WORLD OF RELIGIONS – FALL 2025

Coordinators: Ruth Wark, Bob Gottfried

World of Religion gives an introduction to the basic religious concerns of humanity and the ways in which religions have developed in Eastern and Western history, giving intellectual, moral, and institutional expression to the meaning of human existence

To view a video click on the link above its description.

WORLD OF RELIGION
Roman Catholicism

Presenter: Paul Adler
Presentation Date: September 4, 2025

• Roman Catholicism

The Roman Catholic Church is the largest Christian church with 1.3 billion members worldwide. It is characterized by its hierarchical structure, headed by the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, and its adherence to specific doctrines and traditions. We will take a look at the history of the church from its early beginnings to present day and its impact on Western civilization which has significantly shaped the development of art, culture, and law.

WORLD OF RELIGION
Reconstructionist Judaism

Presenter: Paul Adler
Presentation Date: September 18, 2025

• Reconstructionist Judaism

Reconstructionism is an approach to Judaism formulated in the 1930s by Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan in his influential book, Judaism as a Civilization. Kaplan sought to “reconstruct” Judaism so as to render it relevant in the modern world. He hoped that his vision would lead to a unification of the liberal branches of Judaism. Although this has not come to pass, his disciples created a separate Jewish denomination, Reconstructionism, now recognized as the fourth Jewish denomination, along with orthodox, conservative and reform. About 100 synagogues in the U.S. including two in Manhattan now identify with the Reconstructionist movement.