Wisdom of the World Religions Series

    

Are you curious about the wisdom that can be gleaned from the world’s religions? Would you like to know some of the most important, universally applicable teachings from the global sacred texts that would benefit you in your life? It doesn’t matter if you consider yourself an atheist, agnostic, or a devout follower of your faith, this series was designed for you! 

 

In this series you’ll learn the basic teachings and stories of the world’s religions, what distinguishes them from each other, and applicable spiritual practices that you can implement into your life. You’ll have the opportunity to learn from Imam Jamal Rahman, Rabbi Ted Falcon, Rev. Dr. Kathianne Lewis, Rev. Abigail Schairer, and Michael Bogar. Register for the full series or single sessions.

 

Introduction to Wisdom of the World Religions with Michael Bogar, MDiv, ThM - Feb 25
The Mystery of Judaism with Rabbi Ted Falcon - Mar 26
Native African with Michael Bogar, MDiv, ThM - Apr 16
Islam - Spiritual Fragrance of the Qur'an with Imam Jamal Rahman - May 28
Taoism/Confucianism/Buddhism – Part 1 with Michael Bogar, MDiv, ThM - June 25
Taoism/Confucianism/Buddhism – Part 2 with Michael Bogar, MDiv, ThM - July 23
Paganism with Rev. Abigail Schairer Aug 27
Hinduism – Part 1 (The Gita) with Michael Bogar, MDiv, ThM - Sep 24 
Hinduism – Part 2 (the Ramayana) with Dr. Kathianne Lewis  - Oct 22
Native American with Michael Bogar, MDiv, ThM - Nov 19
Gnosticism with Michael Bogar, MDiv, ThM - Dec 17

 

 

Bios: 

Michael Bogar: Michael’s approach is from a full-life experience and he can relate to a wide range of people. He has a way of communicating to those at the top of their game and those ready to quit. Life is educational, each morning presents an opportunity to begin anew. He has taught at the graduate and undergraduate levels and has a proven ability to inform and inspire students ranging from the informal beginner to the serious scholar. Students and audience members frequently comment on his depth of scholarship, personal approach and sense of humor.

 

Michael has studied and taught the classical religious texts from many religious traditions and is a very effective teacher of spiritual concepts. He has studied Jungian Depth Psychology and universal mythologies. He is a brilliant integrator of mythology, theology, personal spirituality, practical philosophy and depth psychology. He combines deep scholarship, spontaneous humor and contagious enthusiasm with a down to earth practical approach to personal and spiritual growth. People open up easily to his clear and amicable style.  https://www.michaelbogar.com/

 

Imam Jamal Rahman is a popular speaker on Islam, Sufi spirituality and interfaith relations. Along with his Interfaith Amigos, he has been featured in the New York Times, on CBS News, the BBC and various NPR programs. Co-founder and Muslim Sufi minister at Interfaith Community Sanctuary and adjunct faculty at Seattle University, he is a former host of Interfaith Talk Radio and travels nationally and internationally, presenting at conferences, retreats and workshops.

Jamal's passion lies in interfaith community building. He remains rooted in his Islamic tradition but cultivates 'spaciousness' by being open to the beauty and wisdom of other faiths. Through the process of an authentic and appreciative understanding of other paths, Jamal feels that he is becoming a better Muslim. This spaciousness is not about conversion, but about completion. Jamal has an abiding faith in the power of heart to heart connections to encompass differences and dissolve prejudices.  http://interfaithcommunitysanctuary.org/

Rabbi Ted Falcon: Spiritual guide, author, teacher and therapist, has taught Jewish traditions of Kabbalah, meditation and spirituality since the 1970s. Ordained in 1968 at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, he served in Los Angeles as a congregational and then a campus rabbi. In 1975, he earned a doctorate in Professional Psychology and, in 1978, founded the first meditative Reform congregation. He moved to Seattle in 1993, where he also founded a meditative synagogue. He is the author of A Journey of Awakening: Kabbalistic Meditations on the Tree of Life and co-author, with David Blatner, of Judaism For Dummies. He served as Scholar-in-Residence at Unity of Bellevue for two years, and has a private spiritual counseling practice, seeing people in his Seattle office as well as via Skype. He is Chair of Interfaith at Unity in Lynnwood. http://www.interfaithamigos.com/Home.html

 

As a vibrant minister, dynamic speaker, and compassionate spiritual counselor, Rev. Abigail Schairer is inciting a global Love-olution by awakening people to their spiritual magnificence and radiant essence.

Inspired by the awesome collective potential of women in this world, she birthed SisterSpirit Women’s Retreat in 2008.  She continues to facilitate this annual retreat, empowering women to live fully in their authenticity, allowing their love, creativity, and spirituality to heal themselves and the world.  www.sisterspiritretreat.org

 

In 2015, Rev. Abigail also created a remarkable experience designed for spiritual adults ages 18–35, the NextGEN Retreat, as an investment in the future leaders of the world. This retreat educates participants about social justice, engaging in healthy relationships, leadership skills, and emboldens them to create a sustainable future of prosperity, service, and love for all. www.nextgenretreat.org

 

In 2017 Centers for Spiritual Living recognized her powerful and impactful work with the emerging leaders in the organization by bestowing her with the global Youth Champion award.

 

She has been joyfully the Associate Minister as Center for Spiritual Living, Seattle since 2018. 

 

Rev. Dr. Kathianne Lewis: In her 30 years of service as Spiritual Director and Senior Minister at the Center for Spiritual Living, Rev. Dr. Kathianne Lewis has inspired and served countless numbers of people—whose lives, she hopes, have been changed for the better by practicing spiritual principles.

Known worldwide as a Spiritual Leader, Master Teacher, and Luminary, Rev. Kathianne draws from the ancient wisdom of faith traditions around the world, yet always makes the Universal Spiritual Principles she presents applicable to human needs and aspirations.

Through her mission of Empowering people to live a thriving life, Rev. Kathianne leads worship services, classes and retreats, both locally and internationally, that engage, entertain, and most importantly, transform the lives of participants.
Having been a spiritual seeker for most of her life, Rev. Kathianne offers practical spiritual tools for use in an often-complex world. As a leading scholar in New Thought philosophy, she brings into harmony those teachings with the insights that ancient and contemporary religious study offer.

Rev. Kathianne was ordained by the United Centers for Spiritual Living, a national New Thought denomination, and received her Doctorate of Divinity from the same institution in 1995.