Spiritual Development and Deconstruction Course
Yesterday evening I had my last Atheism for Lent discussion of 2022. I had four groups, each delightful and challenging in their own way. I learned new things. I grew in faith, hope, and love, principally in hope and love. I am grateful for the courageous individuals who were willing to struggle with the wonder and pain of existence. For a few weeks, we all did our best to open ourselves up to new realities, to new meanings, to our darkness, and to our light with curiosity and honesty. Look for Atheism for Lent again in February 2023.
Spiritual Development and Deconstruction is my next course offering. This course is as advertised. The journey of spirituality (or faith, as others state it) appears to have some common stages or phases, including the difficult phase of deconstruction. Too few people know about these stages, which have been articulated by James Fowler, Ken Wilber, Richard Rohr, Brian McLaren, and others. I discovered these stages of spiritual development by accident, and late in life. But I am so glad that I found them; they have been a lifeline for me. They can be a lifeline for you as well.
The course will begin on May 8-9 and run for 5 weeks, with an optional sixth week for those interested. We will meet for one hour each week over Zoom, on either Sunday afternoon/evening or Monday afternoon/evening. The groups will be no larger than 8 people. The course work will consist of podcast episodes, and perhaps some readings, thus requiring about 1 to 2 hours of work outside of the weekly meetings. As with Atheism for Lent (and every course I offer), an openness to wonder, change, and perplexity is important. If you are looking for a safe place to explore your questions, doubts, curiosities, and wonderings with regards to spirituality, this course will give you that opportunity. The course is free.
If you want to sample something that will give you a feel for the course, please listen to this interview with Brian McLaren. If this interview entices you, you will enjoy this course. Please forward this to anyone who might be interested.
If you want to reserve a spot in the course, please email me at joshuamvis@gmail.com
I leave you with the benediction given at the conclusion of Atheism for Lent: Go in pieces, my friends.
-Josh