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Part of C.S. Lewis's groundbreaking Space Trilogy, this module explores Out of the Silent Planet, the novel that introduces Lewis's cosmic vision through Dr. Elwin Ransom's unexpected journey to Mars (Malacandra). Here we encounter a universe alive with spiritual meaning, where humanity's place in creation is challenged in surprising and profound ways. Whether you're beginning the trilogy or simply curious about this remarkable novel, you'll discover why Lewis's first "planetary romance" remains one of the most original works of science fiction ever written. [show less]

Part of C.S. Lewis's groundbreaking Space Trilogy, this module explores Perelandra, Lewis's imaginative retelling of the story of Eden on the planet Venus. Building on the foundations laid in Out of the Silent Planet, the novel explores temptation, freedom, obedience, and the cosmic struggle between good and evil in one of Lewis's most beautiful and thought-provoking works. Whether continuing from the first module or joining the series here, you'll discover why this novel remains one of the most distinctive works of speculative fiction ever written. [show less]

Part of C.S. Lewis's groundbreaking Space Trilogy, this module explores That Hideous Strength, Lewis's powerful conclusion to the trilogy. Bringing the cosmic themes of the earlier novels into a modern English setting, the story confronts the dangers of scientism, unchecked technological ambition, and the corruption of power while offering a compelling vision of courage, community, and hope. Whether you've journeyed through the first two novels or are joining us for this final installment, this genre-defying masterpiece offers a fitting and unforgettable conclusion to Lewis's planetary romances. [show less]

Master of the macabre Edgar Allan Poe made many great contributions to literature, and one of the most enduring was the creation of his great detective, C. Auguste Dupin. Combining reason and imagination to use ratiocination for solving baffling mysteries, Dupin anticipated detective fiction and revolutionized crime fiction, paving the way for Sherlock Holmes and many other iconic characters who followed. Poe drew on the Gothic storytelling tradition and on real-life, true-crime cases to create his complex and fascinating mysteries. In this module, we will investigate his three interconnected Dupin stories—" The Murders in the Rue Morgue" (1841), "The Mystery of Marie Rogêt" (1842), and "The Purloined Letter" (1844)— to appreciate the inspirations behind, innovations in, and legacies of Poe’s pioneering tales. Week 1: "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" Week 2: "The Mystery of Marie Rogêt" Week 3: "The Purloined Letter" Week 4: The Significance of the Dupin Stories [show less]

Death is life's only certainty, and yet, no subject has inspired more diverse, profound, and contradictory answers across human history. Beginning with an examination of our own psychological defenses against death, this module then takes you on a global tour of how the world's great religious and philosophical traditions have grappled with mortality, giving you the opportunity to sit with the living practices of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. We will ask: What happens when we die? How should we grieve? Is fear of death rational? And perhaps most importantly, can confronting our finitude actually teach us how to live more fully? Finally, we will turn to a discussion of near-death experiences, the human quest for immortality, and the ultimate philosophical question: If we could achieve immortality, would we actually want it? Designed for curious adult learners with no prior background in religious studies or philosophy, this course welcomes anyone processing personal grief, seeking to understand the beliefs of neighbors or colleagues, or simply lying awake wondering what it all means. All viewpoints are respected; you need not be religious or irreligious to participate, only open-minded and willing to reflect. By the end, students will be able to articulate core beliefs about death across major traditions, compare diverse approaches to dying and grief, analyze philosophical arguments about the fear of death, and reflect personally on how global wisdom has shifted their own assumptions. *Note: This module contains potentially disturbing material, but it is handled with respect and academic sensitivity. Because this course deals directly with death, dying, and the rituals surrounding the end of life, students will encounter:

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1. Descriptions of corpses and burial practices, including discussion of cremation, excarnation (exposure of bodies to the elements), mummification, and traditional washing and shrouding rituals.
2. Graphic imagery from religious traditions, such as the Buddhist Bardo Thodol (Tibetan Book of the Dead), which includes vivid descriptions of the dissolution of the body and encounters with wrathful deities; Hindu iconography of the goddess Kali and Yama, the god of death; and Islamic teachings on the "trial of the grave" and the torments of hell.
3. Discussions of suffering and grief, including the emotional and psychological realities of losing loved ones and the process of mourning across cultures.
4. References to violence and sacrifice in religious and historical contexts, including crucifixion in Christianity, animal sacrifice in various traditions, and the ethical complexities of killing in war and capital punishment.
*Importantly, this course is NOT designed to be sensational or gratuitous. All material is presented in an academic, comparative, and respectful framework. The goal is understanding, not shock. Graphic descriptions are provided for cultural and ritual context, not for their own sake. Students are never required to view images or videos that would be considered disturbing; all content is delivered through lecture and discussion. Students who anticipate difficulty with any of these topics are encouraged to speak with the preceptor ahead of time. Accommodations such as advance notice of specific content or alternative reflection assignments can be made. Lecture Session 1 - Fear, Denial, and the Search for Meaning in Death Discussion Session 1 Lecture Session 2 - Judgement and Paradise: The Abrahamic Traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Discussion Session 2 Lecture Session 3 - Rebirth and Impermanence: The Dharmic Traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism Discussion Session 3 Lecture Session 4 - Near Death Experiences, Immortality, and Why Death Gives Life Meaning Discussion Session 4

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Once there were seven Blackwoods in the family home, but then the murders happened—and the village has never forgotten. Now only eighteen-year-old Merricat Blackwood, practitioner of sympathetic magic, remains on the estate with her agoraphobic sister and frail uncle, ostracized by the townspeople, secluded in a separate world. When an outsider interjects himself into the story, he disrupts the fragile truce everyone has made with the past and the future. We Have Always Lived in the Castle (1962), the final completed novel by master of Gothic storytelling Shirley Jackson, is a modern classic of mystery and psychological horror with a timely critique of gender, class, and community power dynamics. Join us as we explore Jackson’s haunting insights on isolation and identity, prejudice and paranoia, and memory and mob mentality. Week 1: Shirley Jackson and the Gothic Week 2: Psychological Horror and Sympathetic Magic Week 3: The Mob and the Other Week 4: Themes and Resonances [show less]

What is the meaning of life? This module examines four of humanity's most influential answers to that question. We will begin with a central ancient Hindu text, The Bhagavad-Gita, where students will learn about meaning from detached action and devotion to cosmic order. Students will then turn to Ancient Greece and learn about Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, where the philosopher located meaning in rational flourishing, virtue, and friendship. Next, students will confront the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament through The Book of Job, which challenges easy answers through the experience of unjust suffering. Finally, we round out our discussion with the modern views of Friedrich Nietzsche and his work Twilight of the Idols, declaring traditional values dead and demanding we create our own meaning. Students will learn to identify the core arguments of each text and trace the tensions that run through the human conversation about meaning: reason versus faith, action versus contemplation, self versus community, tradition versus freedom. Through four lectures and four discussion periods, students will build a personal toolkit for articulating and living their own thoughtful response to the biggest question ever asked. Lecture Session 1: The Bhagavad Gita - Duty and Cosmic Detachment Discussion Session 1 Lecture Session 2: Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics - Virtue and Human Flourishing Discussion Session 2 Lecture Session 3: The Book of Job - Suffering and the Limits of Reason Discussion Session 3 Lecture Session 4: Nietzsche's Twilight of the Idols - The Death of God and the Call to Self-Creation Discussion Session 4 [show less]

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way many people work, create, and learn, but what is it, really? Over eight sessions, this discussion-based module explores AI from multiple angles: what it is and isn't, how people already encounter it in everyday life, and its potential as a practical thinking and creative tool. Together we'll examine real-world applications, creativity, ethics, and ways AI might support deeper and more meaningful work. Rather than advocating for or against AI, the course invites thoughtful, balanced discussion about how to navigate this rapidly changing technology. The module concludes with an open Q&A, giving participants the opportunity to explore their remaining questions and ideas. Session 1: Topic: What AI is (and isn't)? Discussion: What excites or concerns you about AI? Session 2: Topic: AI in daily use Discussion: How are you already using AI (if you are). Session 3: Topic: AI as a "Thinking Tool" Discussion: How can we use AI to help us think and how should we be wary of that? Session 4: Topic: AI in Everyday Life Discussion: What areas in life are tedious or monotonous that we can use AI to overcome. Session 5: Topic: Can AI help us create? Discussion: Can AI create and where is it appropriate to use? Where should humans remain central to the creation process? Session 6: Topic: Ethics Discussion: The ethical use of AI Session 7: Topic: AI as your administrator Discussion: How can you use AI to allow you to create more. Session 8: Topic: Q&A and Open Discussion [show less]

C.S. Lewis’s science-fiction trilogy, published between 1938 and 1945, is unlike any other series of science-fiction books ever written. The three books were partly written in response to the immorality Lewis saw in other science fiction novels and essays: namely ones by Olaf Stapledon, HG Wells, and JBS Haldane. Instead of depicting aliens on other planets as monsters who needed to be conquered, Lewis depicts the invading humans as monstrous and the aliens as godlier and more virtuous. He also incorporated many elements of medieval and renaissance literature into what he called his “planetary romances.” Although the novels centre on futuristic technology – including spaceflight and medical innovations – the narrative perspective belongs to a much older time. As a result, we can regard Lewis’s work as a type of ‘medieval science-fiction.’ Each module in this series focuses on a different novel in the trilogy, and students can take all three modules or chose to join the series for individual modules at any time during the course’s run. So, please join us as we explore these three incredible and genre-busting novels… after reading and discussing them, you will never see the universe in the same way again! [show less]

Do humans have free will? As science progresses, events in the world become more predictable and less chaotic. Some people argue that humans are no different from other physical objects in that they do not have free will, while others argue that our actions are determined by our beliefs and desires, our environment, or the past, which are not up to us. These considerations and others have led to an ongoing debate in philosophy about whether it is possible for humans to make free, undetermined choices. In this module, we will discuss the major views about free will, the primary arguments for and against those views, and how this debate relates to issues such as the nature of the mind, moral responsibility, and punishment. [show less]