FALL 2009 - TWO FREE CLASSES

This fall while we prepare for the oncoming season 2010, we are offering two FREE classes led by our Rector, Bill Tully and our Rabbi, Lenny Schoolman.

CENTER FOR RELIGIOUS INQUIRY
Science and Religion 200 Years after Darwin
October 28th, 7:00 – 8:00 pm
Church Nave - Free Admission
Dr. Robert Pollack, professor of biological sciences at Columbia University, and director of the Center for the Study of Science and Religion, will speak on the impact of Charles Darwin on both Science and Religion. The Rector and Rabbi Leonard A. Schoolman, founding director of CRI, will respond to his remarks.

Bill Tully

CENTER FOR RELIGIOUS INQUIRY
Can A Theocracy Be Democratic?
December 9th, 7:00 – 8:00 pm
Church Nave  
Dr. Joel Rosenthal, President, Carnegie Council on Ethics in International Affairs will be the guest of Rabbi Schoolman and the Rector.
LED BY THE RECTOR AND THE RABBI
FREE






SPRING 2009 COURSES

INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM
Four Mondays, beginning February 9 at 6:30 p.m.
Registration fee: $75
Instructor: Hussein Rashid

For the 20th time, CRI offers an introduction to Islam, our most popular course. Hussein Rashid, one of our most notable teachers returns as the instructor. Learn about the basic tenets of Islam, the differences between Sunnis and Shiites, and the ways in which Islam is practiced in the United States and overseas. Mr. Rashid is completing his doctorate at Harvard. Click here to register online.


RECTOR AND RABBI
Four Tuesdays, beginning February 10 at 6:30 p.m.
Registration fee: $75
Instructors: The Rev.William McD. Tully & Rabbi Leonard Schoolman

How did Judaism and Christianity divorce? We look at the first century origins of what our faith traditions have become and and some surprising commonalities that actually help to illuminate the interesting differences. Jesus: What does the bible really say? Can Christians, and for that matter, Jews get behind the claims and counterclaims of tradition and even scripture to find the historical “truth?” Who are God’s chosen people? The religions of Abraham—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—have all at one time or another claimed to be the only way to god, often to the dismay of otherrs.

The rector and rabbi wrestle with today’s version of these claims. Your questions for the rector and rabbi will be welcome. Rev. Tully is the rector of St. Bartholomew’s Church, and Rabbi Schoolman is the director of CRI™. Click here to register online.




ROMAN CATHOLICISM
Four Wednesdays, beginning February 11 at 6:30 p.m.
Registration fee: $75
Instructor: Fr. Terrance W. Klein

The word “catholic” means “universal.” So, how do so many of the world’s Christians (who differ in culture, temperament, and religiosity) manage to find a common spiritual home? This course examines the foundational themes of Roman Catholicism: incarnation, sacraments, spirituality and the practice of Gospel ethics. Fr. Klein, a former pastor and seminary spiritual director, is an associate professor of theology at Fordham University. His doctorate in theology is from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Click here to register online.


BASIC ARABIC
Saturday, February 21, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Registration fee: $100, including lunch

This day of Arabic immersion will provide you with the elements of reading the alphabet, and some key vocabulary. We do not promise to make you fluent or give you the tools to negotiate your way around the Arab world. But you will receive an essential understanding of how the Arab mind works, through language. Hussein promises a pleasurable experience in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. Click here to register online.


FOUR GREAT MODERN RELIGIOUS THINKERS
Four Mondays, beginning March 2 at 6:30 p.m.
Registration fee: $95, including Rabbi Polish’s book Talking About God
Instructor: Dr. Daniel F. Polish

Several modern religious thinkers have influenced both Jews and Christians. These four are Soren Kierkegaard, Martin Buber, Paul Tillich and Abraham Joshua Heschel. Rabbi Polish will trace the limits of human understanding and the inability of the finite mind to comprehend God, as well as the language and the symbols of God. Rabbi Polish was ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religious and earned his doctorate at Harvard. Click here to register online.


WILLIAM JAMES: VARIETIES OF RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE
Four Tuesdays, beginning March 10 at 6:30 p.m.
Registration fee: $75
Instructor: Michael Collins

William James rightly demands our curiosity and attention—as both a psychologist and philosopher. He had enormous influence in establishing the American pragmatist school of thought. In particular, his innovative work in the psychology of religion remains fresh and insightful. This course will explore a central theme developed in his The Varieties of Religious Experience: that God, or whatever we take to be divine, comes not from what is above and outside, but through our spiritual interiors—through what is highest and most holy in ourselves. This is a view that has roots in the transcendentalist movement, specifically for James’s family friend, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Michael Collins, a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, taught a very successful course in philosophy last semester. Click here to register online.


THE CLASH OF RELIGIONS
Four Wednesdays, beginning March 11 at 6:30 p.m.
Registration fee: $75
Instructor: Dr. Phyllis Trible

A fiery contest, a fearful flight, and a gruesome stoning: these biblical stories feature two implacable enemies. Elijah is the Israelite prophet and Jezebel the Phoenician princess made Israelite queen. Characters of the ninth century B.C.E., both are religious zealots, devoted to destroying the faith of each other. Exploring the clashes between them, which unfold literally and theologically in the Book of Kings, illuminate contemporary religious conflict. Dr. Trible, a frequent CRI™ instructor, is the Baldwin professor of sacred literature emerita at Union Theological Seminary. Click here to register online.


INTRODUCTION TO BUDDHISM
Four Wednesdays, beginning March 11 at 6:30 p.m.
Registration fee: $75
Instructor: Robert Chender

The teachings of Buddha present a path of spiritual transformation that can offer insight to the followers of any religion, and to those who question religion. Study the major beliefs and history of Buddhism, the life of Buddha, the development of Buddhism in north America and the core teachings of the Buddhist path. Robert Chender a returning CRI teacher, is a practicing attorney in New York and is a senior teacher in the Shambhala (Tibetan) Buddhist tradition, and a student of the late Ven. Chogyam Trungpa, Rinpoche. He is the director of the Contemplative Lawyers Group of the New York City Bar Association, and is the mentor (spiritual director) of the Tel Aviv Shambhala Meditation Group. He has recently served as head meditation instructor for the east coast retreats of Pema Chodron, the best-selling author and Buddhist nun. Click here to register online.


FOUR GOSPELS
Four Mondays, beginning April 6 at 6:30 p.m.
Registration fee: $75
Instructor: Dr. Deirdre Good

The Gospels of Mark, Matthew, Luke and John are at the very heart of the literature of Christianity. Professor Good will examine the three synoptic gospels and compare them to the Gospel of John. She will show how each of synoptic Gospels is or is not dependent on Mark, the first of the three. Since we have no writings by Jesus himself, what we know of Jesus is filtered through the lens of gospel writers (and other authors like the apostle Paul). What effect does this have on our knowledge of Jesus? Dr. Good, a longtime CRI™ instructor, is professor of New Testament at the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in New York. She earned her doctorate at Harvard Divinity School. Click here to register online.


EASTER/PASSOVER: THE SAME HOLIDAY?
Tuesdays April 7 at 6:30 p.m.
Free admission
Instructor: Rabbi Leonard A. Schoolman

Many thinkers, including Joseph Campbell, probe beyond the superficial meanings of these two essential religious holidays to find their common origins. CRI™ Director Rabbi Schoolman, a long-time student of Jungian psychology, will examine the essential themes of the two festivals, and suggest the nature-based references involved.

MUSLIMS AND THE PROPHETS OF JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY
Four Wednesdays, beginning April 22 at 6:30 p.m.
Registration fee: $75
Instructor: Hussein Rashid

The Qur'an sees itself as part of the same revelatory chain as the Torah and the Gospels. It tells Muslims that it shares prophets with Jews and Christians. What are the tales of the prophets that Muslims know? This course will focus on three prophets, Moses, Abraham, and Jesus.We will look at Qur'anic tales, extra-Qur'anic stories, and Muslim devotions to these important religious figures. In addition to scripture and literature, there will also be an introduction to Muslim music and art dedicated to these prophets. Click here to register online.


BEYOND THEOLOGY
Thursday, May 7, at 6:30 p.m.
Free event.

“Beyond Theology” is a ten-part PBS series of half-hour programs, that explores the notion that the guiding mythologies of modern civilization are undergoing a metamorphosis of historic significance. Throughout this series, noted theologians and scholars reflect upon the specific challenges of our time, addressing the roots of contemporary culture wars and global environmental crises. The series concentrates upon the emergence of viable worldviews that integrate scientific inquiry and spiritual insights while underscoring the value of interfaith dialogue and collaboration. Among those appearing in this series are Karen Armstrong, Robert Bellah, Joan Chittister, Harvey Cox, Diana Eck, Peter Gomes, James Forbes, Jr., Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Jacob Needleman, Scotty McLennan, Stephen Prothero, David Rosen, Peter Russell, Huston Smith, John Shelby Spong, Alan Wallace, and Robert Wuthnow. The host of the series—Charles Atkins, Jr.—will be joined by series producer Dave Kendall and creative consultant Laura Mead as they present selected excerpts from the series and engage participants in an interactive exploration of spiritual evolution. Click here to visit the series companion web site.


THE CLASSICAL WORLD IN THE TIME OF ST. PAUL
July 29th to August 8th

The Center for Religious Inquiry has been invited by Travel Dynamics International to participate in its summer cruise from Athens to Istanbul. Travel Dynamics, as many know, is the agency used by many university alumni associations for their educational travel tours. The ship sails from Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion, Rhodes, Lindos, Kusadasi, Ephesus,Thessaloniki, and Philippi, concluding in Istanbul. Scholars on the ship will include archeologists and New Testament professors, who will lecture on the classical sites visited. The luxurious ship, Corinthian II, features 114 suites, each facing outside. A two-night stay in Athens will precede embarkation. Detailed brochures are available at St. Bart’s Central, or by calling 212-378-0222. There are special bargains for booking prior to February 27.