, and Vedanta - “Thou art That”
The Beginnings of Religion in Asia
The Doctrine of Transmigration
Hindu Scriptures and Ethics
Hindu Mythology
Yoga and the Four Paths to God
The Upanishads and the Wisdom of Vedanta
The Bhagavad Gita
The Hindhu view of the world
Class 3. Buddhism – “Awakening”
The story of the Enlightened One
Basic Buddhist Concepts
Buddhist Theology and Ethics
Buddhist Scriptures
The Spread of Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism and Zen Buddhism
The Buddhist view of the world
Class 4. Confucianism – “Mandate of Heaven”
The History of China and the Warring States
The Analects of Confucius
Confucian Values and Ethics
The Spread of Confucianism
How Confucianism influences current day developments in China
The Confucian view of the world
Class 5. Taoism – “Non-Doing”
Who was Lao Tzu?
The Yin and the Yang
The Tao Te Ching
The influence of Chuang Tzu
The Taoism of today
The Taoist view of the world
Class 6. Judaism – “God is a Verb”
Ancient Israel: Its Life and Institutions
The Old Testament Revisited
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob…..
The Meaning of Suffering
The Significance of the Psalms
Jewish Ethics
The secrets of the Kabbalah and the Jewish Mystics
The Jewish view of the world
Class 7. Christianity – “Blessed are the poor in spirit…”
Evolution of the new cult Christianity
Understanding the New Testament
Who is Jesus and why is he important?
The Early Christian Church… and now
The Christian Mystics
The Christian View of the world
Class 8. Islam and Sufism “There is no God but Allah”
Muhammad and the rise of Islam
Introducing the Koran
Divine will and the law
Religion and Secularism
The way of the Sufi
The inspiration of Rumi and Rabia
The Muslim view of the world
Class 9. An evening of Comparisons
Group discussion of how to respond to a religiously diverse world
Class 10. Reflection and Wrapping up
New religious movements –
a discussion on how and why they arise
Modern alternative religions in the West
Reflections and wrapping-up
This is our brochure. If you would like us to send or email you a copy, please go to: info@fivecornerstone.com
© Annabel Beerel, 2007
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