The Pathways Centre - Edmonton, Alberta

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An educational centre for thought-provoking, cutting-edge, progressive Christian faith and theology.

Pathways web page is currently under Reconstruction

UPCOMING EVENTS

Saving Jesus
the best yet of the DVD series from Living the Questions.
Sections 1 to 6 - Saturday April 24, 9:30 to 2 PM
Sections 7 to 12 - Monday April 26, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. for six weeks
All sessions to take place at Robertson-Wesley United Church
Cost - $20 for printed materials, $18 for Pathways members.

The Binding of Isaac/Ishmael
Due to low registration,
this event has been postponed
until further notice.
keynote speakers:
Dr. Ibrahim Abu-Rabi,
Dr. Francis Landy, and
Dr. David Goa
Edmonton Public Library,
This foundational story will be examined through many lenses.
$40 for members, $50 for non-members.
Student rate available upon request.
Poster with details
Workshop information

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RECENT EVENTS

Wine in the Bible
a fundraiser for Pathways,
with Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Mark Heule.
The evening will include wine-tasting accompanied by appropriate snacks.
Thursday, Nov 12 at 7:00 pm
Poster with details

Meeting Paul Again for the First Time
Discuss Dominic Crossan’s latest book, The First Paul,
with Dr. Bruce Miller.
Book available at Revelations Books or at Robertson-Wesley United Church for $30.
Begins Thursday September 24,
continues October 8 and October 22 at 7 PM
at Robertson-Wesley United Church.
Pre-registration suggested.
Cost - $5 for members, $10 for non-members
Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 7:30 PM

“Resisting Modern Empire: A Study of Collective Power”
presented by Dr. Bob McKeon,
formerly of Newman Theological College,
presently Director of the Social Justice Office, Archdiocese of Edmonton.
So often we assume power rests in the hands of corporations and other elements of modern empire. But we all have power in our own right. Using the “Greater Edmonton Alliance” as a case study, we’ll explore how we can use power collectively for the common good. poster

Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 7:30 PM
“Is the Kingdom of God an Empire?
Pre-conceptions and Perspectives in the First Century”
presented by Dr. Earle Waugh.
The shape of early Christianity was determined not only by Jesus' teachings, but by pre-conceptions about giving socio-political form to the gospel. With group readings and discussions, we'll try to grasp the main elements of these largely invisible currents that helped determine Christian history.

Sunday, February 15, 2009 at 7:00 PM
“Child Soldier – Rehabilitation in the Midst of Desolation”
presented by Dr. Tom Faulkner of the University of Winnipeg.
poster

Dr. Bruce Miller, "Revisioning the Gospel: A Fresh Look at the Parables"
Thursdays, 2008 Nov 27 and Dec 4 at 7:30 pm
at Robertson-Wesley United Church
10209 123 Street, Edmonton
poster lectures

“Greening Our Spirits”With Dr. Sallie McFague

Friday, May 2^nd (6 to 9p.m.) and

Saturday, May 3^rd (8:30 to 4 p.m.)

WHAT IS RELIGION?

Karen Armstrong observes that it sometimes seems that we are developing exactly the kind of religion that people such as the Buddha, Confucius, Laozi, Jesus and Muhammad wanted to get rid of. Confucian, Daoist, Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, Greek and metaphysics or theology, and each one of these faiths began in recoil from the violence of their time. They developed an ethic based on compassion and the Golden Rule, which they declared to be the essence of the spiritual quest. In this series of four classes, she looks at the implications of this conviction to see what it has to say to our conflicted world.

KAREN ARMSTRONG (via DVD)

*** Bill Phipps - Cause for Hope: Humanity at the Crossroads

"Women in Dialogue" - Oct./Nov. 2007 - Muslim, Christian and Jewish lay women gathered individually and together over four evenings to discuss issues of fundamentalism within their faith traditions and stories and expressions of their journeys.   The event was very well received and a great success. We were pleased to offer this series at Garneau United Church. We wish to thank Evelyn Hamdon, Carmen Jarrah, Debbie Hubbard, Linda Winski, Rosalie Gelderman, Karen Farkas, Shoshana Szlachter, Netta Phillet and our moderator Karen Leonhardt.

John Shelby Spong was at The Pathways Centre in April, 2007 to introduce his new book “Jesus for the Non-Religious” More than 400 attended.

Winter 2007: Confronting Our Shadows: Triumphalism - Dr. Willi Braun, Religious Studies, UofA
His PowerPoint presentation "Dangerous Christianities" can be viewed here.

Patriarchalism - Rev. Sally Boyle, Minister, Ottewell United Church
Notes for her talk on "Patriarchalism and the Shadow Side of the Churches" can be read here.

Apocalypticism - Dr. Andrew Gow, Religious Studies, Professor of History (adjunct professor of Religious Studies) U of A and Editor-in-chief, Studies in Medieval and Reformation Traditions, presented Apocalypticism - a worldview based on the idea that important matters are hidden in nature and they will soon be revealed in a major confrontation of earth-shaking magnitude that will change the course of history. Dr. Gow examined how this presumed "end of the world" theology has impacted our relationships with each other and the earth.

Fall 2006: Heresy or Holiness
Dr. Earle Waugh recently presented this PowerPoint on "Is There Heresy Anymore?".

Dr. Caryn Douglas recently presented this talk on "Thank God for Heresy" (in PDF).
Dr. Bruce Miller presented this talk on "Heretical Diversity Then and Now" (in MSWord).

OUR MISSION & VALUES

Our Mission

In a spirit of respect and with a passion for universal love, we pursue our mission and invite you to join us on these paths of discovery.
The mission of The Pathways Learning Centre is to provide opportunities for people to gather together to consider faith issues and to discern their own sacred paths.

Our Values

As members of an educational center for thought-provoking, cutting-edge, progressive Christian faith and theological reflection, we see ourselves as those who:

Find different pathways to God through the life and teaching of the historical Jesus;

Recognize the faithfulness of other people who have other pathways to the Sacred;

Affirm the importance of a safe and open learning environment;

Know that the way we behave toward one another and toward other people is the fullest expression of what we believe;

Find grace in the search for understanding;

Strive for peace and justice among all people, and to protect and restore the integrity of all creation;

Recognize that searching for a relevant and personally authentic faith is risky and costly.

FALL 2009 NEWSLETTER

FALL 2008 NEWSLETTER

Back Issue - FALL 2007 NEWSLETTER

Back Issue - Spring 2007 Newsletter

RECOMMENDED READING

Here is a short list of the many books that are relevant to both Theology and the Environment:

   Sallie McFague’s Life Abundant and Super,Natural Christians are good books to begin your study of Eco-theology; Masaru Emoto’s The Hidden Messages in Water and The True Power of Water will surprise even the toughest skeptics; Bill McKibben’s Hope, Human and Wild, his Deep Economy and The End of Nature will leave you saddened but hopeful; you won’t be able to put down James Lovelock’s The Revenge of Gaia; George Monbiot’s Heat is exceptionally thorough; Pierre and Benner’s The Skin of the Earth is fascinating; John Cobb Jr’s Sustainability, and Sustaining the Common Good live up to the standards of his previous books; Fritz Hull edits a superb compilation entitled Earth and Spirit- the Spiritual Dimension of the Environmental Crisis; Noah’s Garden by Sara Stein will have you wishing you could be the city’s horticulturalist; Making God Laugh by Anne Primavesi is a little gem of a book; and of course anything by Roman Catholic priest Thomas Berry is both spiritual and practical.

     There are also many websites, both secular and religious, that will gladly add you to their e-zine subscribers. Check out Citizens for Public Justice, Seeds of Change, the David Suzuki Foundation, Creation Care, Greenpeace, Earthlight magazine, Union of Concerned Scientists, The Sierra Club of Canada, and the Pembina Institute.

SUPPORT OUR WORK

DONATE: Please consider making a gift to The Pathways Centre Designated Fund: Tax deductible donations to The Pathways Centre are gratefully received through Robertson-Wesley United Church,10209 - 123 Street, Edmonton, AB, T5N 1N3.

BECOME A MEMBER….

The Pathways Centre invited you to join us in our continuing effort to provide thought-provoking and spiritually challenging programs designed to fulfill and enrich your experience in the Christian faith. A membership fee of only $20.00 is an excellent way to support The Pathways Centre. Members will receive The Pathways Centre newsletter as well as some discounts for presentations and special events. Become a member of the Pathways Centre….we want to hear your voice. Give a gift of a membership!

RELATED LINKS TO VISIT

LECTURES, INTERVIEWS, RESOURCES
The Gnostic Society Library - The Nag Hamadi Library, Gospel of Thomas and others.
Audio interview with Bishop Richard Holloway, a retired Anglican Bishop of Edinborough and former Primate of the Scottish Episcopalian Church revises his former theological views and interpretation on the resurrection, etc.
A Canon for the 21st Century - a proposed new New Testament by Roy Hoover and the Jesus Seminar.
Living the Questions - an engaging and thoughtful course of 12 DVD sessions with web-based guides giving expressions of the progressive approach to Christianity. People who have taken this course were astonished that we're allowed to talk about these things in church, allowed to ask questions.

KINDRED ORGANIZATIONS
Canadian Centre for Progressive Christianity What you will find here is a safe place to explore those questions with others who, like you, are willing to brave the unknown--a place where every idea, concept, ritual, and belief can be examined, where that which keeps us from living life freely and fully can be set aside, and where that which is worthy of our highest ideals can be upheld and celebrated.
The SnowStar Institute of Religion was created to bring together both scholars and non-academics interested in reclaiming their religious heritage, to advance contemporary religious reflection and challenge, to forge national and international links with organizations of similar interest, and to promote religious literacy and tolerance in Canadian society.
The Center for Progressive Christianity - by calling ourselves progressive, we mean that we are Christian who ... (8 statements).
International Network of Progressive Christianity Organizations
The Centre for Progressive Religious Thought in Australia
Jesus Seminar & Westar Institute - Westar is a non-profit institute dedicated to the advancement of religious literacy.

Faithfutures Foundation: working together for the future of faith
Faith and the Common Good a Canadian interfaith ecotheology initiative promoting the Green Rule.
The Iona Community - an ecumenical Christian community on Iona that is committed to seeking new ways of living the Gospel.
Robertson-Wesley United Church in Edmonton is a co-sponsor of the Pathways Centre.
Knox United Church in Calgary has similar educational programs
St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopalian Church - a very ecclectic faith community
Edmonton Presbytery of the United Church of Canada

The Pathways Centre Committee

Nancy Heule, Chair

Rev. Jim Allan

Jamie Bain, Treasurer

Dolores Bell, Member

Sandi Darrell, Member

Catherine Molynieux, Member

Rev. James Ravenscroft, Program Chair

Christine Scoffield, Member

CONTACT US

The Pathways Centre, 10209 123 Street, Edmonton, AB, T5N 1N3 780-428-6299