Exploratory Adult Education Program
St. Nicholas Church


spacer image

This Web page contains materials and references used in our Adult Education program in recent years.  It is intended to be private to this group.  Some of the materials here may be copyrighted or compiled from copyrighted sources.  The "notes" on various subjects are just that – notes – and may have been casually put together.  Do not accept them as authoritative.  Consider looking at my "Tips for Online Research," in the "General" section below.


Slavery Resources

Statistics from the "Global Slavery Index" Article questioning slavery statistics
Leviticus Ch 25 The Law of the Hebrew Slave
Biblical passages used to justify slavery "Church's slavery apology is not enough" (the Codrington plantations)
Mary Schmich column: "What We Learn About Slavery" Teaching curriculum mentioned in Schmich column


Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Resources

"Letter from Birmingham Jail," M.L. King, 16 April 1963, transcribed "Letter from Birmingham Jail," M.L. King, as published in Christian Century periodical, 1963-06-12
Article, 1963-01-24, "Alabama Clerics Urge Law, Order" Article, The Living Church, 1963-02-03, "Wanted: Law, Order, Sense"
Article, Birmingham News, 1963-04-07: "Some Patience on Color Issue" Text of Statement by Eight Alabama Clergymen, 1963-04-12
Article, Birmingham News, 1963-04-13: "White clergymen urge local Negroes to withdraw from demonstrations" Article, Birmingham Post-Herald, 1963-04-13: "Demonstrations called unwise and untimely"
Article, Birmingham News, 1963-04-19: "Current of Compromise" Article, Birmingham News, 1963-04-17: "King not held incommunicado"


Book Club Resources

Suggested reading list Notes and handout on "Nineteen Eighty-Four"
Letters From the Earth Electronic text of Orwell works
Extracts from Adam's Diary Eve's Diary
Luther's 95 Theses (English and Latin) Exsurge Domine, Papal bull replying to Luther
The Popes of the Reformation Sermon on Indulgences by Johann Tetzel
An indulgence of 1521 (fill-in-the-blank form) Transcription and translation of indulgence
Notes for reading Candide Quotations from Voltaire
Leibniz' Essays The historical context of the Communist Manifesto
A brief history of Communist thought "Jerusalem" poem by William Blake, with explanation
"Jerusalem," BBC Orchestra, BBC Singers and crowd at "The Proms," 100th anniversary concert, 1995  


Why We Believe resources

"I Believe" checklist Concepts related to belief
Quotes about truth Things we believe: Introductory examples
Article, "Being Not Quite 100 percent Atheist" Some Factors Counseling Belief or Disbelief
"Black Jack Pershing" story "The Unbelievable Story of Jesus' Wife" article
Extract from "Science and Health with a Key to the Scriptures" Extract from "The Varieties of Religious Experience"
Scriptural Sample 1 Scriptural Sample 2
Scriptural Sample 3 Scriptural Sample 4
Scriptural Sample 5 "This is That" by Aimeee Semple McPherson (complete book)
Straight Dope article on Caesar Augustus' Census "The Will to Believe" article by William James, on Project Gutenberg
"A History of Man" by L. Ron Hubbard (complete book) Why Plato was the wisest man
"Why We Believe" summary "How America Lost its Mind" article, from The Atlantic


Politics and Religion Resources

United States Constitution US Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Public Law 103-141
Michigan House proposed version of Senate Bill 137 Michigan Public Act 241 of 2011 as signed into law
Indiana Senate Act 101 of 2015 as signed Illinois Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1998, Act 90-806
First Amendment and draft versions Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
The Danbury Baptist Association Letters Lee v Weisman (prayer at school graduation)
Lake Worth requires license to pray Bush Aides Say Religious Hiring Doesn’t Bar Aid (1998 article)
Planned Catholic town Ave Maria FL (2006 article) Sedlock v. Baird ruling


Comparative Religion (external sites)

Adherents.com Concise Dictionary of Religion
Journalist's Online Glossary of Religion Religion in the United States
BBC guide to World Religions Wikipedia article on Major World Religions
Speaking of Faith (National Public Radio episodes) Time Magazine religion articles
The Anglican Communion Soc.Culture.Jewish Newsgroups FAQ
The Bible Gateway (online research) Islam – The Identity (also see below)
The Catholic Encyclopedia Vatican official site
The Church of Christ, Scientist Essentials of Buddhism


Comparative Religion (local resources)

Introductory Notes Characteristics to look for in religions compared
Narrative of the Medicine Wheel Concepts related to belief and faith
"Science and Health with a Key to the Scriptures," by Mary Baker Eddy Notes on Christian Science
"Christian Science," by Mark Twain  


Intelligent Life in the Universe

Intelligent Life in the Universe, by Guy Consolmagno, PhD, S.J. Note: This book was published by Catholic Truth Society, http://www.cts-online.org.uk, but apprently is not currently in print.


World War II

Ethics topics considered Key events in the history of the eugenics movement
Article "One People, One Reich, One God" by Uwe Puschner Sample anti-Semitic cartoons
Excerpts from book "Trust No Fox on his Green Heath and No Jew on his Oath, by Elwira Bauer (1936) Speech by Dr. Walter Groß on "Rassenpolitik" (race politics), 13 October 1934
Key events in German history (by me) Hitler and the Popes (Pius XI and XII), my notes


Islam

Teaching outline on Islam Senior Imams comment on terrorist acts
The Wahhabi Myth, by Haneef James Oliver Islam Today site


The DaVinci Code

My analysis of errors in The Da Vinci Code A (Roman) Catholic reaction to the book


General

"Tips for Online Research" (by Steve G) My personal Home Page
     Valid HTML 4.01! E-mail me at:  steve dot gruenwald at gmail dot com