IS THERE ROOM FOR US ALL IN THE DANCE?
THE QUEST FOR INTER-RELIGIOUS UNDERSTANDING
An Inquiry in Four Sessions
Based on Exploring the Spirituality of the World Religions by Duncan S. Ferguson






Location/Time: The course will be held here at Maplewood. The sessions will be held on Wednesday evenings, from at 7:00-8:30 p.m.

The Approach: The classes are open to all and will provide ample time for questions and discussion.

The Course: The conversation will focus on the beliefs and practices of the Abrahamic monotheistic religions and seek to find common ground that will increase understanding and acceptance.

Goals:

• To gain clarity about, enrich, and deepen our own spiritual journey
• To learn about the spiritual pathways of other comparable religious traditions in order to find beliefs and practices that we may want to incorporate into our understanding and spiritual sojourn
• To gain greater understanding, acceptance, and critical awareness of the common elements within the monotheistic religions, and use this understanding to build bridges to others and find ways of cooperation and collaboration

Session 1: Oct. 12     Exploring the Spirituality of the World Religions: An Approach
Session 2: Oct. 19     Exploring the Spirituality of Judaism: Foundations for the Abrahamic Monotheistic Religions
Session 3: Oct. 26     Exploring the Spirituality of Islam: Obedience to Divine Law
Session 4: Nov. 2      Exploring the Spiritual Pathways of Christianity: A Religion of Grace and Love

Facilitator: Duncan Ferguson has served for many years in church-related higher education as a campus minister, professor, and senior level administrator. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh in Religious Studies and is the author/editor of five books, including the recent one entitled Exploring the Spirituality of the World Religions. He has been a Visiting Scholar at Princeton Theological Seminary in the fall of 2010 and a Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Study in the Humanities at the University of Edinburgh. Duncan has a deep interest in international peace & justice, and has traveled extensively in many parts of the world. He and his wife Dorothy currently live on Whidbey Island and may be reached at duncanferguson@whidbey.com.