GRADUATE SEMINARY COURSES (2022)
STPT-8250-1: Introduction to Bahá'í Theology, (Graduate Theological Union, online course)
This course on Bahá'í theology (the study of God and creation and the relationship between them) provides an in-depth survey of many of the fundamental spiritual teachings of the Bahá'í Faith. The course is ideal for anyone who wants to delve more deeply into the teachings of the Bahá'í Faith.
ONLINE UNIVERSITY COURSES (2014 - present)
CLA-ASST-0863-701: Religion in the World, (Temple University)
This course introduces students to the academic study of religion and the histories, beliefs, and practices in several religions, including the Bahá’í Faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Daoism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Shinto, among others.
CRIT 321: Afterlife (University of the Arts)
The concept of an afterlife, that there is an immortal future which might either be a lamentable half-existence or a place that includes physical survival, rewards and punishments has been central in Western thought. By understanding different conceptions of what happens to us after we die, we really explore how the culture engages in continuous conscious reflection upon ethics, identity, tragedy, the nature of good and evil, repentance and forgiveness. In short, beliefs about the afterlife are perfect vehicles for us to understand how a given culture understands and values life itself.
PT 190: Bahá’í Theology (Wilmette Institute)
This course on Bahá’í Theology (the study of God and creation and of the relationship between them) provides an in-depth study of many of the fundamental spiritual teachings of the Bahá’í Faith. The units are organized around a series of questions such as: Where do I come from (creation and evolution)?Whom can I trust to guide me (the nature of Manifestations of God and their revelations)? What is expected of us (our religious lives)? And what difference does it make (theology in action)?
PT 180: The Bahá'í Faith and Philosophy (Wilmette Institute)
The course explores the relationship between the Bahá'í teachings and many eternal human questions, such as metaphysics (the system of principles underlying a particular study or subject), religion and spirituality, epistemology (how we know something), ethics, social philosophy, aesthetics and self-expression, and the philosophy of law, education, politics, love, and humanity.
LSTHE 201: Comparative Religions (Neumann University)
This course examines the concept of God and the relationship of God to the individual as well as the meaning and purpose of human life. The ways in which humankind has attempted to communicate with its deities are also explored. Students will compare the answers to these fundamental issues as set forth in the teachings of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The course takes a historical approach to understanding theology.
UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS, Philadelphia, PA (1997 - 2024)
HUMS 217: The Search for Wisdom: Philosophy as a Way of Life This course offers an introductory overview of world philosophies from ancient China, India and Greece through the medieval Jewish/Christian/Muslim philosophical speculation. In this course we address the “big questions” of philosophy concerning the nature of reality, the self, the existence of God, social and personal virtues, etc. by reading and discussing primary sources.
HUMS 221: Afterlife
The concept of an afterlife, that there is an immortal future which might either be a lamentable half-existence or a place that includes physical survival, rewards and punishments has been central in Western thought. By understanding different conceptions of what happens to us after we die, we really explore how the culture engages in continuous conscious reflection upon ethics, identity, tragedy, the nature of good and evil, repentance and forgiveness. In short, believes about the afterlife are perfect vehicles for us to understand how a given culture understands and values life itself.
HUMS 213: Holy War
The notion of Holy War is present in many cultures around the world and inspired a great deal of fighting among various religious and political factions throughout human history. The aim of this course is to examine the connection between religion and violence in the context of religious, philosophical, historical and literary works of Eastern and Western civilizations.
LAPI 821: Religion, Art and the Apocalypse: 1850-1914
An examination of the apocalyptic themes in the context of modern intellectual and artistic developments in the West at the turn of the 20th century. Connections are drawn between religious interpretations of the Apocalypse and the apocalyptic motifs in modern art and literature.
LAPR 831: Introduction to the Bible
The main themes of the Bible are explored from a modern, critical, non-denomina-tional point of view. No knowledge of the Bible is assumed. Using historical and literary analysis, continuities as well as differences between the Hebrew and Christian testaments are examined.
LAPR 832: World Religions
Introduction to the major world religions as a way of coming to know and appreciate the world-views of other cultures. Attention to beliefs, values, and practices of these religions as ways of dealing with the issues basic to human life.
LAPR 841: Comparative Religions: Asia
A study of the world’s Asian religions through their historical development, beliefs, sacred literature, and the works of contemporary writers. The course discusses Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shintoism, and Yin-Yang school of mysticism.
LAPR 842: Comparative Religions: Religions in America
A historical study of beliefs and practices of various religious groups that have shaped American culture, including Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian Scientists, Scientologists and others. We discuss traditional main-line groups as well as newer movements, and pay special attention to ethnic and racial minorities, as well as to women in American religion.
LAPR 843: Christianity
A study of the largest world religion - Christianity - through the examination of its sacred scriptures, historical evolution, beliefs, ritualistic and social practices, philosophy and mysticism. The course discusses various forms of the Christian religion, including the early Church, Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Protestantism, American Mormonism as well as more recent 20th century developments.
LAPR 914: Modern Russian Thought: Philosophy, Literature, Mysticism Cultivates an understanding of modern Russian thought in its various manifestations and an acquaintance with a critical appreciation of the thinkers discussed. A special attention is paid to comparative and interdisciplinary issues, focusing on ‘Russia and the West’, and how Russian intellectuals reacted to the challenge of Western thought and culture in the 19th and 20th centuries. Students read and discuss the works of many prominent Russian philosophers, including Nikolai Berdiaev and Lev Shestov, a Russian ‘migr’ mystic and founder of Theosophy, Elena Blavatsky, as well as world renowned Russian writers, Lev Tolstoi, Fiodor Dostoevskii.
Comparative Religion: Abrahamic Religions
A survey of the world’s major monotheistic religions through their historical develop-ment, beliefs, sacred literature, and the works of contemporary writers. The course discusses Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and the Baha'i Faith.
Texts and Contexts: Perspectives on the Humanities
Perspectives on the Humanities addresses significant works from the ancient world, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment and Romantic periods, and the present day. The course serves five functions: to help students develop their skills in critical reading and writing; to introduce study of traditionally defined periods in the history of culture; to introduce a thematic approach to Humanities topics; to examine key primary texts from various periods and consider them alongside comparable art works; to explore the possibility that conventional ideas or period studies are open to challenge and reinterpretation.
Introduction to Modernism: 19th and 20th Centuries
A two-semester course with an explicitly multi-arts viewpoint that explores the historical and cultural inheritance of the West over the last two centuries. The first semester concentrates on the period 1776-1914 and examines the complex movements known as romanticism and realism; the second semester covers the next half-century of high modernism and its consequences.
NEUMANN UNIVERSITY, Aston, PA (2003 - 2006; 2013 -2015)
LSTHE 201: Comparative Religions
This seminar examines the concept of God and the relationship of God to the individual as well as the meaning and purpose of human life. The ways in which humankind has attempted to communicate with its deities are also explored. Through lectures, discussions, and guest speakers, students compare the answers to these fundamental issues as set forth in the teachings of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The seminar takes a historical approach to understanding theology.
Human Potential and the Arts
Human Potential and the Arts is an interdisciplinary study of the role which works of art have in human society. This course examines how these works can be more effectively analyzed, interpreted, and evaluated in relation to the role they play in the realization of each person’s full potential as a human being. Representative works from such areas as literature, film, drama, music, dance, painting, architecture, and sculpture are examined in detail.
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, Philadelphia, PA (1992 - 1998)
Introduction to World Religions
Introduction to the major world religions as a way of coming to know and appreciate the world-views of other cultures. Attention to beliefs, values, and practices of these religions as ways of dealing with the issues basic to human life.
Introduction to Asian Religions
An exploration of Himduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Shinto. Each is studied in its historical and cultural context, including its development into various formsover the years and in different places, and its beliefs regarding views of the cosmos, society, the self, and good and evil. In addition to a text, students read from the literature of each religion.
Religion in America
A historical and sociological study of practices and beliefs of various religious groups that have shaped American culture, with special attention to ethnic and racial minorities, and to women, as well as to traditional main-line groups and newer movements.
Religion and Society
This course deals with such issues as: What is the nature of religion? What impact does it have on personal identity, social life, political structures? What ethical issues arise out of the tensions between religion and society? Emphasis on contemporary Western society and form of religion. Some historical background provided.
ALBRIGHT COLLEGE, Reading, PA (1998)
Russian Religious Thought
This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of modern Russian religious philosophy. Students will read and discuss the works of many prominent Russian thinkers as well as world renown Russian writers Lev Tolstoi and Fiodor Dostoevskii.
ST. JOSEPH'S UNIVERSITY, Philadelphia, PA (1994 - 1995)
Russian Religious Thought
This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of modern Russian religious philosophy. Students will read and discuss the works of many prominent Russian thinkers as well as world renown Russian writers Lev Tolstoi and Fiodor Dostoevskii.
ROWAN UNIVERSITY, Glassboro, NJ (1993-1994)
Introduction to Religion
This course is designed to offer students introductions to the major methods used in the academic study of religion and an in-depth example of the use of one of those methods.
Introduction to World Religions
Introduction to the major world religions as a way of coming to know and appreciate the world-views of other cultures. Attention to beliefs, values, and practices of these religions as ways of dealing with the issues basic to human life.
Russian Religious Thought
This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of modern Russian religious philosophy. Students will read and discuss the works of many prominent Russian thinkers as well as world renown Russian writers Lev Tolstoi and Fiodor Dostoevskii.