Fall 2017

Forgiveness and Moral Repair

In this on-line class, we will meet people from all over the world, from a variety of religious and cultural traditions, who have practiced forgiveness as a means of healing, reconciliation and/or liberation.  We will also explore the concept of “moral repair” or how we individually and collectively might apologize, repent, and/or make amends after wrong-doing.  Through readings, films, and spiritual practice exercises we will develop our “forgiveness” muscles.  We will also explore ways of using forgiveness to strengthen our pastoral, prophetic and public ministries.  This class will be experiential and multi-faith, drawing on personal and communal narratives, neuroscience, and psychology.  Evaluation will be based on weekly reflections, spiritual practice exercises, and class discussion.

Foundations of Religious Freedom in the United States

A blended learning course on the origins and development of religious liberty in the US from the colonial and founding periods to the mid-twentieth century. It offers a thorough understanding of the historical and legal foundations that currently govern the relationship of religion and government, define protection for the free exercise of religion, and provide the civic framework for living among people of all religions and none. Part of a pilot program for the Certificate in Religion in Public Life in cooperation with the Religious Freedom Center of the Newseum, http://www.religiousfreedomcenter.org/admissions/areas-of-study/religious-civic-leaders/. Online during the Fall 2017 Semester (September-December 2017) plus three day immersion at the RFC in Washington, DC. Travel expenses are the responsibility of the students. Separate application must be made to the Religious Freedom Center by July 31, 2017. Designed and administered by Rev. Nate Walker, RFC Executive Director, supervised by Christopher Schelin. (http://www.religiousfreedomcenter.org/contact/directory/?entry=18)

Global Religious Traditions

This course will examine the major global religions from a cross-cultural, multi-religious perspective.  Taking into consideration that a course that explores many religions cannot be comprehensive, we will consider the religions from a thematic perspective by analyzing fundamental beliefs and practices in the various religious traditions.  In addition, we will also examine assumptions underlying the discipline of religious studies.  Students will engage through weekly readings and forum discussion, as well as other interactive learning activities, as part of the online learning community.  Students of all faiths and backgrounds are invited and encouraged to enroll.  Priority given to low-res SKSM

Introduction to Pastoral Counseling

This online pastoral counseling course will introduce students to culturally responsive counseling practices and foster multicultural awareness. Students will examine societal and institutional structures of power and privilege, and will become more aware of the biases, prejudices, and microaggressions that are detrimental to the growth of the human spirit. Students will study major counseling theories and will practice basic helping skills centered on Person-Centered (Rogerian) counseling and Bowen Family Systems Theory. Contextual pastoral elements will be included, especially in the use of Bowen Family Systems as applied to congregational contexts. This is an asynchronous course, with written lectures with links to videos and online resources. Weekly personal reflections and weekly skill practice exercises will be required, as well as some academic writing. It is an intermediate/advanced course.

Introduction to Quranic Studies

In this introductory course in Quranic Studies, students will learn skills as to how to read the Quran, including structural and literary analyses of Quranic suras (chapters), and will be expected to read through the entire text of the Quran and write brief reflections on each of its suras. In class we will focus on the hymnic suras of the Quran which contain existential concerns and other passages that relate to the theme of religious freedom, pluralism and gender relations. The students will be expected to come to class having done the readings and assignments and will have time after the intensive to revise their assignments. The class will provide a learning environment that encourages diversity of points of views and respects differences in opinion. Doctoral students may take this course with the extra assignment of a 5000 word research paper. This course fulfills a requirement for the Certificate in Multi-religious Studies. This course is rescheduled from Summer 2017 to Fall 2017.

This course is a synchronous online class.  Class sessions will happen online via zoom.  Sessions to be held Wednesday mornings from 9:40 to 12:30.

Models of Prophetic Authority

This seminar in Quranic Studies has two goals: (1) To closely read Surah 33 al-Ahzab and Surah 42 al-Shura using various interpretive and hermeneutical frameworks including literary and structural analysis and (2) to read some relevant sections of select classical sources (in translation) including al-Wahidi, as Suyuti, Tafsir al Jalalain, Tafsir al-Tustari and Kashf al Asrar and contemporary Western scholars including David Powers. Our guiding question while reading the surahs and secondary literature related to them will be compare the different models of prophetic authority in the two surahs. Students will be expected to have taken at least one introductory level course in Quranic Studies and have some rudimentary knowledge of Arabic language.

Religion and News Media

This course is a blended learning course will offer the following for religious leaders and introduce a diverse group of graduate students to the challenges that the media present in communicating and engaging with belief within the context of the First Amendment and freedom of religion or belief.

In order to be an effective and authoritative religious leader in a diverse democracy, lay and ordained leaders must cultivate multiple competencies and literacies. This course will help students expand religious, media and digital literacies. These competencies will be measured via multimedia engagement, key readings, videoconferences, Socratic seminars, analysis (case studies), and media production.

Part of a pilot program for the Certificate in Religion in Public Life in cooperation with the Religious Freedom Center of the Newseum, http://www.religiousfreedomcenter.org/admissions/areas-of-study/religious-civic-leaders/. Online during the Fall 2017 Semester (September-December) plus three day immersion at the RFC in Washington, DC. Travel expenses are the responsibility of the students. Separate application must be made to the Religious Freedom Center by July 31, 2017. Designed and administered by Dr. Debra L. Mason, of the RFC of the Newseum, supervised by Christopher Schelin. (http://www.religiousfreedomcenter.org/contact/directory/?entry=24

Religious Liberty and Contemporary American Public Life

A blended course on the evolution of the First Amendment religious Freedom principles from the 1940s, through the civil rights era, to today. Participants will address contemporary issues that concern the constitutional relationship of religion and government along with current debates over the meaning of free exercise of religion.

Part of a pilot program for the Certificate in Religion in Public Life in cooperation with the Religious Freedom Center of the Newseum, http://www.religiousfreedomcenter.org/admissions/areas-of-study/religious-civic-leaders/. Online during the Fall 2017 Semester (September-December) plus three day immersion at the RFC in Washington, DC. Travel expenses are the responsibility of the students. Separate application must be made to the Religious Freedom Center by July 31, 2017. Designed and administered Lauren W. Herman (JD, MTS) of the RFC, supervised by Christopher Schelin. (http://www.religiousfreedomcenter.org/contact/directory/?entry=23

Sustainable Leadership

How do those called to bless the world – to engage with the suffering and healing of others, and of the planet – ground and sustain themselves? Students will link theory, practice, and personal experience to develop their personal theologies for sustainable, resilient leadership – and learn practical tools to serve their vocations “for the long haul”. Together, we will explore concepts including compassion fatigue, measuring emotional and spiritual health, vocational burnout, trauma stewardship, boundary setting, and care for self and community. Participants will also explore how to positively influence organizational culture and build healthy, sustainable congregations and other collectives. This interactive, multi-faceted, introductory course – “Sustainable and Resilient Spiritual Leadership” combines multimedia, readings, class discussion, a praxis (action/reflection) component, and more.

The Human Right to Freedom of Religion or Belief

The course introduces students to the human right of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), based on a review of the conceptual and operational tools, as well as illustrative empirical evidence, necessary for advanced study of the issue. FoRB is widely recognized by scholars, policymakers, and practitioners of human rights as the oldest of the universal human rights recognized under international law. The course is designed so that students of religious studies and/or theology, as well as religious leaders, can develop an understanding of how this right has come to be defined, protected, interrogated, and addressed, in a global order that remains organized according to the (evolving and problematic) political entity known as the state.

Part of a pilot program for the Certificate in Religion in Public Life in cooperation with the Religious Freedom Center of the Newseum, http://www.religiousfreedomcenter.org/admissions/areas-of-study/religious-civic-leaders/. Online during the Fall 2017 Semester (September-December) plus three day immersion at the RFC in Washington, DC. Travel expenses are the responsibility of the students. Separate application must be made to the Religious Freedom Center by July 31, 2017. Designed and administered by Dr. Elizabeth H. Prodromou of the RFC, supervised by Christopher Schelin. (http://www.religiousfreedomcenter.org/contact/directory/?entry=25)