​The U.S. Constitution

In January, the Wesley Advocates class will start our study of the U. S. Constitution. We will read and discuss the Constitution and several important cases relevant to each section. 

Canon of Scripture

By F. F. Bruce

The Wesley Advocates class will spend most of November and December studying F. F. Bruce's Canon of Scripture, a scholarly examination of how the Old and New Testaments came to exist as they now do for Christians.  Bruce begins by discussing our major sources for the Hebrew Bible, the Septuagint, and what we Methodists call the Old Testament; he explores legends, suppositions, and actual evidence about the texts' creation and transmission and acceptance.  

Higher Education:  America's Troubled Dream Machine

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Linda Bennett, Ph.D
Stephens-Otterson Lecture

October 14, 2018
2:00 p.m.

The Wesley Advocates Sunday School class invites you to a lecture by Dr. Linda Bennett on Sunday, October 14, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. in Trinity's sanctuary. 
Using Frank Bruni's book Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be as a foundation, Dr. Bennett will address the trends Bruni outlines, particularly what he describes as the mismatch between public perception and reality about quality in American Colleges.

Genghis Khan and the Quest for God

By Jack Weatherford

Until mid-September, our class will read and discuss Weatherford's study Genghis Khan and the Quest for God, a work describing not only Mongol history and religion, but also Genghis Khan's insistence on religious freedom throughout Asian and European lands he conquered in the 13th century.  

Becoming Jefferson's People: Re-Inventing the American Republic in the Twenty-First Century

  By Clay S. Jenkinson

Throughout July, the Wesley Advocates will read Clay Jenkinson's book, Becoming Jefferson's People: Re-Inventing the American Republic in the Twenty-First Century.  In this short work, Jenkinson, a nationally know scholar and creator of The Thomas Jefferson Hour on National Public Radio, offers short essays in response to Jefferson's writings (quoted from essays and letters mostly) on such topics as self-reliance, leadership, wine, church and state, science, love of books, and "a little rebellion now and then."

Called to Be Holy

By John N. Oswalt
​
The Wesley Advocates will begin John N. Oswalt's book Called to Be Holy (recommended to us by Kaitlin Moore-Morley) at the end of May.

The Sound and the Fury

By William Faulkner
At the end of March, the Wesley Advocates class will begin studying two works by William Faulkner, Nobel Prize winning Mississippi author.  The class will start with "That Evening Sun" (1931).  The second work is the novel, The Sound and the Fury (1929).

Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs

By Lisa Randall
On December 10th, we begin our study of Lisa Randall's Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs.  This work concerns the history and nature of our universe, seen and unseen, especially the ways various bodies live, move, and die within and without our galaxy.

Issues of Stewardship and Conscience in Healthcare

Stephens-Otterson Lecture
October 15, 2017
​2:00 p.m.
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Dr. Jeffrey R. Balser
The Wesley Advocates Sunday School class invites you to a lecture by Dr. Jeffrey R. Balser on Sunday, October 15, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. in Trinity's sanctuary.  Dr. Balser’s lecture, entitled “Issues of Stewardship and Conscience in Healthcare”, will focus on stewardship of healthcare resources (largely dollars) in the United States from various perspectives highlighting liturgical, economic, political, and clinical elements. 

Wesley and The People Called Methodists
By Richard P. Heitzenrater

On August 13th, we began Richard P. Heitzenrater's Wesley and The People Called Methodists(2nd ed).  This thorough study examines Methodist history from its inception within the Church of England in the 1720s, through the principal work of John and Charles Wesley, and into the decades just beyond them.  
The Fourth Gospel:  Tales of a Jewish Mystic
By John Shelby Spong
During June and the first part of July, we wil read and discuss John Shelby Spong's book "The Fourth Gospel:  Tales of a Jewish Mystic."  

The Summer of 1787:
The Men Who Invented the Constitution
By David O. Stewart

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The Wesley Advocates class will begin The Summer of 1787: The Men Who Invented the Constitution by David Stewart at the end of March.

"Crafting the Constitution was one of the most amazing collaborations in human history. David O. Stewart's book is both a gripping narrative on how it was done and a useful guide to how we should regard that wonderful document today."  
​– Walter Isaacson

The Epic of Gilgamesh
(trans. Danny P. Jackson)

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In February, we will begin The Epic of Gilgamesh (trans. Danny P. Jackson), one of the world's oldest literary documents.  

The Mythmaker:  Paul and the Invention of Christianity

During December and January, the Wesley Advocates class is studying Hyam Maccoby's highly praised book the Mythmaker:  Paul and the Invention of Christianity.

The Irony of American History
Reinhold Niebuhr

Our class has begun discussing Reinhold Niebuhr's The Irony of American History, considered amongst the most important 20th-century works about the United States.  Derived from Niebuhr's lectures at Westminster College and Northwestern University, this book explores the disjunctions--the ironies--between "the hopes or our forefathers and the reality of our present situation."  A prominent theologian and teacher, Niebuhr considers topics such as American innocence simultaneous with nuclear-weapons development, Messianic consciousness in the midst of manifest destiny, and continuing class struggles in a "classless" society.
"If we should perish, the ruthlessness of the foe would be only the secondary cause of the disaster.  The primary cause would be that the strength of a giant nation was directed by eyes too blind to see all the hazards of the struggle; and the blindness would be induced not by some accident of nature or history but by hatred and vainglory."

Being Mortal:  Medicine and What Matters in the End
Atul Gawande

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In September, our class turns to Atul Gawande’s best seller Being Mortal, a study of patients and physicians involved with terminal illness and death, an honest exploration of end-of-life issues.  Along with this book, we hope to view a PBS Frontline episode devoted to this study and patients in Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital.     

The Bonhoeffer Phenomenon: Portrait of a Protestant Saint
Stephen Haynes

We will begin The Bonhoeffer Phenomenon: Portrait of a Protestant Saint by Stephen Haynes the middle of July.  This text explores Bonhoeffer's reception by clergy and laity as seer, prophet, apostle, prisoner of conscience, martyr and saint.

Gilead
​Marilynne Robinson ​

This month the Wesley Advocates class is reading Marilynne Robinson's Pulitzer-prize winning novel Gilead, a tale told as memoir recounting the lives and faiths of three generations of Congregational ministers in Iowa and Kansas. The narrative stretches from the 1960s to the Civil War and back again.
  • 2004 Pulitzer Prize winning novel
  • A New York Times Top-Ten Book of 2004
  • Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction

Mere Christianity
C. S. Lewis

The Wesley Advocates class will start Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis the first week in May.  Mere Christianity was originally given as a series of radio broadcasts by Lewis during the Second World War.  

Christians in the Public Square
Ellen Ott Marshall

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Wipf and Stock Publishers
In April, the Wesley Advocates class will be reading Christians in the Public Square by Ellen Ott Marshall.  The class will have the honor of hosting Ellen Ott Marshall on April 24th at Trinity United Methodist Church.
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Ellen Ott Marshall and her parents, Karen and Phil Ott

The Faerie Queene, Book I
Edmund Spenser

"Early in 2016 our class will begin Edmund Spenser's, The Faerie Queene, Book I, the great Renaissance epic of Protestant faith.  In Book I we follow the allegory of Redcrosse, knight of holiness, on his quest to serve the pure damsel Una, who represents the one true church, the Church of England.  Together--and apart--they encounter monsters, demons, and evil knights and duplicitous ladies representing the Seven Deadly Sins, false religions, even the Roman Catholic Church.  Like everyone struggling to achieve holiness, Redcrosse Knight suffers many doubts, missteps, failures as he seeks to prove his worthiness as Una's champion and, ultimately, to free her parents, Adam and Eve, long imprisoned by Satan."

Assist Me To Proclaim - John R. Tyson

In September, the Wesley Advocates class will begin our study of a new book, Assist Me to Proclaim: The Life and Hymns of Charles Wesley by John R. Tyson.
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It is part of the Library of Religious Biography Series.

The First World War -- John Keegan

"As part of our remembrance during these centenary years, during June, July, and August we will read The First World War by John Keegan, a military historian who spent much of his career teaching at Sandhurst.  We will supplement this study with occasional poems and stories from the war." 

Convictions:  How I Learned What Matters Most -- Marcus J. Borg

At the last of April, the Wesley Advocates will begin reading Marcus J. Borg's book, Convictions: How I learned What Matters Most.  In this book, Borg reflects on his own life and how over the years his convictions have changed and developed.  

Eusebius - The Church History
Translation and commentary by Paul L. Maier

On February 1st, we will begin reading Eusebius - The Church History.  A bishop of Caesarea, Eusebius (260-339 CE) studied with Origen and helped build the library overseen by Pamphilius.  In addition to other works, Eusebius wrote this history of the church from Christ through the reign of Constantine (to 324 CE).

Handel's "Messiah"

Class member, William Knapp, will lead a discussion next Sunday about the upcoming performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Trinity.

The Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus and guest soloists will return to Trinity this year to perform a candlelight performance of Handel’s “Messiah” on Friday, Dec. 19th at 7 p.m. Trinity’s sanctuary is one of Maestro Alfred Savia’s favorite venues. “I keep telling people it’s one of the best places anywhere to present ‘The Messiah,'” he said. “It’s my very favorite place.”

It’s not as old, but the church’s sanctuary is just about the same size as the Dublin hall where “Messiah” premiered in 1742. According to Savia, the acoustics are great and the open-trussed architecture is beautiful, especially with the ribbons, garlands, and lighted candles that decorate the hall each Christmas season. This is a holiday event you definitely won’t want to miss.

Josephus - The Essential Writings

On November 23rd, the Wesley Advocates class will start a new book, Josephus The Essential Writings.  This is a translation by Paul L. Maier.  

The Plague

This work tells the story of medical workers finding solidarity in their work as an Algerian city is swept by a plague.  The book asks a number of important questions relating to the nature of destiny and the human condition, and is also timely in light of global Ebola concerns.
The Plague (French: La Peste) is a novel by Albert Camus, published in 1947, that tells the story of medical workers finding solidarity in their labour as the Algerian city of Oran is swept by a plague. It asks a number of questions relating to the nature of destiny and the human condition. The characters in the book, ranging from doctors to vacationers to fugitives, all help to show the effects the plague has on a populace.--Wikipedia

Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World

On August 24th, the class will begin  Jack Weatherford's book, Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World.  
"Reads like the Iliad...Part travelogue, part epic narrative."                   
-- Washington Post

What is the class reading next?

On Sunday, the Wesley Advocates class voted on the next four books to read.  The results of the vote are:
  1. Weatherford's bio of Genghis Kahn
  2. Albert Camus's - The Plague
  3. Josephus's - The Jewish War
  4. Eusebius's - History of the Christian Church from Christ through Constantine

Three plays by William Shakespeare

The Wesley Advocates class will be reading three plays by William Shakespeare.  The plays are:
  • Macbeth - Arden, series 2 - Kenneth Muir, editor
  • Coriolanus - Arden, series 2 - Philip Brockbank, editor
  • The Merchant of Venice - Arden, series 2 - John Russell Brown

A Peace to End All Peace 

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A Peace to End All Peace by David Fromkin, - The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and the Creation of the Modern Middle East.  The Wesley Advocates class will be reading a book by David Fromkin.

Exploring the Origins of the Bible

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Exploring the Origins of the Bible is a selection of essays edited by Craig A. Evans and Emanuel Tov.  


"This is a great book exploring the creation and pulling together of the Bible...." (Mark Sequeira)   

The Iliad of Homer

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When was the last time you had an opportunity to read and talk about a Greek classic?   


This summer the Wesley Advocates class will be reading The Iliad of Homer translated by Richmond Lattimore.  

Jerusalem Besieged

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"Perhaps no fragment of global real estate has been so volatile over so long a history." --Publishers Weekly


Starting in March, the Wesley Advocates will begin reading Jerusalem Besieged by Eric H. Cline.

A New Book - A New Year

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The Wesley Advocates will be starting a new book in January.  We voted on Beowulf.  On the Class Discussion page, a list of resources are posted.  Seamus Heaney audio recordings are posted too. 
April 2019
Reading Assignments for:
  • April 7 - We discuss the first 57 pages of Melville's Benito Cereno.
March 2019
Reading Assignments for:
  • March 3 - The Fifth Amendment- Class led by Brian and Barb Williams (Check the Class Discussions)
  • March 10 - 2019 General Conference Discussion
  • March 17 - U. S. Constitution - Section 9 (The Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments)
  • March 24 - Q & A  on U. S. Constitution
  • March 31 - The Storyteller's Night Sky by Mary Steward Adams
February 2019
​Reading Assignments for:
  • February 3 - U.S. Constitution - Section 4, also read Article I and the 10th Amendment to the Constitution
  • February 10 - Separation of Powers and the Executive Branch
  • February 17 - Safeguards of Liberty - First Amendment (Check the Class Discussions)
  • February 24 - Safeguards of Justice (Check the Class Discussions) - We will continue discussion on 1st Amendment and then discuss the 2nd, 4th, and 6th Amendments.
​
January 2019
​Reading Assignments for:
  • January 6 - U.S. Constitution - Section 1 
  • January 13 - U.S. Constitution - Section 2
  • January 20 - Snow Day 
  • January 27 - U.S. Constitution - Section 3
December 2018
​Reading Assignments for:
  • December 2 - Wassail
  • December 16 - F. F. Bruce, The Canon of Scripture - Chapters 13-17
  • December 23 - F. F. Bruce, The Canon of Scripture - pages 216 to 251
  • December 30 - F. F. Bruce, The Canon of Scripture - pages 255 to 297. (Introduction to U.S. Constitution for next week.)
November 2018
​Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • November 4 - F. F. Bruce, The Canon of Scripture - pages 98 - 144
  • November 11 - F. F. Bruce, The Canon of Scripture - pages 98 - 144
  • November 18 - F. F. Bruce, The Canon of Scripture - pages 145-169
  • November 25 - Kaitlin Moore Morley will be our teacher this week.  Next week is the Wassail.
October 2018
​Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • October 7 - Discussion of Frank Bruni's book Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be
  • October 14 - Linda Bennett Lecture with Q&A - Genghis Khan and the Quest for God - Chapters 17, 18, and Epilogue
  • October 21 - F. F. Bruce, The Canon of Scripture - Chapter 1-4
  • October 28 - F. F. Bruce, The Canon of Scripture - Chapters 5 and 6
September 2018
​Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • September 2 - Watch Video
  • September 9 - Genghis Khan and the Quest for God, by Jack Weatherford - Chapters 9 and 10
  • September 16 - Genghis Khan and the Quest for God, by Jack Weatherford - Chapters 11 and 12
  • September 23 - Genghis Khan and the Quest for God, by Jack Weatherford - Chapters 13 and 14
  • ​September 30 - Genghis Khan and the Quest for God, by Jack Weatherford - Chapters 15 and 16.  Discuss the Frank Bruni book, Where you Go Is Not Who You'll Be.
August 2018
​Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • August 5 - Genghis Khan and the Quest for God, by Jack Weatherford - pages 47 - 101
  • August 12 - Genghis Khan and the Quest for God, by Jack Weatherford - Chapter 6
  • August 19 - Genghis Khan and the Quest for God, by Jack Weatherford - Chapters 7-8
  • August 26 - Genghis Khan and the Quest for God, by Jack Weatherford - Chapter 9 - 10
July 2018
​Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • ​July 1 - We will vote July 8th for up to six books from our list.  Becoming Jefferson's People - pages 1-27.  
  • July 8 - Becoming Jefferson's People - pages 28 - 58
  • July 15 - Becoming Jefferson's People - pages 59 - 90
  • July 22 - Becoming Jefferson's People - pages ​91 - 27.  
  • July 29 - Genghis Khan and the Quest for God, by Jack Weatherford - pages ix - 46 

June 2018
​Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • June 3 - Called to Be Holy - pages 89-123.  
  • June 10 - Called to Be Holy - pages 125-164
  • June 17 - Called to Be Holy - Finish
  • June 24 - Called to Be Holy - CH 12-end of book.  Discuss book list.
May 2018
​Reading Assignments for the Week of: 
  • May 6 - The Sound and the Fury - Jason section - pages 223-330
  • May 13 - The Sound and the Fury - Finish Faulkner for the May 20th class.
  • May 20 - Called to Be Holy - Kaitlin Moore-Morley will lead us through the preface to page 44.
  • May 27 - Called to Be Holy - pp. 45-88
April 2018
​Reading Assignments for the Week of: 
  • April 1 - The Sound and the Fury first 55 pages.  Discussion about next speaker for the  Stephens-Otterson Lecture.
  • April 8 - The Sound and the Fury ​- pages 55-92.
  • April 15 - The Sound and the Fury ​- Second part of the Benji section - Pages 55-92
  • April 22 - The Sound and the Fury ​- First half of the Quentin section - top of page 153
  • ​April 29 - The Sound and the Fury - finish the Quentin section
March 2018
​Reading Assignments for the Week of: 
  • March 4 - No Class. 
  • March 7 - Lenten dinner and presentation, Jesus's Trials by Sanhedrin, Herod, and Pilate
  • March 11 - Practice presentation
  • March 14 - Lenten dinner and presentation, Crucifixion and Entombment
  • March 18 - Practice presentation
  • March 21 - "That Evening Sun" by Faulkner, 
    Lenten dinner and presentation, Resurrection
  • March 25 - Finish our discussion of "That Evening Sun" and The Sound and the Fury first 55 pages 

February 2018
​Reading Assignments for the Week of: 
  • February 4 - Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs, Lisa Randall - Chapters 13 - 16
  • February 11 - Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs, Lisa Randall - Chapters 17 - 19
  • February 18 - Finish Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs, Lisa Randall - Practice Lenten presentation
  • February 21 - Lenten Dinner and Christian Art in Lent 
  • February 25​​ - Practice Lenten Presentation
  • February 28 - Lenten Dinner and presentation, The Last Supper and Jesus's Agony in the Garden

January 2018
​Reading Assignments for the Week of: 
  • January 7 - Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs, Lisa Randall - through page 96
  • January 14 - Snow Day - Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs, Lisa Randall - Chapters 7 - 9​
  • January 21 - Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs, Lisa Randall - Chapters 7 - 9​
  • January 28 - Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs, Lisa Randall - Chapters 10 - 12

December 2017
​Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • December 3 - Wassail during class time.  
  • December 10 - Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs, Lisa Randall - pages ix - 33
  • December 17 - Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs, Lisa Randall - pages 35 - 71
  • December 24 - John Milton's ode "On the Morning of Christ's Nativity"
  • December 31 - Finish John Milton's ode "On the Morning of Christ's Nativity"
November 2017
​Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • November 5 - Wesley and the People Called Methodists (2nd ed.) - pages 261 - 290
  • November 12 - Wesley and the People Called Methodists (2nd ed.) - pages 291 - 325
  • November 19 - Wesley and the People Called Methodists (2nd ed.) - pages 325 - 361
  • ​November 26 - Thanksgiving Sunday
October 2017
​Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • October 1 - Wesley and the People Called Methodists (2nd ed.) - First part of Chapter 4
  • October 8 - Wesley and the People Called Methodists (2nd ed.) - Finish Chapter 4.
  • October 15 - Lecture by Dr. Jeffrey R. Balser, "Issues of Stewardship and Conscience in Healthcare", at 2:00 p.m. in Trinity's sanctuary.
  • October 22 - Wesley and the People Called Methodists (2nd ed.) - Chapter 5 (pages 223 - 261)
  • October 29 - 500th anniversary of Luther's 95 Theses and the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. (Reformation Timeline)
September 2017
​Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • September 3 - Wesley and the People Called Methodists (2nd ed.) - Complete discussion of the first two thirds of Chapter 2
  • September 10 - Wesley and the People Called Methodists (2nd ed.) - Pages 81 - 116
  • September 17 - Wesley and the People Called Methodists (2nd ed.) - Chapter 3
  • September 24​ - Wesley and the People Called Methodists (2nd ed.) - Complete discussion of Chapter 3
August 2017
​Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • August 6 - Josh Claybourn will lead our discussion about possibilities in Trinity's future
  • August 13 - Wesley and the People Called Methodists (2nd ed.) by Richard P Heitzenrater - reading prefatory material to the second edition, preface to the first edition, and all of Chapter 1
  • August 20 - Wesley and the People Called Methodists (2nd ed.) - PowerPoint 
  • ​August 27 - Complete Chapter 1 and begin questions on 2.
July 2017
​Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • July 2 - ​The Fourth Gospel:  Tales of a Jewish Mystic by John Shelby Spong - Chapters 17-18
  • July 9 - ​The Fourth Gospel:  Tales of a Jewish Mystic by John Shelby Spong - Chapters 19-23
  • July 16 - The Fourth Gospel:  Tales of a Jewish Mystic by John Shelby Spong - Chapters 24-26
  • July 23 - The Fourth Gospel:  Tales of a Jewish Mystic by John Shelby Spong- Chapters 27-29
  • ​July 30 - The Fourth Gospel:  Tales of a Jewish Mystic by John Shelby Spong - Finish book​

June 2017
​Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • June 4 - ​The Fourth Gospel:  Tales of a Jewish Mystic by John Shelby Spong - Preface and Chapters 1-4
  • June 11 - The Fourth Gospel:  Tales of a Jewish Mystic by John Shelby Spong - Chapters 5 - 7 
  • June 18 - The Fourth Gospel:  Tales of a Jewish Mystic by John Shelby Spong - Chapters 6 - 10
  • ​June 25 - The Fourth Gospel:  Tales of a Jewish Mystic by John Shelby Spong - Chapters 11 - 16
May 2017
​Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • May 7 - David O. Steward, The Summer of 1787: The Men Who Invented the Constitution - No new assignment
  • May 14 - David O. Steward, The Summer of 1787: The Men Who Invented the Constitution - Chapters 13-15
  • May 21 - David O. Steward, The Summer of 1787: The Men Who Invented the Constitution - Chapters 16-18
  • May 28 - David O. Steward, The Summer of 1787: The Men Who Invented the Constitution - Finish​


April 2017
​Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • April 2 - David O. Stewart, The Summer of 1787, Chapters 5-7
  • April 9 - David O. Stewart, The Summer of 1787, Chapters 5-7
  • April 16 - Easter Sunday - No Class
  • April 23 - The Summer of 1787, Chapters 8-11
  • ​April 30 - The Summer of 1787, Chapters 12-14
March 2017
​Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • March 5 - Video and Slides
  • March 12 - The Epic of Gilgamesh (trans. Danny P. Jackson) - Tablets 9 and 10
  • March 19 - The Epic of Gilgamesh (trans. Danny P. Jackson) - Tablets 11 and 12
  • March 26 - Stewart, The Summer of 1787, Chapters 1-4
February 2017
​Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • February 5 - We will begin The Epic of Gilgamesh (trans. Danny P. Jackson) - Intro and Tablet 1
  • February 12 - The Epic of Gilgamesh (trans. Danny P. Jackson) - Intro and Tablet 2
  • February 19 - The Epic of Gilgamesh (trans. Danny P. Jackson) - Tablets 3, 4, and 5
  • ​February 26 - The Epic of Gilgamesh (trans. Danny P. Jackson) - Tablets 6, 7, and 8
January 2017
​Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • January 1 - No Class
  • January 8 - Maccoby's Mythmaker: Paul and the Invention of Christianity - ​Read through page 118 (Study Questions)
  • January 15 - Maccoby's Mythmaker: Paul and the Invention of Christianity - Read through page 155 - Chapters 12 and 13.
  • January 22 - Maccoby's Mythmaker: Paul and the Invention of Christianity - Chapters 14 and 15
  • January 29 - Finish Maccoby's book - Chapter 26
December 2016
​Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • Next Book - Hyam Maccoby's Mythmaker: Paul and the Invention of Christianity
  • December 4 - Niebuhr, K. P. Reinhold, The Irony of American History - Chapter 8 (Quotations)
  • December 11- We'll read pages 3-49 in Maccoby's Mythmaker: Paul and the Invention of Christianity.
  • December 18- Maccoby's Mythmaker: Paul and the Invention of Christianity - Chapters 6-8 
  • December 25 - No Class
November 2016
​Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • November 6 - Niebuhr, K. P. Reinhold, The Irony of American History - Chapter 4
  • November 13 - Niebuhr, K. P. Reinhold, The Irony of American History - Chapter 5
  • November 20 - Niebuhr, K. P. Reinhold, The Irony of American History - Chapter 6
  • November 27 - Niebuhr, K. P. Reinhold, The Irony of American History - Chapter 7
October 2016
​Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • October 2 - Frontline episode
  • October 9 - Begin New Book - Niebuhr, K. P. Reinhold, The Irony of American History - Preface and Chapter 1
  • October 16 - Niebuhr, K. P. Reinhold, The Irony of American History - Chapter 2
  • October 23 - Niebuhr, K. P. Reinhold, The Irony of American History - Chapter 2 (Discussion will continue.)
  • October 30 -  Niebuhr, K. P. Reinhold, The Irony of American History - Chapter 3

September 2016
​Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • September 4 - Read Tolstoy's Death of Ivan Ilyich and Gawande's Being Mortal, Introduction and Chapters 1 and 2.
  • September 11 - Read Gawande's Being Mortal, Chapters 3 and 4.  (Questions from the board)
  • September 18 - Read Gawande's Being Mortal, Chapters 5 and 6
  • September 25 - Finish reading Gawande's Being Mortal
August 2016
​Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • August 7 - This week continue reading The Bonhoeffer: Portrait of a Protestant - Interpreting The Bonhoeffer Phenomenon. (Cult and Domestication)
  • August 14 - Plan to discuss the finally two sections, (Cult and Domestication), of The Bonhoeffer: Portrait of a Protestant.
  • August 21 - Documentary
  • August 28 - Documentary
July 2016
​Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • ​July 3 - Continue reading Gilead to page 144
  • July 10 - Finish Gilead
  • July 17 - We will begin Stephen Haynes's biography The Bonhoeffer Phenomenon: Portrait of a Protestant Saint, reading xi - 35.
  • July 24 - Continue reading The Bonhoeffer: Portrait of a Protestant the Prophet and Apostle.
  • July 31 - Continue reading The Bonhoeffer: Portrait of a Protestant. (Bridge and Saint)
June 2016
Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • June 5 - Start reading Gilead to page 27
  • June 12 - For this week continue reading Gilead to page 63
  • June 19 - For this week continue reading Gilead to page 97
  • June 26 - Continue reading Gilead to page 144
May 2016
Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • May 1 - For this week read Mere Christianity - Part 2
  • May 8 - For next week read Mere Christianity - Part 3
  • May 15 - Discussion of quotes from Mere Christianity
  • May 22 - No Class
  • May 29 - Finish our study of C. S. Lewis and the book, Mere Christianity

​April 2016
Reading Assignments for the Week of:
  • April 3 - The Faerie Queene, Book I, Canto 12
  • April 10 - Christians in the Public Square by Ellen Ott Marshall - We will be discussing the book next week in preparation for the lecture by Ellen Ott Marshall on April 24th.
  • April 17 - Christians in the Public Square
  • April 24 - Sermon and Lecture by Ellen Ott Marshall - We will be starting C. S. Lewis' book, Mere Christianity for next week - Read: Preface and Part I

March 2016
Weekly Reading Assignments
  • March 6 - The Faerie Queene, Book I, Canto 8
  • March 13 - The Faerie Queene, Book I, Canto 9
  • March 20 - The Faerie Queene, Book I, Canto 10
  • March 27 - The Faerie Queene, Book I, Canto 11
​
February 2016
Weekly Reading Assignments
  • February 7 - The Faerie Queene, Book I, Canto IV pg 43-55
  • February 14 - The Faerie Queene, Book I, Canto 5
  • February 21- The Faerie Queene, Book I, Canto 6
  • February 28 - The Faerie Queene, Book I, Canto 7
January 2016
Weekly Reading Assignments
  • January 3 - Finish the movie.  
    • Each person should bring two sentences about what you have learned about Charles Wesley.
    • We will take a look at the two articles that have been shared by George.
    • In the Spencer book, we will read the letters, the Virginia Wolfe comments, and the first four stanzas. 
  • January 10 - Poem and stanzas 1 through 28 in Canto I of The Faerie Queene.  Note:  Be sure to bring your handouts to class next week.
    • Please put on your calendars the lecture of Os Guiness in USI's Mitchell Auditorium on Wednesday, 27 January, 7:00 p.m.; his topic is "Religious Freedom and the Making of a World Safe for Democracy."
  • January 17 - Continue reading Canto I of The Faerie Queene stanzas 29 - 43.  
  • January 24 - Finish reading Canto I and begin reading Canto 2 stanzas 1-20.
  • January 31 - Begin with Canto 2 stanza 21-finish and then start Canto 3 stanza 1-30.
December 2015
Weekly Reading Assignments
  • December 6 - Assist Me To Proclaim: The Life and Hymns of Charles Wesley -  Chapter 17
  • December 13 - Assist Me To Proclaim: The Life and Hymns of Charles Wesley -  Finish reading the book
  • December 20 - Assist Me To Proclaim: The Life and Hymns of Charles Wesley -  Discussion will start with the hymns in Chapter 19 and then finish the book.
  • December 27 - Lynn Martin article and start movie. ​

November 2015
Weekly Reading Assignments
  • November 1 - Assist Me To Proclaim: The Life and Hymns of Charles Wesley - Chapter 11
  • November  8 - Assist Me To Proclaim: The Life and Hymns of Charles Wesley - Chapters 11-13
  • November 15 - Assist Me To Proclaim: The Life and Hymns of Charles Wesley -  Chapters 12-14
  • November 22 - Assist Me To Proclaim: The Life and Hymns of Charles Wesley -  Chapters 15-16
  • November 29 - Discussion 

October 2015
Weekly Reading Assignments
  • October 4 - Assist Me To Proclaim: The Life and Hymns of Charles Wesley - Chapters 3-5
  • October 11- Assist Me To Proclaim: The Life and Hymns of Charles Wesley - Chapters 6 and 7.  We will start with the hymn on page 66.  
  • October 18 - Assist Me To Proclaim: The Life and Hymns of Charles Wesley - Chapters 8 and 9
  • October 25 - Assist Me To Proclaim: The Life and Hymns of Charles Wesley ​- Chapters 10
September 2015
Weekly Reading Assignments
  • September 6 -  Notes on Gallipoli
  • September 13 - Wesley - Movie about John and Charles Wesley, begin new book Assist Me To Proclaim - Introduction, Chapters 1 and 2
  • September 20 - Finish the movie, Wesley 
  • September 27 - Discussion Chapters 1&2 of the new book, Assist Me To Proclaim by John R. Tyson.
August 2015
Weekly Reading Assignments
  • August 2  - The First World War - Chapter 7
  • August 9 - The First World War - Chapter 8
  • August 16 - The First World War - Chapter 9
  • August 23 - The FIrst World War - Chapter 10
  • August 30 - All Quiet on the Western Front - Be sure to arrive on time or even early this week.



July 2015
Weekly Reading Assignments
  • July 5 - The First World War - Finish Chapter 4
  • July 12 - The First World War - Chapter 5
  • July 19 - The First World War - Chapter 5 (Finish)
  • July 26 - The First World War - Chapter 6

June 2015
Weekly Reading Assignments
  • June 7 - NEW Book - The First World War by John Keegan - Chapter 1
  • June 14 - The First World War - Chapter 2
  • June 21 - The First World War - Chapter 3
  • June 28 - The First World War - Chapter 4

May 2015
Weekly Reading Assignments
  • May 3 - Convictions:  How I learned What Matters Most - Chapters 4 and 5
  • May 10 - Convictions - Chapter 6
  • May 17 - Convictions - Chapters 7 and 8
  • May 24 - Convictions - Chapters 9 and 10
  • May 31 - Convictions - Chapter 11

April 2015
Weekly Reading Assignments
  • April 5 - Eusebius - Chapter 9
  • April 12 - Finish Eusebius
  • April 19 - Convictions:  How I learned What Matters Most - Chapter 1-3
  • April 26 - Convictions:  How I learned What Matters Most - Chapter 4, and read Amos

March 2015
Weekly Reading Assignments
  • March 1 - Eusebius - Wee Quiz 5
  • March 8 - Eusebius - Chapter 6 (Class will finish Wee Quiz 5.)
  • March 15 - Eusebius - Chapter 7 (Class will finish Wee Quiz 6.) Discuss:  Heresies in the Early Church
  • March 22 - We will be finishing 6 and 7.  (No extra reading)
  • March 29 - Chapter 8 


February 2015
Weekly Reading Assignments

  • February 1 - Eusebius - Intro and Chapter 1
  • February 8 - Eusebius - Chapter 2
  • February 15 - Eusebius - Chapter 3
  • February 22 - Eusebius - Chapter 4

January 2015
Weekly Reading Assignments
  • January 4 - Josephus - Chapters 19-22
  • January 11 - Josephus - Chapters 23-25
  • January 18 - Josephus - Chapters 26-27
  • January 25 - Josephus - Finish 


December 2014
Weekly Reading Assignments
  • December 7 - Josephus - Chapters 9-12
  • December 14 - Josephus - Chapters 13-14
  • December 21 - Josephus - Chapters 15-16
  • December 28 - Josephus - Chapters 17-18

November 2014
Weekly Reading Assignments
  • November 2 - The Plague - Pages 120-168
  • November 9 - The Plague - Pages 169 - 240
  • November 16 - The Plague - Finish the book
  • November 23 - Josephus - A New Translation by Paul L. Maier - Intro - Chapter 4
  • November 30 - Josephus - Chapters 5 - 8

October
Weekly Reading Assignments
  • October 5 - Finish Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World
  • October 12 - PBS Video - On the Trail of Genghis Khan
  • October 19 - The Plague - Chapter 1
  • October 26 - The Plague - Pages 61-120

September
Weekly Reading Assignments
  • September 7 - Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World Chapters 4 and 5
  • September 14 - Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World - Chapters 6 and 7
  • September 21- Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World - Chapters 8 and 9
  • September 28 - Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World - Chapters 9, 10, and Epilogue

August
Weekly Reading Assignments
  • August 3 - Background for Coriolanus
  • August 10 - Coriolanus Acts 3, 4, and 5
  • August 17 - Finish Act 5 Discussion of Coriolanus 
  • August 24 - Begin reading Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World - Introduction and Chapter 1
  • August 31- Chapters 2 and 3 of Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World

July
Weekly Reading Assignments

  • July 6 - Finish discussion of Merchant of Venice 
  • July 13 - Coriolanus Acts 1-2
  • July 20 - Voting for the next books to read in class.  Coriolanus
  • July 27 - Coriolanus

June
Weekly Reading Assignments

  • June 1 - Discussion Macbeth
  • June 8 - Finish Macbeth and bring the handouts on reading the Merchant of Venice - Acts 1- 2
  • June 15 - Merchant of Venice DVD
  • June 22 - Finish reading Merchant of Venice Act 3
  • June 29 - Merchant of Venice DVD

May
Weekly Reading Assignments

  • May 4 - Macbeth - Acts 2-4
  • May 11 - Watch Macbeth DVD 
  • May 18 - Study Questions on Macbeth
  • May 25 - Finish watching Macbeth DVD

April
Weekly Reading Assignments

  • April 6 - Finish A Peace to End All Peace
  • April 13 - Begin Macbeth - Acts 1 and 2
  • April 20 - Easter Sunday - No Class
  • April 27 - Read Act 3 and watch DVD 

March 2014
Weekly Reading Assignments 

  • March 9 - Section V (Pages  231-249)
  • March 16 - Read to end of section VI (pages 253-301)  We will be discussing sections V and VI.
  • March 23 - Section VII and VIII (Pages 305 - 379)
  • March 30 - Section IX and X (Pages 383 - 462)

February 2014
Weekly Reading Assignments 

  • February 2 - Start read chapters 4-15 (page 136) of A Peace to End All Peace
  • February 9 - Discuss chapters 1-4
  • February 16 - Begin discussion pages 51-136
  • February 23 - Discussion pages 88-187

January 2014
Weekly Reading Assignments 
  • January 5 - Chapter 8
  • January 12 - A Peace to End All Peace - Introduction and Chapters 1-3.  Also, we will start the epic movie, Lawrence of Arabia
  • January 19 - Finish reading section 1 of A Peace to End All Peace - Be sure to read a bio on T. E. Lawrence
  • January 26 - Watch Lawrence of Arabia
December 2013
Weekly Reading Assignments
  • December 1 - Chapter 4 - The Role of "the Septuagint" in the Formation of the Biblical Canons
  • December 8 - Chapter 5 
  • December 15 - Chapter 6
  • December 22 - Chapter 7
  • December 29 - (Class will not meet.)

November 2013
Weekly Reading Assignments

  • November 3 - Exploring the Origins of the Bible - Introduction and Chapter 1
  • November 10 - Exploring the Origins of the Bible - Chapter 2
  • November 17 - Chapter 3
  • November 24 - No Class - Hanging of the Greens


October 2013
Weekly Reading Assignments
  • October 6 - The Iliad of Homer - Books 23-24
  • October 13 - Begin video
  • October 20 - Finishing video
  • October 27 - Open Discussion

September 2013
Weekly Reading Assignments
  • September 1 - The Iliad of Homer - Book 18
  • September 8 - The Iliad of Homer - Book 19
  • September 15 - The Iliad of Homer - Book 20
  • September 22 - The Iliad of Homer - Book 21
  • September 29 - The Iliad of Homer - Book 6 and 22

August 2013
Weekly Reading Assignments
  • August 4- The Iliad of Homer - Book 12
  • August 11- The Iliad of Homer - Books 13 & 14
  • August 18 - The Iliad of Homer - Books 15 & 16
  • August 25 - The Iliad of Homer - Book 17

July 2013
Weekly Reading Assignments
  • July 7 - The Iliad of Homer -  Books 7-8
  • July 14 - The Iliad of Homer - Book 9
  • July 21 - The Iliad of Homer - Book 10
  • July 28 - The Iliad of Homer - Book 11

June 2013

Weekly Reading Assignments:
  • June 2 - The Iliad of Homer - Book 1
  • June 9 - The Iliad of Homer - Book 2
  • June 16 - The Iliad of Homer - Book 3
  • June 23 - The Iliad of Homer - Books 4-5
  • June 30 - The Iliad of Homer - Book 6

May 2013

Weekly Reading Assignments:
  • May 5 - Chapter 8
  • May 12 - Chapter 9
  • May 19 - Finish Jerusalem Besieged and read 28 pages of the intro to The Iliad of Homer.
  • May 26 - Finish the introduction to The Iliad of Homer

April 2013

Weekly Reading Assignments:
  • April 7 - Chapter 4 - In Blood and Fire
  • April 14- Chapter 5 - The "Holy House"
  • April 21 - Chapter 6 - For God, Gold, and Glory
  • April 28 - Chapter 7 - The Sultan and the City

March 2013

Weekly Reading Assignments:
  • March 3 - Chapters 1-2
  • March 10 - Chapter 2
  • March 17 - Chapter 3
  • March 24 - Chapter 3
  • March 31 - Chapter 4

February 2013

Weekly Reading Assignments:
  • February 3 - Beowulf (Line 1913)
  • February 10  - Beowulf (line 2489)
  • February 17 - Beowulf - Finish
  • February 24 - Open Discussion

January 2013

Weekly Reading Assignments:
  • January 5 - Beowulf (Intro and up to line 606)
  • January 13 - Beowulf (Line 1007 and handouts)
  • January 20 - Beowulf (Line 1007)
  • January 27 - Beowulf (Line 1320)