TRANSCENDENCE
IN THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS
This course introduces the modern study of religion and comparatively surveys over a dozen traditions from around the globe that span the course of human history.
We will explore diverse religious perspectives with an open curiosity, overcome the distance of the foreign and the exotic, contextualize their histories and interrelationships, and engage their definitions of both transcendence and the Transcendent.
The course is led by Dan Hirshberg, PhD, SŌTERIC's founder and Executive Director. A Harvard-trained specialist in the History of Religions, Dan taught this course to packed halls and rave reviews every year of his academic career.
Structured Syllabus
(Readings Optional)
Multimedia Presentations
3 per Week, <50 min each
(Prerecorded)
Robust Discussions, Q&A
1 Hour Every Week
(Live & Online)
Modular Format
(Enroll for All or Part)
Last Taught in Fall 2022
This course features an "inverted classroom" format. Each week offers as much as 4 hours of content, featuring:
- Up to 3 prerecorded multimedia presentations (<1 hour each)
- 1 live discussion section (1 hour)
Participants are warmly encouraged to submit questions in advance.
The course is offered in a series of modules. Participants can enroll in any module/s; a $200 discount is offered for those enrolling in the entire course. The first module is highly recommended for all participants:
- Intro to the Study of Religion (1 week)
- Indigenous Traditions of the Americas and Africa (1 week)
- South Asian Religions (3 weeks)
- East Asian Religions (2 weeks)
- Pre/Abrahamic Religions, the New, and the New Atheism (3 weeks)
For those who wish to complete the readings and/or gain access to a detailed reference work, the textbook for the course is Jeffrey Brodd et al. Invitation to World Religions (New York: Oxford University Press, 2022). Note: this is the 4th edition; 3rd is also fine.
The course runs for 10 straight weeks after Labor Day.
Discussion sessions are offered in hybrid format: live in our Boulder studio or live-streamed online (participants must select an option via the buttons below when enrolling). Discussion sessions meet for 1-hour on Tuesdays starting at 5pm PDT/6pm MDT/7pm CDT/8pm EDT. They will not be recorded since attending live is essential to get the most out of the course.
To enroll, click on your preferred mode of participation: