This is an educational and spiritual series held at
Mercy Center in Auburn.

Pathways is an ongoing series that is grounded in the Holy Bible and Christian Tradition.

Three events: Jewish, Greek and Christian  Together these tell us where we come from and give some hint as to the way forward.  Starting in September and continuing for several months, the members of Pathways will explore the events and movements that transformed Western religion.  These great texts will be explored hermeneutically (deep listening and response) and comparatively.

	The first event is the Exodus of the Hebrew people from the oppression of Pharaoh.  This is a movement from slavery to freedom; from no-place to home; from no freedom to authenticity by means of the Torah, the Jewish way of life.
	The second event is the life and death of Socrates as remembered by Plato.  Socrates is the father of Western philosophy.  His “Socratic method” helped move Western civilization from culture relying on mythic religion to critical philosophy.  In the end, Socrates died as a martyr for Truth.
	The third event is the Orthodox mysticism of Gregory of Nyssa.  Gregory’s writing takes place in the time of the formation of the Councils and Creeds that have guided Christianity.  Gregory helped create both the core of the Faith and a mystical way to God.

Tuition for the entire series is $300.  Participants may also opt to pay per session at a cost of $35 per class (non-refundable).  Please note that the retreat on the weekend of June 1-3, 2012 is not included in the $300 tuition cost.  Further information and online registration are available at the Mercy Center website.

Classes are held in the Russell Library at Mercy Center on Saturdays from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm.  Bring your own Bible and lunch (refreshments are provided).  The following textbooks will be used in this class, and these are available online from Amazon.com by clicking the links below.

Required Textbooks:

• Plato, The Last Days of Socrates (Euthyphro, Apology, Crito & Phaedo)  Penguin Books: 2003  (ISBN 978-0-140-44928-0)


• Gregory of Nyssa, The Life of Moses (The Classics of Western Spirituality)  New York: Paulist Press, 1978  (ISBN 08091-2112-3)

Optional Textbooks:

• Prayer of the Heart, Writings from the Philokalia  Boston: Shambhala, 1993  (ISBN 87773-890-4)


• Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg, The Particulars of Rapture, Reflections on Exodus  New York: Doubleday, 2001.  (ISBN 0-385-49152)