January 25, 2004
Christianity Course Starts January 15

The Wilmette Institute is offering its popular course "Christianity for Deepening and Dialogue" again starting January 15.

The three-month distance learning course will cover the life of Jesus of Nazareth, the rise of Christianity, the formation of Christian scriptures, traditional Christian teachings, Christian prophecy, the development of Christianity during the middle age and reformations, and the diversity of Christian groups today. The subjects will be studied for the purposes of deepening and dialogue, that is, understanding the basics of Christianity as a divinely revealed religion (and by comparison, the Bahá'í Faith) and sharing one's faith perspective with the full variety of Christians in an informed and respectful manner.

Note that the course does not just focus on biblical prophecy. Rather, it will provide its students with background for understanding Christianity and a sense of the diversity of views about Christian basics that exists among Christians. Prophecy is an important topic to perhaps a minority of Christians; liberal Protestants are more interested in social reform and ethical issues and Catholics are concerned about church tradition and papal guidance.

Among the faculty will be Peter Terry, who has studied Christianity at the graduate level; Ted Brownstein, a Baha'i of Jehovah's Witness and (before that) Jewish background; Wolfgang Klebel, a Baha'i who is a former Catholic priest, who has studied Catholic Theology at the University of Innsbrook (Austria) and at the Papal University Gregoriana in Rome; and Robert Stockman, who has a doctorate in religious studies from Harvard University.

Register for the course by clicking on the "sign up for class" button. Tuition is $150 for individuals and $300 for groups.