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Instructor: Dr. Jaco J. Hamman, Professor of Religion, Psychology, and Culture

 $55.00

In-person

Thursdays, September 4 – 25, 6:00-7:30pm

This 4-week course explores the genius of beloved Nashville singer-songwriter, John Prine (1946-2020). Prine becomes our guide to the good life. Questions we’ll explore, introduced through selected Prine songs, include: How can we live creatively? How best to respond to the growing climate crisis? How does one grieve loss effectively? And, how does one age with integrity? The world needs Prine’s transformational observations and sage-like wisdom.

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Instructor: Victor Judge, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, Lecturer in Divinity, Lecturer in Literature and Religion

$55.00

In-person

Saturdays, October 4 – 25, 1:00-4:00pm

This 4-week course explores four films by the contemporary American filmmaker Terrence Malick (1943- ).  Viewing Malick’s films may be compared to a spiritual exercise in which one is invited to experience cinematic art as a medium for contemplating the Divine Mystery. Each class session will include a matinee viewing of one of the four films covered in this course, followed by discussion with instructor and Assistant Dean, Victor Judge. The discussions will address artistic merit and religious questions each film invites one to ponder: 

Days of Heaven

The Tree of Life

The Knight of Cups

A Hidden Life

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Instructor: Dr. James P. Byrd, Chancellor’s Chair of Wesleyan Studies, Professor of American Religious History, Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Research in the Grad Dept. of Religion

$55.00

Online (synchronous)

Tuesdays, Sep. 16 – Oct. 28, 7:00-8:30pm

This 6-week course explores the life and writings of Frederick Douglass, focusing on his deepest-held convictions. This course offers a multifaceted assessment of Douglass’ engagements with religious groups, Biblical and theological views, and how religion informed his views of politics and society.  Throughout his life, Douglass had a contentious relationship with organized religion, but his nuanced and prophetic vision of Christianity profoundly influenced his life and thought. Ultimately, this course takes a chronological approach through Douglass’ primary sources – including his writings, famous speeches, and lesser-known works – to understand his significance in his own context and continuing relevance to some of today’s most challenging questions.

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Instructor: Graham Reside 

$12.00

In-person

March 4^th (6-7:30pm)
March 21^st  (6-7:30pm)
April 3^rd (6-7:30pm)

Recently VDS hosted an art exhibit featuring the works of three men serving in federal prison sentenced to death row titled, “The Art of Living on Death Row.” The exhibit raised important questions on issues of restorative justice, moral injury, systemic racism, and punishment and redemption. This series will extend those discussions—and artwork—beyond the VDS walls, engaging in dialogue with neighbors, ministers, activists, family members, and those interested in learning more about the experience of living under a sentence of death in the United States today.

This unique lifelong learning series at Frothy Monkey coffeeshop will feature the artwork and panel discussions, interviews, and Q&A with special guests and experts in the field. The conversations will be facilitated by Dr. Graham Reside, Assistant Professor of Ethics and Society the Director of the Prison and Carceral Studies Program at Vanderbilt Divinity School.

Instructor: Laine Walters Young

$50.00 

Online

Learners will leave the course with concrete practices for building and restoring trust, how to make their integrity known to those around them, and what courage and imagination looks like and can be applied in the everyday work of ministerial, social service, business, and nonprofit fields.  

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Instructor: Andrew Krinks 

$25.00

Online

Why do we have police and prisons? What role does religion play in building police and prisons, and what role might religion play in building a world without them? This course explores the religious roots and function of carceral institutions in the United States.

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