Religions are intimately connected in our ever-shrinking world. We need to be both deeply formed by Christian sources and broadly informed by interreligious resources to engage this world with confidence and graciousness. This course invites you to cultivate a missional presence in the world that is passionately Christian as well as compassionately interreligious. It accompanies you through various religious beliefs, practices, and communities to learn about unexpected divine wisdom in unexpected places.
This course will expand students’ religious knowledge through a respectful study of core beliefs and practices of the major world religions, challenge and enhance our spiritual practice by learning from God’s witnesses in different places, and provoke theological wisdom that can rejoice in the particularity of Christ while respectfully celebrating the universality of God.
Students will need to have a copy of Stephen Prothero’s book, God is not One: The Eight Rival Religions that Run the World – and why their Differences Matter.
Lessons Include:
- Our Christian Gospel and God’s Interreligious World
- Hinduism
- Islam
- Buddhism
- Sikhism
- Judaism
- Atheism
- Theological mediation on passion for Christ & compassion for all God’s family
- Christian mission in a world that is compassionately interreligious
2.0 CEUs are available.
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Quick Info:
Number of weeks: 12
Price: $85
CEUs: 2.0
Required books?: Yes
Live video session?: No
Part of a certification or series of courses?: Yes (Wesley Academy for Advanced Christian Studies)
Price: $85
About the Program Director
Michael Beardslee began working for the Institute for Discipleship and BeADisciple in early 2016, developing and facilitating courses for the new Wesley Lay Academy. This was a natural transition for him: He had been the Institute for Discipleship’s Visiting Scholar Southwestern College, then continued the work he began with BeADisciple.
Michael is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Fuller Theological Seminary (intercultural studies), working under Pentecostal theologian Amos Yong. His doctoral research concerns the way Christians from different cultural locations relate to one another in a globalized Christianity. His writing was featured most recently in “Breaking the Marriage Idol: Reconstructing Our Cultural and Spiritual Norms” (IVP, 2018), and in the Religion and Theology Journal (Brill, 2017).
In additional to his doctoral studies Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in religion and philosophy from Friends University, an M.A. from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and a Th.M. in systematic theology from Trinity International University.
Past Students Said…
“I believe I have a better appreciation for and understanding of the religions we studied. That includes where there may be similarities between those religions and where there is significant difference. As a result, I can be much better informed and effective as I participate in future dialogues with followers of these different faiths.”
“I especially liked the sections on Buddhism, Sikhism, and Hinduism; I was able to really understand their origins and differences.”
“The course helped me to develop a stronger understanding of Christianity and good responses to people of other faiths.”
