Friday, January 2, 2026

Spring Semester 2026

 Semester starts 1/12 (Monday) 

EJ1002 Comparative Religious Ethics - Murad - Asynchronus  --- he has not filled out his syllabus....

  • Participation 30% : Respond to each week’s prompt, as well as to at least three other posts each week
  • Self-Reflection 20%: Write a paper 1 to 3 pages in length reflexively concerning your own ethical formation and vocation. This is due the third week of classes.
  • Reading Presentation   25%: Present on one of the readings in class. A sign up sheet shall be provided on the first day of class.
  • Final Paper 25%: Write a paper 10-15 pages in length on a topic within the scope of the course.

SD1002 Spiritual Direction/Companionship 1 - Rock - Thursdays 5:30-9

  • Weekly Assignments for every class: Each week before class, students will compose a brief reflection to the week’s readings/videos for two topics, including practices. Reflections should be 2 or 3 short paragraphs (per topic) that engage some of the following questions: What surprised you in this week’s readings or practices as particularly interesting or curious? What confused you? What resonated with you? 


Textbooks:

  • Buber, Martin. I and Thou. Translated by Roger Gregor Smith. New York: Scribner Classics, 2023.
    • ISBN-13: 9780743201339
    • $6 thrift books
  • Ivanhoe, Philip J. and Bryan W. Van Norden. Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy. 3rd ed. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing, 2023
    • ISBN-13: 978-1647921088
    • $35 Abe books
  • Nasr, Seyyed Hossein. Sufi Essays. 3rd ed. Chicago: Kazi, 1999.
    • ISBN-13: 978-1871031416
    • $24 Thrift books ---- FREE in Library:  https://theologicalreference.on.worldcat.org/oclc/42620102
  • Nasr, Seyyed Hossein, Caner K. Dagli, Maria Massi Dakake, Joseph E.B. Lumbard, and Mohammed Rustom, eds. The Study Quran: A New Translation and Commentary. 
    • ISBN-13: 978-0061125874
    • $38 Thrift books -- FREE in the Library: 
    •  https://theologicalreference.on.worldcat.org/oclc/879553018
  • Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood, trans. Bhagavad-Gita: The Song of God. 
    • ISBN-13: 978-0451528445
    • $6 Thirft books
  • Waldau, Paul and Kimberley Patton, eds. A Communion of Subjects: Animals in Religion, Science, and Ethics
    • ISBN-13: 978-0231136433
    • $18 Abe Books --- FREE in Library: https://theologicalreference.on.worldcat.org/oclc/144569913
  • The Art of Listening in a Healing Way. James E. Miller. Willowgreen Publishing, 2003.
    • ISBN 978188593355
    • $15 Abe Books
  • Hospitality:The Heart of Spiritual Direction. Leslie A. Hay, Morehouse Publishing, 2006.
    • ISBN 9780819221810
    • $6 Abe Books
  • Embodied Spirits:Stories of Spiritual Directors of Color. Ed. Sherry Bryant-Johnson, Rosalie Norman-McNaney and Therese Taylor-Stinson, Morehouse Publishing, 2014
    • ISBN 9780819228932
    • $6 Abe Books
  • Finding the Voice Within: A Collection of Black Women’s Voices. Aya Media & Publishing, 
    • ISBN: 979-8328611978
    • $19 Abe Books
  • Holy Listening: The Art of Spiritual Direction. Mary Guenther, Cowley Publications, 1992 
    • ISBN 9781561010561
    • $6 Abe Books
  • Spiritual Direction, Spiritual Companion. Tilden Edwards, Paulist Press, 2001
    • ISBN 080914011X
    • $4 Abe Books

  • The Soul of Learning: rituals of awakening, magnetic pedagogy, and living justice Routledge

    • ASIN: B09MSP7Z9G
    • Amazon: $40
  • Spirit of Our Work: Black Teachers (Re)Member. Beacon Press.
    •  ISBN 978-0807013854
    • $7 Abe Books
Amazon: $43
Abe Books: $99.24
Thrift Books: $14.98
-----------------------------
textbooks: $157.22


Week 0
  • Monday 1/5
    •  identify areas of interest or questions you have: https://www.sdicompanions.org/
      • I am really interested in how to work with people who are "not religious" and how to find clients outside of religious settings 
      • I am SUPER interested in how to set up an employee workplace program!!! 
      • I am curious about how to do group direction, I am only familiar with 1:1
    • Read: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/13/style/self-care/spiritual-directors-faith-religion.html
    • Read: https://www.sdicompanions.org/media/presence/presence-27-1-march-2021/going-to-the-well/#:~:text=Spiritual%20direction%2C%20in%20its%20simplest,of%20an%20overtly%20
  • Tuesday 1/6
    • Reflection paper - no page length specified with these prompts:
      • To me, spiritual direction/companionship is…
      • My questions/concerns about spiritual direction/companionship are…
      • My question/questions regarding myself as a spiritual director/companion is/are…
  • Wednesday 1/7

  • Thursday 1/8

  • Friday 1/9

Week 1
  • Saturday 1/10

  • Sunday 1/11

  • Monday 1/12
    • Sacred Experience Essay:  Please complete a two page reflection (double spaced), which describes a specific spiritual encounter or experience of sacredness in your life. The essay format can be “journalistic” in structure, or art, media, etc., that includes the following details: 1) what stage of life the experience/encounter occurred within, 2) who else, if anyone or animal,  was involved,  3) what the setting was, 4) what actually happened, 5) your experience of spirituality/sacredness, 6) how you felt, and 7) what you thought during or after the experience/encounter. 
      • Bast, Lilith, Lucifer, Brigid, or Aine?
  • Tuesday 1/13
    • Watch Lecture and Write Discussion Wk 1
  • Wednesday 1/14
    • Spiritual Direction Appointment 2:30 CST 
  • Thursday 1/15
    • CLASS 5:30-9
    • Respond to Classmates Discussion Wk1
  • Friday 1/16
    • Upload reflection paper
  • Saturday 1/17
    • Gerald May, Will and Spirit, HarperSanFrancisco, 1982, Chapter 1. (IF ITS ARRIVED) (Wk 2)
    •  A Communion of Subjects: Animals in Religion, Science, and Ethics ; pages 391-405 (wk 2)
  • Sunday 1/18
    • Margaret Guenther, Holy Listening; pages 1-80) (Wk 2)
    • Gerald May, Will and Spirit, HarperSanFrancisco, 1982, Chapter 1. (Wk 2)
Week 2
  • Monday 1/19
    • Margaret Guenther, Holy Listening; pages 80-160 (Wk 2)
  • Tuesday 1/20
    • Tilden Edwards, Spiritual Director, Spiritual Companion (Chapters 1,6, and 7) (Wk2)
    • Watch Lecture and Write Discussion Wk 2
    • Reflections Due (WK2). Reflections (on TWO topics)should be 2 or 3 short paragraphs (per topic) that engage some of the following questions: What surprised you in this week’s readings or practices as particularly interesting or curious? What confused you? What resonated with you? 
  • Wednesday 1/21
    • Sufi Essays. 3rd ed. Chicago: Kazi, 1999. Pages: 57-67. (Wk 3) 
    • http://www.worldwisdom.com/public/viewpdf/default.aspx?article-title=On_Gurus_and_Spiritual_Direction_by_Rama_Coomaraswamy.pdf   (Wk 3) 
    • Make Presentation: 1) Summary; 2) deeper insight into a particular aspect of the reading and/or something about the topic that is not in the reading itself; and 3) discussion question. 
      • individual thing
  • Thursday 1/22
    • CLASS 5:30-9
    • Buber, Martin. I and Thou. up to page 50 (or end of that chapter) (Wk 4)
    • Finish Essay from Wk 2 lecture!
  • Friday 1/23
    • Respond to 3 Classmates Discussion Wk 2
  • Saturday 1/24
  • Sunday 1/25
    • Rabbi Jacob Staub, “God as a Source of Comfort,” (6pg) (Wk 3) https://docs.google.com/document/d/0B09KutsKiJ2qT0dmYVpXalctaDl5X2tJbTQyUUU0TnhrV1dR/edit?resourcekey=0-Nme0prJvJWYzIwE5fXz2cQ
    • Howard A. Addison and Barbara Eve Breitman, Jewish Spiritual Direction: An Innovative Guide from Traditional and Contemporary Sources, Jewish Lights, 2006, Introduction (pp. xvii-xxvii) -- PDF to be supplied? (11 pg) (Wk 3)
Week 3
  • Monday 1/26
    • Watch Lecture and Write Discussion Wk 3
    • Make Presentation: 1) Summary; 2) deeper insight into a particular aspect of the reading and/or something about the topic that is not in the reading itself; and 3) discussion question. 
    • Buber, Martin. I and Thou. - first section
    • Jacob Staub, Jewish Theologies and Jewish Spiritual Direction; Barbara Eve Breitman, “Holy Listening: Cultivating a Hearing Heart.” --- whole book? PDF? unclear (Wk 3)
    • Turn in Sacred Experience Essay.
  • Tuesday 1/27
    • Rabbi Amy Eilberg, “Jewish Theologies of Spiritual Direction,” in Presence: An International Journal of Spiritual Direction, September 2005 issue, 11.3. (PDF attached) -- PDF to come? (Wk 3)
    • Reflections (Wk 3) Reflections (on TWO topics)should be 2 or 3 short paragraphs (per topic) that engage some of the following questions: What surprised you in this week’s readings or practices as particularly interesting or curious? What confused you? What resonated with you? 
  • Wednesday 1/28
    • Respond to Clssmates Discussion Wk 3
  • Thursday 1/29
    • CLASS 5:30-9
    • Buber, Martin. I and Thou. finishs ection (Wk 4)

    • Assignment: Sacred Experience Essay - Due 1/29/26, 5:45pm

    • Embodied Spirits:Stories of Spiritual Directors of Color - chpt 9

      Start presentation?

  • Friday 1/30
    • Read/watch: https://www.sdicompanions.org/about/what-is-spiritual-direction-and-companionship/
    • Read: https://www.sdicompanions.org/about/seeking-connection/
    • https://livingthelifeofspirit.com/2013/11/10/what-is-spiritual-awareness/
    • https://livingthelifeofspirit.com/2014/11/30/the-spiritual-experience-of-knowing/
    • Reflection Wk 4 - Copy from Blog and upload in Canva
  • Saturday 1/31
  • Sunday 2/1
Week 4
  • Monday 2/2
    • watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFeCUfw657g (5 min) (Wk 4)

  • Tuesday 2/3
    • Watch Lecture and Write Discussion Wk 4
    • "Kongzi (Confucius): 'The Analects'" as translated in Ivanhoe, Philip J. and Bryan W. Van Norden. Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy.  (50 pages) (Wk 5)
  • Wednesday 2/4
    • "Mengzi (Mencius)" as translated in Ivanhoe, Philip J. and Bryan W. Van Norden. Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy (44 pages) (Wk 5)
  • Thursday 2/5
    • CLASS 5:30-9
    • Make presentation for Embodied Spirits Chapter - finish up
    • Respond to Classmates Discussion Wk 4
  • Friday 2/6
    • "Laozi: 'The Daodejing'" as translated in Ivanhoe, Philip J. and Bryan W. Van Norden. Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy. (44 pgs) (Wk 6) -- if this is the whole book, Ive already read it twice. can skip.
  • Saturday 2/7
  • Sunday 2/8
Week 5
  • Monday 2/9
    • Hospitality:The Heart of Spiritual Direction. Introduction (Wk 5)
    • http://www.sacredlistening.com/Listening_101.pdf
    • https://www.sdicompanions.org/about/we-listen-for-the-essence/
    • copy, paste, and upload Reflections 5
  • Tuesday 2/10
    • "Zhuangzi" as translated in Ivanhoe, Philip J. and Bryan W. Van Norden. Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy (Wk 6) (46 pgs)
    • Watch Lecture and Write Discussion Wk 5 : https://unitedseminary.instructure.com/groups/656/discussion_topics/12173?module_item_id=41717
  • Wednesday 2/11
  • Thursday 2/12
    • CLASS 5:30-9
    • Respond to Classmates Discussion Wk 5
  • Friday 2/13
  • Saturday 2/14
  • Sunday 2/15
Week 6
  • Monday 2/16
    • The Art of Listening in a Healing Way. James E. Miller - first half (Wk 6)
    • https://www.sdicompanions.org/docs/guidelines/Flip/guidelines_ethical_conduct.html (Wk 6)
    • Reflection Wk 6
    • Watch Lecture and Write Discussion Wk 6
  • Tuesday 2/17
    • The Art of Listening in a Healing Way. James E. Miller - finish book (Wk 6)
    • Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics. - up to page 50 or end of chapter. (Wk 7)
  • Wednesday 2/18
    • Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics - up to page 150 or end of chapter (wk 7)
  • Thursday 2/19
    • CLASS 5:30-9
    • Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics - up to page 200 or end of chapter (wk 7) 
  • Friday 2/20
    • Answer Classmates Discussion Wk 6
  • Saturday 2/21
  • Sunday 2/22
    • Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics - up to page 300 or end of chapter (wk 7)
Symposium Week
  • Monday 2/23
    • Rabbi Amy Eilberg, From Enemy to Friend: Jewish Wisdom and the Pursuit of Peace, Orbis, 2014, Introduction, Parts I and V. (Wk 7) - PDF supplied? Was listed as optional
    • Marc Gopin, Healing the Heart of Conflict: 8 Crucial Steps to Making Peace with Yourself and Others, Rodale, 2004, Chapters 1 and 2. (Wk 7) - PDF supplied?
  • Tuesday 2/24
    • Rabbi Jill Jacobs, There Shall be No Needy: Pursuing Social Justice through Jewish Law and Tradition, Jewish Lights, 2009, Chapter 1. (Wk 7) - PDF Supplied?
    • John Paul Lederach, The Journey Toward Reconciliaiton, Herald Press, 1999, Chapter 8. - PDF supplied? (Wk 7)
    • Rhonda Magee, The Inner Work of Racial Justice: Healing Ourselves and Transforming Our Communities Through Mindfulness, Tarcher Perigree, 2019 Chapters 1 and 2.
  • Wednesday 2/25
    • Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics - finish book (wk 7)
  • Thursday 2/26
    • Dagli, Caner K. “Conquest and Conversion, War and Peace in the Quran.” In The Study Quran - pages 1805-1817 (Wk 8) 
  • Friday 2/27
  • Saturday 2/28
  • Sunday 3/1
Week 7
  • Monday 3/2
    • Mary Ann Scofield, “Friends of God and Prophets,” Presence: An International Journal of Spiritual Direction, 2002. - PDF Supplied?
    • Reflection (Wk 7)
    • Watch Lecture and Write Discussion Wk 7
  • Tuesday 3/3
    • Bhagavad-Gita: The Song of God; up to page 100 or end of section. (Wk 8) 
  • Wednesday 3/4
    • Bhagavad-Gita: The Song of God;finish the book (Wk 8)
  • Thursday 3/5
    • CLASS 5:30-9
    • Classmate Discussion Board responses Wk 7
  • Friday 3/6
  • Saturday 3/7
  • Sunday 3/8
    • Video (Wk 8) (2 hrs): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ket0T3zWwc
Week 8
  • Monday 3/9
    • Soul of Learning, chapters 1 - 3 (Wk 8)
  • Tuesday 3/10
    • Spirit of Our Work, Introduction and chapters 1 & 2, 6 & 7 (Wk 8)
    • Article: https://www.theway.org.uk/back/493Matsaneng.pdf (Wk 8)
    • Reflections (Wk 8) - specific prompt?: How do you relate to the concept of (re)membering?
  • Wednesday 3/11
    • Watch Lecture and Write Discussion Wk 8
  • Thursday 3/12
    • CLASS 5:30-9
    • Week 9 reading TBD
    • Discussion Board responses Wk 8
  • Friday 3/13
  • Saturday 3/14
  • Sunday 3/15
    • Ancestry Paper:
      • Part 1: Tracing our spiritual and cultural legacies (5 page paper, due March 26)
      • Artifact piece - two artifacts that point to the spiritual and cultural legacy. Take a picture of those, if possible, and integrate them into your paper. 
      • What do you know and understand about your spiritual and cultural legacy? What stories have been told and handed down to you? Consider what that legacy might have looked like before colonization/enslavement/globalization?
      • Part 2: Mapping your Integrated Ecosystem of Support (Due March 26)
Week 9
  • Monday 3/16
    • Soul of Learning, chapters 4 - 6 (Wk 9)
    • Finding the Voice Within: Introduction (Wk 9)
    • Watch Lecture and Write Discussion Wk 9
  • Tuesday 3/17
    • Finding the Voice Within: Chapters 5 - 7, 10, and conclusion (Wk 9)
  • Wednesday 3/18
    • Work on Ancestry Paper if not finished

    • God Consciousness chapter from Reconsidering Eve (Wk 9)

    • Reflections Wk 9 - Specific prompts?: What does it mean to you to Find the Voice Within? To what extent have you listened to that voice? What steps could you take to deepen your ability to hear and respond to that voice?
  • Thursday 3/19
    • CLASS 5:30-9
    • Reading for WK 10 TBD
    • Discussion Board 9
  • Friday 3/20
    • Reading for Wk 10 TBD 
  • Saturday 3/21
  • Sunday 3/22
Week 10
  • Monday 3/23
    • Soul of Learning, chapters 7 - 10 (Wk 10)
    • In Search of Our Mothers’ Garden (video) - while reading? (Wk 10)
    • Watch Lecture and Write Discussion Wk 10
  • Tuesday 3/24
    • Healing through (Re)Membering and (Re)claiming ancestral knowledge about Black witch magic  - PDF to come? (Wk 10)
    • Reflections 10 - specific prompt?: How have your rituals and embodied practices deepened your understanding of the spirit and its guidance?
  • Wednesday 3/25
    • Reading for Wk 11 TBD
    • Discussion Board 10
  • Thursday 3/26
    • CLASS 5:30-9
    • ANCESTRY PAPER DUE
  • Friday 3/27
  • Saturday 3/28
  • Sunday 3/29
Holy Week
  • Monday 3/30
    • Awakening the Creative Spirit Intro - pg 109 (Wk 11)
  • Tuesday 3/31
    • Hospitality:The Heart of Spiritual Direction pg 35-75(Wk 11)
    • Reflection 11?
  • Wednesday 4/1
    • Work on Final Project: In a 15 minute class presentation, In media or print format, please present your understanding of the art and discipline of spiritual direction/companionship in your own language, as well as your particular gifts as a potential spiritual director/companion. You will be evaluated for both your understanding of spiritual direction/companionship and your ability to creatively express your understanding and self-description in a concise, creative format. Please place your document in Canvas to be shared with your classmates. Also, please present your memorized spiritual direction/companionship ‘elevator speech’. 
  • Thursday 4/2
  • Friday 4/3
  • Saturday 4/4
  • Sunday 4/5
    • Work on Final Project
Week 11
  • Monday 4/6
    • Awakening the Creative Spirit Intro  - pg 125-212 (Wk 12)
    • Watch Lecture and Write Discussion Wk 11
  • Tuesday 4/7
    • Hospitality:The Heart of Spiritual Direction pg 77-94 (WK 12)
    • Finish Final Project.
  • Wednesday 4/8
  • Thursday 4/9
    • CLASS 5:30-9
    • Discussion board 11
    • FINAL PROJECT DUE
  • Friday 4/10
  • Saturday 4/11
  • Sunday 4/12
Week 12
  • Monday 4/13
    • Watch Lecture and Write Discussion Wk 12
  • Tuesday 4/14
  • Wednesday 4/15
  • Thursday 4/16
    • CLASS 5:30-9
    • Last discussion board
  • Friday 4/17
    • READING PRESENTATION NEEDS TO BE TURNED IN
  • Saturday 4/18
  • Sunday 4/19

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