Biblical Hermeneutics:
Intro to Bible Interpretation
Instructor: Archbishop Kristina Rake, M.A.​

he Bible is an unending source of both inspiration
and controversy. The fact that anyone can read the Bible
easily by using one of hundreds of translations gives the
mistaken impression that anyone can develop a valid
interpretation from the text. That simply is not true. 
This course will examine the development of biblical scholarship
as well as the ways in which meaning is derived from
the text.  Students will learn about the various critical approaches
to the text, such as historical criticism,  textual criticism, etc.
Students will also learn to engage various resources  to assist in scholarly 
bible study i.e.: concordances, commentaries, parallel bibles,  and more.
This course will equip students with the tools needed to develop meaning from the text through a multifaceted approach that will enrich their experience of bible reading.  Clergy taking the course will receive extra emphasis on homiletics and hermeneutics.  
Classes are taught Thursdays, 9:00am to 10:30am. 
Class is recorded for those who cannot attend live. 
Photo by Luis Quintero from Pexels
​
The Minor Prophets
Instructor: Archbishop Joseph Richards, D.Min. 

Old Testament Israel was greatly influenced by the work of those
prophets who announced their messages during the Temple 
period, which coincided with the reign of both Judah's and Israel's
monarchs. These prophets held sway over the decisions of
the kings in both battle and for the future of the nation.
This course will help students understand the impact of the minor
prophets on the Jewish experience and how they fit within the
greater historical context of the Hebrew Scriptures. Students will
also examine the close interaction of the prophets and the local
congregations, synagogues and temples. In addition, students will
come to understand their message by exploring
hermeneutic and exegetical questions related to
​each prophet. 
Classes are held on Fridays, 7:00 pm to 8:30pm.
​Class is recorded for those who cannot attend live. 
Photo by Jeswin Thomas from Pexels
Spiritual Warfare in the Desert
Instructor: Don Marlette, M.Div
The desert monks of 3rd-4th century Egypt were considered
a force of spiritual power for their neighbors,  towns, and cities.
Their lives were dedicated to prayer,
fasting, and spiritual warfare,for themselves, and for the world.
In this course, we will examine the terrain of spiritual warfare
in the Desert Tradition, with a particular emphasis
on Antony the Great, Evagrius Ponticus,
​and Nicodemos ​of the Holy Mountain.
The physical, psychological, and spiritual dimensions of the
Desert Tradition's understanding of the demonic
will be enumerated, and we will explore their
practical implications for modern life, in terms of
personal practices, spiritual discernment,
and spiritual direction.

Photo by Ray Bilcliff from Pexels
BEGINS SUMMER OF 2020
Celtic Christianity
Instructor: Mr. Exequiel Allen Monge, M.A., Ph.D. candidate
​​

​Christianity is not, and never has been, a monolith. Its whole existence has been dynamic, and so it has taken on different forms, manifesting itself in genuinely surprising ways. One of the most ​ interesting, and best documented, ancient "Christianities" is the one which flourished in Ireland and Britain between the 5th and 12th centuries, and which we know as "Celtic Christianity." This course is an invitation to take a walk on the margins, on the historical peripheries of medieval religion,  where the new and the old, the Christian and the pagan, the miraculous and the magical are mixed. The itinerary will be punctuated by the study of ancient texts, originally written in Latin or in Medieval Irish, but presented to the participants in the best English translations: from the elusive figure of the heretic Pelagius and the harrowing testimony of St. Patrick's letters, through the adventures of St. Columba and the miracles of St. Brigid,  to the mysterious spirituality of the Céili Dé (God's companions) and the crossings between hagiography and mythology that characterise the epic cycles of Cú Chulainn and Fionn Mac Cumhail. 
Classes are pre-recorded for viewing at a convenient time with office hours for questions. 
Photo by Max Ravier from Pexels