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From the President
 One morning I woke, turned on my computer, and read messages on my newly-created Twitter account about the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan. As the tragic event continued to unfold I saw that Pagans were engaging in public dialog and asking how they may help. One of the questions that continued to be asked was, "What about Pagan religious charities?"
Yes, there are some Pagan charities doing good work; yet the Pagan community does not seem to have charities as large as many other religious disaster relief organizations or for that matter, charities in general. Nor do I think that is a bad thing. Pagans engage with social justice organizations, charities, and disaster relief. I know many Pagans that do, or have, volunteered with the American Red Cross (myself included).
I believe that as this question gets raised more often, Pagans will engage the community in ways to build such charities either by adding to existing Pagan charities, creating new ones, or partnering with secular or perhaps even religious charities. This is similar to how I see Cherry Hill Seminary growing. As the questions about the skills need for leadership within the Pagan community grow, people will look for ways of building those skills. Cherry Hill Seminary is here to provide the quality education needed for our community leaders.
As for what is before us now, thanks to all the people who are willing to give their time and money to the causes they believe in and a special thank you to Peter Dybing and all those who raised over $30,000 Doctors without Borders.
- William Blumberg
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31st Harvard Celtic Colloqium
 The Harvard Celtic Department cordially invites proposals for papers on topics which relate directly to Celtic studies (Celtic languages and literatures in any phase; cultural, historical or social science topics; theoretical perspectives, etc.) for their 31st Annual Celtic Colloquium, to take place at Harvard University, October 7-9, 2011. Papers concerning interdisciplinary research with a Celtic focus are also invited. Attendance is free.
Presentations should be no longer than twenty minutes. There will be a short discussion period after each paper. Papers given at the Colloquium may later be submitted for consideration by the editorial committee for publication in the Proceedings of the Harvard Celtic Colloquium.
Potential presenters should send a 200-250 word abstract suitable for reproduction, plus a brief biographical sketch. Submissions should be sent by e-mail, faxed, or posted to the departmental address; we encourage submissions in the form of RTF or Word Document email attachments.
Further information is available at the website. The closing date for proposals is May 2, 2011.
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Important Dates
For Students
May 9, 2011 - End Summer Registration
May 16, 2011 - Begin Summer Semester
May 23 - Add/Drop Last Date
July 14 - 17, 2011 - Summer Intensive For Faculty May 1, 2011 - Fall Course Information Due May 6, 2011 - Spring Grades Due to Office Foundations Courses May 16 - June 11, 2011 - Foundations Summer One June 13 - July 9, 2011 - Foundations Summer Two July 11 - August 6, 2011 - Foundations Summer Three |
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The Sacred Earth: Human/Animal Relationships - N672
 Complementing last summer's section of "Nature and Pagan Spirituality/Sacred Earth" class, this course again provides students an opportunity to examine both classical writings and recent scholarship on human relationships with nature. Students will read both eco-centered perspectives and scholarship on human/nature relationships. In addition to a broad selection of readings on ecotheology, we will focus in on relationships between humans and animals, as well as understandings of human beings as animals.
Students will be required to assess the role of nature in their own ministry and that of their particular communities, and to produce critical and constructive writing on nature religion and nature spirituality. This summer's section focuses on a different set of writings then last summer's, and so is appropriate for students registering under this course number for the first time or for students who would like to deepen and extend their studies from last summer.
This course is taught by Grant Potts, Ph.D. and Christine Hoff Kraemer, Ph.D. and meets Mondays 9:00 PM ET. While there are no required prerequisite courses, C5141 Introduction to Pagan Theology is recommended.
Note for PCE section only: The Sacred Earth will meet with the Master's level course, Nature and Pagan Spirituality. PCE students will not be responsible for the full Master's level load of reading and writing; however, students should be prepared to grapple with complex academic texts.
Required Texts:
Ivakhiv, Adrian J. Claiming Sacred Ground: Pilgrims and Politics at Glastonbury and Sedona. Indiana University Press, 2001 ISBN: 9780253338990
Nelson, Richard. Heart and Blood: Living with Deer in America.Vintage, 1998. ISBN: 9780679736868
Berry, Thomas and Mary Evelyn Tucker. The Sacred Universe: Earth, Spirituality, and Religion in the Twenty-first Century. Columbia University Press, 2009. ISBN: 9780231149525
Abram, David. Becoming Animal: An Earthly Cosmology. Pantheon, 2010. ISBN: 9780375421716
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World Religions from a Pagan Perspective - T5090
 For nearly two millennia, paganism has been excluded from the theological roundtable. In the West, the Judeo-Christian hegemony has only gradually cracked through the efforts of the American Transcendentalists and Theosophy -- culminating with the appearance of Swami Vivekananda at the 1893 Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago. In the 20th century, the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam have come to acknowledge at least the existence, if not validity, of the Dharmic faiths of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
The major world religions are taken to be Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Judaism. Sometimes Zoroastrianism, Sikhism and Jainism are included. This course will examine the theologies and practices of the major world religions from a pagan perspective. Broadly speaking, the fundamental spiritual options are Abrahamic, Dharmic, secular and pagan. We want to ask: How do they differ from one another, what is a pagan perspective and what does paganism offer to the world's theological/spiritual forum that the other positions do not?
This course is taught by Michael York, Ph.D. and fulfills the Area I requirement for a course in theology and practice.
Special note: This course will be conducted primarily via e-mail. A syllabus and other instructions will be found in the Moodle classroom. Students will be asked to discuss the material in pairs over Skype in addition to corresponding with the instructor and each other.
Recommended Texts:
Michael York. Pagan Theology: Paganism as a World Religion. New York: New York University Press, 2003. ISBN: 0814797083
Robert S. Ellwood & Barbara A. McGraw. Many Peoples, Many Faiths: Women and Men in the World Religions. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2008. ISBN: 0136017614
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Survey of Chaplaincy - P5090
 This course will track various models of chaplaincy past and present, explore basic elements of chaplaincy and the many faces and roles of the chaplain. Emphasis will be placed on informed, inclusive interfaith chaplaincy. Students will be given the choice to study one or more contexts including hospital, homeless, jail and prison work and encouraged to imagine realistic, innovative, collaborative alternatives. Contacting and interviewing (or visiting) active chaplains will be encouraged as well as reflection and analysis of the relevance and effectiveness of styles and shapes of ministry.
Selected texts, both online and offline, will be provided by the teacher.
This course is taught by Chris Highland. It has no meeting, but there will be periodic skype chats. |
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