Current Class Offerings
A Pre-Election Conversation As the days ‘til the
first Tuesday in November draw ever closer, the political landscape should
become clearer insofar as the key issues for voters are concerned. Sheldon
Stahl will explore those key issues and the candidates’ positions
on them, as well the relative positions of the two candidates in terms of
the likelihood of their election. This conversation is meant to be an interactive
one, so bring your interests and your opinions to this event. This upcoming
election may well be the most critical election we have ever witnessed insofar
as restoring some sense of balance between the three supposedly co-equal
branches of our government.
Monday, September 15, 7:00-9:00 pm.
Buddhism
Would you like to learn more about the religion of Buddhism? This class
will explore the story of the Buddha’s enlightenment; the teachings
of the Buddha; Buddhist philosophy; Buddhist history; and Buddhism and contemporary
western culture.
Facilitator Robert Brumet is a teacher in the Buddhist Vipassana tradition
of insight meditation.
Wednesday, September 24, 7:00-9:00 pm.
Discover the Feminine in Early Christianity
Come journey with us to discover the female face of God in Christianity.
No person who has grown up in this country has escaped the effects of early
decisions about how to tell the history of a people of faith. For 2000 years,
our culture has supported the male face of God. Hidden in early manuscripts
and artwork, the female face is emerging. The discovery of what early Christians
knew turns upside down what many of us learned as children. Join Bonnie
Rosen-Cowherd to learn another side of what happened 2000 years ago.
Mondays, September 29 and October 13, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Understanding Grief
Are you are facing the difficult process of grieving? Is the sense of loss
overwhelming? Mourning is the outward expression of many thoughts and feelings
about loss. It is important to understand our grief and hold that loss with
care. Using the book “Understanding Grief” by Dr. Alan Wolfelt,
we will talk, tell stories, listen, and read to help process the feelings
that come with loss. Facilitated by Dori Bader and Frankie Nelson.
Tuesdays, September 30 to October 27, 7:00-9:00 pm
Nature Book Discussion Group
More: Population, Nature, and What Women Want by Robert Engelman addresses
an
Important aspect of environmental justice. With rising concerns about world
hunger, disease, water shortages and the climate crisis, it's time to talk
about overpopulation. The author takes a sometimes humorous historical journey
and discusses what is possible for the future. Please read the first quarter
of the book. Patty Brown is a psychiatric nurse and facilitates this discussion
as a member of Green Sanctuary Committee. Call 816 737-2804 to sign
up.
Alternate Thursdays 6:30-8:30pm for four sessions beginning October
2.
Conversations about Islam
Would you like to learn more about one of the world’s great religions?
Come join Mostafa Badr in a question and answer exploration of topics such
as the Qur’an, the prophet Muhammad, Islamic practices, and how Shi’a
differ from Sunnis. Dr. Badr is a practicing Muslim, is originally from
Egypt, and teaches Pharmacology at UMKC.
Wednesdays, October 8, 15, and 22, 7:00-8:30pm
Our Welcoming Congregation
All Souls is a Welcoming Congregation, a Unitarian Universalist congregation
that fosters inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people
in all areas of congregational life. We will use The Welcoming Congregation
Handbook as a guide for a multi-layer, experiential conversation among persons
of different sexual orientations. We will learn more about each other and
ourselves and celebrate our diversity. This program is open to all members
and friends of All Souls, including high-school-age youth. This six week
series is team-led by members of our congregation.
Wednesdays, October 15-November 19, 6:30 - 8:30pm
What Does it Mean to Say You're a Humanist?
Join humanist scholars and leaders from All Souls Unitarian Universalist
Church as they describe the origins of Humanism, explain the unique role
of Unitarian Universalists in its development, and share the thinking of
today's humanists.
Facilitators are Jim Eller, Jill Jarvis, Bill Main and Walt Wells.
Thursdays, October 23 - November 13, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
People from all racial and ethnic backgrounds must have a place in the national conversation. This class creates ways for participants to see and understand the “invisible” effects of racism. This is the first part of a series of 6 classes, with the next series being offered in the spring of 2009. The study guide, Everyday Democracy, can be downloaded and printed at no cost from everydaydemocracy.org. Facilitators Janet Moss and Joel Wakham have a long history of community organizing and race relations work.
Thursdays, October 30, Nov. 13 and Nov. 20 - 7:00-9:00 pm
Adult Sunday School: Thank God for Evolution
Evolutionary brain science
Evolutionary ethics
Evolutionary emergence
Evolutionary integrity
Evolutionary mission
Evolution of cooperation
Quadrune brain
Explore these and similar ideas in the Adult Sunday School, as we read Thank
God for Evolution, by Michael Dowd (a speaker at All Souls last year). Convener:
Ted Otteson. Sundays at 10:00a.m.
All Souls Non- Fiction Book Club
Moloka'i
Moloka'i is the story of a young native Hawaiian girl growing up in Honolulu
at the end of the 19th century, who at age seven is diagnosed with Hansen's
disease, taken from her family, and exiled to a leprosy settlement. It is
the story of her life there, the friends who become her family, the man
she falls in love with and marries, the child she is forced to give up,
and her eventual, miraculous release from exile.
Monday, September 8, 7-9p.m.
What is Your Dangerous Idea?
From Copernicus to Darwin, to current-day thinkers, scientists have always
promoted theories and unveiled discoveries that challenge everything society
holds dear; ideas with both positive and dire consequences. Many thoughts
that resonate today are dangerous not because they are assumed to be false,
but because they might turn out to be true. What do the world's leading
scientists and thinkers consider to be their most dangerous idea? This book
takes an unflinching look at the daring, breathtaking, sometimes terrifying
thoughts that could forever alter our world and the way we live in it. Monday,
October 6, 7:00-9:00 pm.
Postville: A Clash of Cultures in Heartland America
Monday, November 3, from 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Bleeding Kansas
Monday, December 1, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Contact Melanie Holiday for more information 913-338-5570