will serve as the basis for this course. In addition, we will look briefly at how colonialism and modernism aided in shaping this tradition in the contemporary world – particularly in the works of Tagore and Gandhi.
Buddhism
$24 / $29
NC7831 – Naples Center – March 31 at 10am – 12pm, Thursday The religion of Buddhism has enjoyed a renewed interest among people of the Western world – particularly since the end of WWII. Why is this? What are the central teachings of this tradition? Who was the Buddha? How did his pronouncements grow into a major world religion? Who is the Dalai Lama? What is his impact on the current world? Is Buddhism really a religion or is it merely a “way of life?” This discussion is aimed at providing a basic introduction to a major religious tradition in our contemporary world.
The Religion of Ralph Waldo Emerson
$24 / $29
Option #1 – NC7832 – Naples Center – April 14 at 10am – 12pm, Thursday Option #2 – BV7833 – Bentley Village (North Naples) – May 12 at 10am – 12pm, Thursday Choose one of the course options above. Ralph Waldo Emerson is indisputably a giant of American thought and creativity. His poetry and essays continue to inspire us more than a century after his death. What did the great “Sage of Concord” teach us? He certainly taught us “self-reliance.” But more than this, he taught us that religion is not some dogmatic set of pronouncements nor vapid institutions. Religion is a spirit – the “oversoul” – that pervades all of life and manifests itself in creative beauty and personal strength. Our discussion will center on Emerson’s influence on American life and his continuing value for spiritual seekers in the 21st century.
What Did the Greeks Think?
$24 / $29
MP7834 – Moorings Park (Naples) – May 18 at 10am – 12pm, Wednesday It has been observed that all of the questions of our modern world come from the Greeks. This is quite true. They provided us with notions of “universals,” theories of knowledge, rules for logic, and social and political organization. Democracy has its roots in the Greek mind. This course will explore the ideas of the Greeks – particularly, Socrates and Plato – and identify the significance of these for our time.
SCIENCE & ASTRONOMY Tesla, Edison, Westinghouse: The Men Who Invented Electricity
$20 / $25
Option #1 – NC7835 – Naples Center – January 28 at 10am – 11:30am, Thursday Option #2 – NC7836 – Naples Center – March 14 at 1:30pm – 3pm, Monday Choose one of the course options above. As the 19th century morphed into the 20th century, “a war of currents” between American inventors and entrepreneurs, George Westinghouse and Thomas Edison, was being waged over AC vs. DC electric current. Nikola Tesla, a transplant from modern-day Croatia, stepped onto the stage full of ideas, energy, and patents he had developed, and added his brilliance, talent, and unique personality to the cause of AC current. Learn how this fascinating saga of brilliance, jealously, showmanship, deceit, money, and greed played out in a non-technical presentation. Instructor: Steven Mutart
Cosmology: Describing the Universe with Contrasting Views of Religion and Science
$34 / $39
Option #1 – NC7894 – Naples Center – February 8, 10 at 10am – 12pm, Monday/Wednesday Option #2 – AT7895 – Atrium – (Ft. Myers) March 2, 9 at 10am – 12pm, Wednesdays Choose one of the course options above. Religion and science have long been at odds in explaining origins, creation and evolution of the universe, and life. Yet, faith and scientific methodology can also be most complimentary. Are we, intelligent beings, the result of a theistic design or do we come from the natural laws that are pervasive across fourteen billion years of cosmological evolution? Are we alone or do we have neighbors throughout our universe? This course will introduce you to the dogmas, principles, theories, and beliefs that lie at the heart of these ecumenical questions. Instructor: Scott Flaig
Register online at http://RegisterRA.fgcu.edu or call 239-425-3272 / 239-434-4737
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