Many of us are visual learners - we learn by "reading" or seeing pictures more than text - and yet most religious instruction is offered primarily through text formats (e.g. the Bible). The result? Studying the Bible, church history, and/or theology can feel dry, boring, and disconnected from our emotions and lived experience. I strive to foreground the visual arts in my formation session, either to explore visual art as an end in and of itself or as a gateway to engaging with material that is otherwise dry or inaccessible when presented merely in text form. I have found the visual arts work to break down the barriers we construct around particular subjects, allowing individuals and communities to encounter old ideas with new eyes while also expanding our intellectual and spiritual horizons. The visual arts are vital to both education and spiritual formation.
Religious Art
I offer a wide array of in-person or online (Zoom) classes on religious art, focusing specifically on Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
I teach classes and lead discussion groups that use the arts to explore specific historical periods, themes, or ecumenical and interfaith topics. Past topics include: The Art of Advent: From the Annunciation to the Nativity Temple, Tomb, and Dome: The Sacred Architecture of Jerusalem "When Death Will be no More": Painting Paradise in Christian Art The Many Faces of Paul: the Apostle's Portrait in Christian Art From the Dome of the Rock to the Great Mosque of Cordoba: Islamic Art and Architecture Material Christianity: the Art, Architecture, and Objects of Faith The Reformation and Christian Art: Idolatry or "God's Gift"? The Art of Holy Week: The Triumphal Entry, Crucifixion, and Resurrection in Christian Art The Art of Christian Rome From Michelangelo to Caravaggio: the Great Artists of the Italian Renaissance and Baroque The Many Faces of Christ in Early Christian Art Building the Church in the World: the Role of Sacred Architecture in Christian Worship Walking with Paul: Ancient Ephesus The Old Testament in Christian Art |
Church HistoryI offer in-person or online (Zoom) classes on the history of early Christianity, the Middle Ages, and the Protestant Reformation.
Past topics include: The Earliest Christians: Who Were They and Where Did They Come From? Gnostic Christianity: Beliefs and Texts Debating Christ: The Theological Controversies of the Early Church Church and State: Early Christianity in the Context of the Roman Empire The Conversion of Constantine: Fact or Fiction? Pagans and Christians: Conflict or Coexistence? Religious Pluralism in the Middle Ages: the Case of Medieval Spain |
Bible Study
Standalone classes or mini-series (3 or 4 weeks) cover both individual texts within the Bible, non-canonical and Gnostic texts, and a range of thematic topics across various texts. Also offered in-person or online (Zoom)
Past studies include: The Suffering Son of God: An Introduction to the Gospel of Mark The Last Will Be First: Social Justice in the Gospel of Luke Jesus the Jewish Messiah: An Introduction to the Gospel of Matthew The Synoptic Gospels: What are They and Why are They "Seen Together"? The "Fourth Gospel": John and His Community in Context The Nativity in Matthew and Luke: A Comparative Study Reading the Bible Seriously, Not Literally The Letters of Paul: Their Nature, Content, and Influence The Crucifixion in the Four Gospels: A Comparative Study Suffering in the Bible From Job to Christ |