Learning for Life For Laity and Clergy
Classes on six Mondays and Tuesdays
March 3 – April 8, 2025
1 Jesus’ Secret Teachings
Mondays 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
After a review of Gnosticism in the Early Church, our focus will be on the lost Gospels found at Nag Hammadi in Egypt – Gospels that never made the Canon of the New Testament. What were the secret teachings of Jesus? We will examine the texts of the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Mary Magdelene, the Gospel of Judas, the Gospel of Philip and the Gospel of Truth. We will also examine the meaning of Gnosticism in the work of Carl G. Jung and the impact of Gnosticism in our world today.
Rev. Dr. Raymond Moreland, is Elder of the United Methodist Church. He is Former Adjunct Professor,
Frederick Community College; Member- American Academy of Religion & Society of Biblical Literature; B.A; M.Div.; D.Min.; M.A.; Ph.D.
2 The Mass, Sacred Words Set to Music
Mondays 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
The Mass is a sacred composition that sets the Christian Eucharistic Liturgy to music. Throughout history, composers, whether Catholic or otherwise, have been inspired to express their piety through the Mass. In this class we will listen to and discuss Masses written over the last seven centuries, from the earliest extant Mass composed in the 1400s by Guillaume de Machaut to contemporary composer John Rutter’s “Mass of the Children.” This class will be an opportunity to explore the long history of Church music in the Western European tradition.
David Howard, cellist, was a member of the National Symphony Orchestra for 41 years. He earned two Master’s Degrees, in Performance and in Education. He maintains a teaching studio and performs with the Frederick Symphony.
3 How the Hebrew Bible was Formed
Mondays 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Did you know that the Hebrew Bible contains not one but two different accounts of Noah’s Ark? Who wrote them, and why? Why are there two different accounts of Jacob being renamed Israel? Two accounts of Abram passing Sarai off as his sister and allowing her to fall into a ruler’s harem? Or two different creation stories?
These are among the clues that led critical scholars to conclude that much of the narrative portions of the Hebrew Bible were not the work of a single author, but compilations of different stories skillfully woven together to present a continuous narrative. This Documentary Hypothesis revolutionized—and polarized— biblical studies. For over a hundred years it has been disputed, distorted, modified, and supplemented to the point that there is no scholarly consensus—except that the narratives are not the works of a single author. This course will examine the present state of research into the formation and development of the Hebrew Bible, with the aim that students will become better readers and interpreters of this collection of writings that are considered sacred for three major world religions.
Dr. Larry Eubanks is a retired pastor, having served as Sr. Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Frederick, Maryland, from 1995-2022. He earned a B.S. from Baylor University and a M.Div. and Ph.D. in Old Testament literature from Southern Seminary. In addition to his blog on biblical interpretation (larryeubanks.com), he is a contributing writer at EthicsDaily.com and MissioAlliance.com; and the author of the ebook, The Essence of Jesus: A Fresh Look at the Beatitudes. He also posts video messages on YouTube.
4 Judaism, Jewish Peoplehood, and the Land of Israel
Tuesdays 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Together we will explore the historic connection between the Land of Israel and the Jewish people as well as the religious significance of this relationship. We will study sources that take us on a journey from the Biblical era through the centuries until we arrive at our modern age.
Jordan Hersh is the rabbi of Beth Sholom Congregation. He also serves as a chaplain in the Maryland Army National Guard. He holds an M.A in Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Languages from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.
5 Traditional Native American Ideology
Tuesdays 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
According to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, there are presently close to 700 recognized Native American tribes in the U.S., counting those at both the state and federal levels. There are many more whose applications for government recognition are incomplete, and still more who are so close to extinction that they have become absorbed by other tribes. Each one of these groups has its own language, culture, mythos, and ceremonies. In this class, we will take a look at what common themes shape the Native American beliefs about themselves, the world, and the sacred. We will explore what the wisdom of thousands of years has to tell us about the world we live in today.
Mark Cassells is the first chaplain of a Native American tradition to ever be hired by the State of Maryland. He has spent over 25 years learning from traditional Lakota Sioux elders on Rosebud and Pine Ridge reservations in South Dakota. He has also travelled extensively all over the country and up into Canada participating in and facilitating traditional ceremonies with elders of other tribes as well.
6 Let’s Go to the Movies
Tuesdays 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
This course will focus on five films that each tell the story of a woman who has changed the world: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, The Battle of the Sexes, The Post, Erin Brockovich, and of course, Barbie, the film based on the cultural icon known to all of us. We will examine the common spiritual themes of power and exploitation, creativity and inspiration, and identity and freedom; as expressed through the lives of the women who altered how we approach medical research, sports, journalism, politics, consumer activism, and empowerment for women and girls. Participants are asked to have viewed each film prior to the classroom discussion.
Jan Daffern is a retired pastor, pastoral counselor, and psychotherapist living in Frederick. She has been exploring spiritual themes in popular culture for most of her adult life. She will be teaching this course with the assistance of her husband, Michael Bunitsky, a retired Frederick County Public Schools Educator.