Unitarian Universalists religious traditions course to start Sept. 19

The Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware and Dr. Len Bowman will conduct a six-session course called Religious Traditions With and Without God, to be held from 1:30 to 3 p.m., Thursdays, Sept. 19 and 26, and Oct. 3, 10, 17 and 24, at 30486 Lewes-Georgetown Highway, Lewes.

Bowman will be joined by UUSD members Anni Wood, Ron Schaeffer and John Sykes.

The course will address questions about what constitutes the ultimate or divine in various traditions, and how that affects the lives and spirituality of adherents to the tradition. The traditions to be studied include Hindu, Buddhist, Confucian, Taoist, Earth and its deities, Judaic, Christian, Religious Humanist, Muslim and Sufi.

The course schedule will be Week 1: Basic Concepts, Primal Patterns, Earth and its Deities; Week 2: The Hindu tradition with many gods in harmony; Week 3: The Buddhist ways without a “god” figure; Week 4: The Confucian and Taoist traditions, ultimate value/reality with folk gods only in the background; Week 5: Islam and Sufism, Religious Humanism; and Week 6: The God of Israel to the Christian Triune God to religious divisions.

Bowman has taught philosophy and religion for more than 40 years, and he currently teaches in the master of liberal arts program at Johns Hopkins University. Bowman’s undergraduate major is philosophy. He holds a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Detroit, and a doctorate in religion and literature from Fordham University.

A one-time $10 donation is requested for the six-week course. Preregistration is not required. Proceeds will support UUSD’s mission to nurture spiritual growth, embrace diversity, work for justice, and strive for a loving world.

For directions and information about UUSD, go to www.uussd.org. For more information, contact Dr. Bowman at AdultEd@uussd.org.