PSYCHOLOGY, RELIGION, PHILOSOPHY, CULTURE

Aging and Spirituality

PRPC 1003

Tuesday

Dates: 9/19 to 10/10 (4 weeks)

Time: 9:30–11:30 AM

Facilitator: Eileen O’Brien

Location: Online

Class Limit: 15 Participants

Sponsoring Site: Regis

This course explores spirituality, soul, and aging, and acknowledges both the challenges and opportunities associated with aging. Authors Thomas Moore, Joan Chittister, Parker Palmer, Pema Chodron, and others will be guides for this course.

An Academic View of the Old Testament

PRPC 1006

Wednesday

Dates: 9/20 to 10/25 (6 weeks)

Time: 9:30–11:30 AM

Facilitator: Michael Levin

Location: Online

Class Limit: Unlimited

Sponsoring Site: Central

“The Old Testament” presented by Professor Amy-Jill Levine is a 24-lecture series from The Great Courses ©. Professor Levine is a widely sought after speaker, who has delivered talks on biblical subjects and issues to academic and nonacademic audiences around the world. Professor Levine’s invaluable expertise has won her grants from the Mellon Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

We will watch two lectures per week and augment them with discussion, additional examples, and close text examination.

Watch a 4-minute video of Professor Levine discussing Mistakes Christians make about the Jewish Jesus - https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=G46GNvp_Eio

Angels, Demons, Origin of Evil, End of the World, and World to Come in Judaism

PRPC 1008

Thursday

Dates: 9/21 to 10/26 (6 weeks)

Time: 9:30–11:30 AM

Facilitator: Douglas Sparks

Location: Online

Class Limit: 20 Participants

Sponsoring Site: West

Although Judaism is thought of as not having a mythology, it has an extensive tradition of mythological literature and tales, found in Hebrew scripture, non-canonical literature and folktales of all kinds. This class focuses on stories of angels and demons, evil, and the end of the world in Second Temple Judaism (particularly 4th C. BCE through 2nd C. CE). We’ll read creation myths, apocalypses, histories, and early mystical manuscripts from The Other Bible, the text for the course. We’ll try to open a window into the ‘folk’ tradition that always existed in Jewish history. What did the nonelite believe (next to impossible to truly discern but we’ll look at what the research suggests). The class will primarily involve reading and discussion with lecture where needed to provide historical context and important concepts in

Judaism as background. No prior study or knowledge of Judaism is required but helpful. Any religious, spiritual, anthropological or folkloric knowledge will enhance class discussion and is strongly welcomed.

A Short Profile of FBI Undercover Operations

PRPC 1007

Wednesday

Dates: 9/20 to 10/11 (4 weeks)

Time: 1–3 PM

Facilitator: Vincent Wincelowicz

Location: Online

Class Limit: Unlimited

Sponsoring Site: Regis

This course will explore several significant FBI Undercover Operations from 1978 to 1998. The course will provide an overview and a history of FBI Undercover Operations. Some of the cases that will be discussed: Operation Double Steele; ABSCAM; NYCON; and Greylord. The instructor will provide unique insight to the inner workings of organized crime with some antidotal stories of organized crime members and “con” men.

The Book of Exodus: Wandering, Revelation, and Rebellion

PRPC 1005

Tuesday

Dates: 9/19 to 11/7 (8 weeks)

Time: 9:30–11:30 AM

Facilitator: Rabbi Sandra Cohen, Master Facilitator

Location: Online Class Limit: 20 Participants

Sponsoring Site: Central

This class is part of an ongoing, close reading of the Book of Exodus—and new people are more than welcome! We are learning with the aid of medieval commentators, who help to supplement the text and argue among themselves, teaching us that the Bible can be understood in a variety of ways—including those who contradict one another. The book we have been using is The Commentators’ Bible: Exodus: The Rubin JPS Miqra’ot

Gedolot, The Commentators’ Bible: Exodus: The Rubin JPS Miqra’ot Gedolot by Michael Carasik; it can be found on Amazon. The book is expensive but beautiful and we will be using it for more than one OLLI term. If you choose not to get the book, you should have a book of Exodus in front of you instead. Join us for our deep dive into the Bible!