Adventures Online: Exploring the Religions of the World

11:00 a.m. Welcome, Orientation, Introductions. Our Group Leader will greet everyone and review the program theme, the up-to-date daily schedule and any changes, Zoom meeting protocols, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions. We will then say hello to our fellow Road Scholars and our Study Leader, Brian Carwana. 11:20 a.m. Lecture. More than eight out of every ten people around the world identifies with a religious faith, denomination, or group. Our study will encompass five “major” religions. We will begin with a focus on Hinduism, arguably the world’s oldest major religious tradition, and consider its innumerable changes and developments across more than 4,000 years. We will learn how Hinduism’s multiple origins and collection of philosophical views have resulted in one of the most diverse and colorful religions on the planet.

12:20 p.m. Break. 12:30 p.m. Lecture. Our examination of Hinduism and its beliefs will continue, including Q&A. 1:30 p.m. Break. 2:00 p.m. We will “meet” and hear from a representative of Hinduism who will join us in an interactive Q&A session. 2:50 p.m. Wrap-up and notes for tomorrow. 3:00 p.m. Today’s session will end.

11:00 a.m. Review of the day. 11:05 a.m. Lecture. In Jewish tradition, nearly 4,000 years ago G-d was revealed to Abram and Sarai and established a covenant with their descendants. The Torah — the Hebrew Bible — includes the laws and precepts of Judaism that the faithful believe Moses received from G-d on Mount Sinai. We will learn of the central place of tradition and memory in Judaism and how its stories have defined the Jewish people. We will also survey three defining phases of Jewish history and how they have both preserved and fostered innovations.

12:05 p.m. Break. 12:15 p.m. Lecture. We will continue to delve into the beliefs and philosophy of Judaism, including Q&A. 1:15 p.m. Break. 2:00 pm . Lecture. We will “meet” and hear from a representative of Judaism who will join us in an interactive Q&A session. 3:00 p.m. Today’s session will end.

11:00 a.m. Review of the day. 11:05 a.m. Lecture. By all accounts, Christianity has the largest number of adherents worldwide. It originated in a backwater of the Roman Empire and later expanded thanks to Roman roads, relative order, and common language to spread its message to become the most successful religious mission in world history. We will learn how “New Testament” scriptures were written, the rainbow diversity of early Christianity, and gain an understanding of how a Gentile faith emerged from the life and death of a devout Jewish man, Jesus of Nazareth.

12:05 p.m. Break. 12:15 p.m. Lecture. We will continue our examination of Christianity including Q&A. 1:15 p.m. Break. 2:00 pm We will “meet” and engage in a conversation with a representative of Christian faith who will join us in an interactive Q&A session. 3:00 p.m. Today’s session will end.

11:00 a.m. Review of the day. 11:05 a.m. We will trace the biography of the Prophet Muhammad, who serves as the template for ideal Muslim living. We will also discuss the later divide into Sunni and Shi’a, and the key practices and beliefs of the world’s fastest growing religion. Finally, we will look at key sources of authority in Islam — e.g. Qur’an, hadith, shariah — and address topical issues that have emerged in recent decades around violence and secularism.

12:05 p.m. Break. 12:15 p.m. Lecture. We will learn more about Islam and have Q&A. 1:15 p.m. Break. 2:00 pm . We will “meet” and engage in a conversation with a representative of Islam who will join us in an interactive Q&A session. 3:00 p.m. Today’s session will end.

11:00 a.m. Review of the day. 11:05 a.m. Lecture. Siddhartha Gautama was born around 2,500 years ago in Nepal. Tradition says he was a prince who renounced his position to seek spiritual enlightenment. After achieving enlightenment and becoming the Buddha, he began preaching his pathway to others. He did not claim to be a god or a prophet but proposed a pragmatic remedy while pushing aside metaphysical speculations. We will explore the Buddha’s life story, innovative ideas, and how his teachings launched a religious movement that influences even the mental health field today.

12:05 p.m. Break. 12:15 p.m. Lecture. We will continue our examination of Buddhism including Q&A. 1:15 p.m. Break. 2:00 p.m. We will “meet” and engage in a conversation with a representative of Buddhism who will join us in an interactive Q&A session, followed by farewells. 3:00 p.m. This concludes our program.