March 31, 2004
Health and Healing Course Taking Shape

The Wilmette Institute's course on Health and Healing is taking shape. The revised course summary goes as follows:

The Bahá'í Faith offers extensive guidance about illness, diet, and maintenance of good health. More generally, it views the human body as the temple of the soul, offers advice about its purpose and use, and discusses the relationship between the physical and the spiritual. The course will examine all these difference aspects of health in the context of the advice of medical experts.

The faculty is gradually taking shape as well, with the following three persons committed so far:

Patricia Campuzano, a Baha'i with a degree in Accupuncture and Chinese Medicine

A. Jane Faily, a psychologist and author of various articles about health from a Baha'i perspective

Kurt Hein, a long-time faculty member for the Wilmette Institute who is interested in health and healing principally from the point of view of one seeking healing

Additional faculty are joining and student registrations are rolling in. We look forward to an active discussion of Baha'i scripture, articles by Baha'is, related outside material, and the extensive experience of the students and faculty. The questions alone should make the course fascinating.

Progress on the Spiritual Foundations Program

Students are registering for the Spiritual Foundations for a Global Civilization Program, the home study of which starts May 1. Dr. Susan Maneck has joined the faculty and will be teaching Islam and early Babi and Baha'i history. Robert Stockman will be teaching Judaism and Christianity. The section on religions native to North America is being planned by Littlebrave Beaston, an American Indian Baha'i and a current student in the Spiritual Foundations program. Anne Pearson has agreed to cover Hinduism and Buddhism.

Those attending must register first, preferably in time to begin the home study in May (though the home study readings can be done later if necessary). Students should plan to arrive Friday evening, July 30, if possible. Saturday morning, July 31, will be devoted to an optional field trip to places of worship (tentatively, Hindu and Buddhist temples in the Chicago area; fascinating places to visit). Formal classes will begin Saturday afternoon, July 31. Everything comes to an end on Sunday, August 8, at noontime.

In addition to studying native North American religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Baha'i history 1844-63 will be a major focus (the Bab and the early life of Baha'u'llah). The Iqan and other Baha'i scriptures related to the theme of religions will be the focus of several classes. Workshops on public speaking and on how to teach the Faith will round out the offerings.

To register, go to "courses," click on "Spiritual Foundatins for a Global Civilization," then click on the registration button.