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Last Visited: 11/20/2008
Dr. Daryl Climenhaga, class=
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Dr. Daryl Climenhaga
Beginning in January 2008, Providence College and Seminary is offering a unique new course at the Eastman Education Centre in Steinbach, Manitoba.
Dr. Daryl Climenhaga, associate professor of global studies at Providence Theological Seminary, will teach World Religions, an introductory survey of world religious traditions.
Our communities are changing.
Steinbach is one of the fastest growing communities in Manitoba, partly due to a recent swell in immigration to the area.
The 2006 Statistics Canada census reports a growth rate of nearly 20 per cent in the city of Steinbach.
"As is true for Manitoba in general, as well as for the rest of Canada, our community is growing and includes people from diverse backgrounds," says Climenhaga, a long-time resident of Steinbach.
"We need to learn to see our neighbours, as well as people around the world, as people of faith, with their own character and integrity."
World Religions, class=
As immigrants from various cultural and religious traditions continue to move to Steinbach and the surrounding communities, an understanding of the religions that shape our world becomes so important.
"Understanding others is a basic step in living with and being able to communicate with people," says Climenhaga.
This World Religions class will take a look at the major world religions, their values and traditions, and how the presence of many religions can affect our communities.
"We look at the major religions of the world - from traditional religions, to Hinduism and Buddhism, to Judaism, Christianity and Islam, to contemporary secularism," says Climenhaga.
"My approach in this course is phenomenological - that is, we try to see what each religion looks like more or less on its own terms."
This new course is a unique and valuable offering for the Steinbach community.
Climenhaga sees the opportunity that this new course presents, "I hope that we experience something of the diversity around us, but in a setting in which we feel relatively safe; and that we discover more of what we ourselves believe," says Climenhaga.
" A clear awareness of self helps one see others clearly as well."
The World Religions course taught by Dr. Daryl Climenhaga will be offered at the Eastman Education Centre in Steinbach, MB, on Thursday evenings, 6:30-9:30 from Jan. 10-Apr. 17.