Online Courses Fall 2009
Sep 07, 2009
Eastern religious traditions, the Dark Night of the Soul and enhancing preaching make up the slate of fall term courses in Seminary of the Southwest's Online School for Spirituality and Mission.
Elizabeth Jarnagin, a writer who graduated from Southwest in 2000, will explore how elements of five Eastern religious traditions inform Western Christianity in "Facing East: How Western Christians Can Learn From Other Spiritualities." Students will focus, for example, on the Buddhist art of silence and Thomas Merton's interest in that path. The Hindu teaching that the divine has many faces will be explored through the lens of unity within diversity.
"Empowering Your Preaching: An Inquiry into ‘Jazzing Up' Your Technique and Form," will be taught by the Rev. Micah Jackson, assistant professor of preaching at Southwest. Students will explore classic examples of the various forms of preaching - verse-by-verse, "moves" and narrative - while writing original sermons for the class and instructor.
"When God Walks Away: Exploring and Enduring the Dark Night of the Soul" will be offered by Kaye McKee, an Austin counselor and 2002 seminary graduate. Students in this experiential course will explore metaphors for aspects of the Dark Night (a term coined by John of the Cross) in film, music, visual art and literature while engaging in spiritual practices designed for enduring the Dark Night.
Tuition for each course is $170 and the term begins on September 14 and concludes October 30. A certificate of completion of the course will be given for 20 hours of CEUs. Each diocese or institution decides how many CEUs to award.
Registration deadline is Sept. 7 and you can read detailed course descriptions and register online at the school's webpage.
Contact Madelyn Snodgrass for any questions - by email or phone 512.472.4133 ext. 344. Snodgrass is the director of the Online School for Spirituality and Mission at Southwest.
