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|  This online learning environment began with grant funding from the Oreon E. Scott Foundation in 2005. COURSE DESCRIPTIONS Celtic Spirituality: Touchstone to the Divine Our Christian tradition is filled with variety, creativity, grace, and even a bit of serendipity. Celtic spirituality is one way we can come to know more of God and of God’s activity in our lives. Steeped in ancient traditions that have been called “pre-Christian,” Celtic spirituality offers one way to enter into the journey that leads us to union with God. This course offers an opportunity to discover answers to the following questions: What is spirituality? What do we mean by “Celtic”? What is Celtic spirituality? Why a Celtic spiritual journey? Our responses to these questions will inform our experience of prayer, our call to discipleship, and our understanding of community. Along with the learning that takes place with our online “conversations,” we will also use Timothy Joyce’s, Celtic Christianity: A Sacred Tradition, A Vision of Hope. Our Story: The History and Polity of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) NOTE: THIS COURSE IS OPEN ONLY TO CANDIDATES IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST) IN KENTUCKY'S COMMISSIONED MINISTRY/LICENSED MINISTRY PROGRAM. The course will examine the origins of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the early 19th century and trace its development through growth and conflict. Students will read Joined in Discipleship by Mark Toulouse, as well as a variety of other articles, documents, and primary sources. Students will also examine the history of a particular congregation in order to examine how it responded to changes that occurred throughout the denomination. The course will conclude with a discussion of the current shape of the church and what lies ahead. The following three courses are SELF-STUDY, so there are NO instructors. Beginnings, Generations, Identity: The Book of Genesis [Self-Study] The book of Genesis contains several important “foundational stories” for the people of Israel. Among them are the creation stories, the flood stories, and the stories of the ancestors. How did such stories arise? When did they arise? Who told them? Why did people tell them? Why listen? What is the role of such stories and how do they work? This course on Genesis will consider these questions and more as we examine the rich narratives of this book. Special attention will also be given to comparisons between texts in Genesis and texts from Israel’s neighbors, Israel’s understanding of God and the gods, and the politics reflected in the book. Students will also be encouraged to look at the “foundational stories” of their own lives and families, congregations, and the Disciples of Christ. Finally, how is Genesis the foundational story for each contemporary student and what does that mean for each? How Do I Begin to Understand the Bible? [Self-Study] Have you ever wanted the Bible to be a part of your life but didn’t know where or how to begin to make that happen? This course will give you an understanding of the origins of the books that comprise our Bible and the process by which they were given, recorded, and compiled. We’ll look at some of the tools we have to understand scripture and the various cultural contexts in which the Books were written. We’ll look at the various translations and how they were developed. By the end, you will have a framework by which to begin or renew your interest in scripture and what it can add to your life of faith. What Is True about God and Why It Matters [Self-Study] Participants will be invited to think critically about what they have been taught, what they believe, and what they value about their beliefs in God. They will learn where those beliefs fit in wide diversity of historical teachings of the ecumenical church and what was at stake when people disagreed over and even split the church over such issues. Finally, each participant will be invited to formulate his or her own understanding of God, rooted in the values held most deeply by the church (as revealed in our sacred scripture) and the participant. Skip Calendar Calendar
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DiscipleU: Learning for a Lifetime
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