HISTORY & WORLD RELIGIONS

THESE FOUR CLASSES MEET AT:

Shasta College Redding Campus, 11555 Old Oregon Trail, Redding Room 2150 I Tue, 6:30 pm-8:30 pm I $75 per class

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Jesus of Nazareth is considered as one of the greatest teachers ever to have lived. Many claim to be his followers and seek to live out his teachings. What did he teach and why have his words had an enduring impact throughout the centuries? This course will examine and address the most well-known block of Jesus’s teachings, usually called the Sermon on the Mount. We will address the cultural framework of the Sermon, the unique elements of Jesus’s teaching, the radical call to love and non-violence, and why these teachings have continued to inform people through the millennia since.

DATES: AUG 3, 10, 17, 24, 2021 (4-part series)

THE PARABLES OF JESUS

Jesus of Nazareth taught in many ways depending on his audience. One of the more distinct ways of conveying his message was through parables, or stories intended to convey a message. The two most well-known are the Parable of the Prodigal Son and the Parable of the Good Samaritan, but about fifty parables are recorded in the biblical record. This course will address these and others of Jesus’s parables with the questions, were the parables unique? Why did Jesus communicate this way? How do we understand his message from them? What enduring value do we gain from the study of these stories?

DATES: AUG 31, SEP 7, 14, 21, 2021 (4-part series) Dr. Jack Painter

Facilitator Dr. Jackson Painter received his PhD in New Testament in 1994 and has taught the New Testament and Greek in Manila, Philippines, and here in Redding in the years since. He is married with three grown children and enjoys woodworking, kayaking, biking, hiking, backpacking, gardening, birdwatching and other outdoor activities.

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JESUS

One of the towering figures in human history is Jesus of Nazareth. The symbol of the cross, seen ubiquitously in society, is a testament to the influence of this person, who is known more for his death than his life. But why did he die the cruel death he did? This course will address his death from the perspective of the life he lived. What about his life brought about his death, and what about this particular death created such a movement as the religion of Christianity?

DATES: SEP 28, OCT 5, 12, 19, 2021 (4-part series)

THE BOOK OF REVELATION

Few documents ever written have engendered as much reaction as the book of Revelation, aka the Apocalypse. This last book in the Christian scriptures is full of visions and dramatic scenes of destruction and divine judgment. The very word “apocalyptic” in our current day comes from this book. This course will address various ways of interpreting Revelation and seek to show in particular how the seer/writer John wrote a document that not only spoke to his own day but to the generations since.

DATES: OCT 26, NOV 2, 9, 16, 2021 (4-part series)

P

You must pay for parking on campus. Class fees do not cover parking.

THESE TWO CLASSES MEET AT:

Shasta College Redding Campus, 11555 Old Oregon Trail, Redding Room 2150 I Thur, 6:00 pm-9:00 pm I $75 per class

BUDDHISM IN ASIA

Buddhist ideas (i.e., mindfulness) are influencing many areas of American life and culture from therapy sessions to Hollywood movies. We are now familiar with seeing an American walking through the airport in saffron robes and shaved head on the way to one of the many temples around the country. This course will try to answer the following questions: Who was the Buddha? What did he teach? How is Buddhism practiced and experienced in Asia? Are all Buddhists the same? What can we learn from Buddhism?

DATES: OCT 7, 14, 21, 28, 2021 (4-part series)

WORLD RELIGIONS

Religious diversity is everywhere in our world, and it has never been so important to understand and respect what is religiously sacred to others. This course will introduce you to four of the major religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam. Two of these represent some of the deepest insight into eastern thought. The other two monotheistic religions are major players in international affairs today.

DATES: SEP 2, 9, 16, 23, 2021 (4-part series) Dr. Stephen Bailey

Facilitator Dr. Stephen Bailey was involved in relief and development work in Thailand and Laos with CAMA Services from 1985 to 2001. He then served as Associate Professor of Intercultural Studies and Director of the Alliance Graduate School of Missions at Alliance Theological Seminary in Nyack, New York from 2001 to 2011. He then moved to Simpson University where he was Professor of Intercultural Studies until June, 2020. He has also served as the Program Officer in Laos for the Institute for Global Engagement promoting religious freedom since 2002. In 2016 he began SANTI Corporation, a not for profit organization focused on Peace Building in SE Asia. His work on Religious Freedom and Peace Building takes him to Laos two or three times a year. He currently is teaching at Shasta College and writing on Christianity among Buddhist Southeast Asians. He and his wife, Jacqui live in Palo Cedro, California where Steve has been teaching 2nd grade to his granddaughter during the COVID pandemic.

Pre-registration required for all classes!