Philosophy, Religion, Psychology, and Culture   

What happens to human consciousness when we die? In 1975, Dr. Raymond Moody's landmark book "Life After Life" reported on Moody's investigation of 150 people who died clinically, were subsequently revived, and reported similar extraordinary experiences. His book started a revolution in popular attitudes regarding an afterlife and forever changed how we understand both death and life. Since then, with vastly improved resuscitation techniques, five decades of research on thousands upon thousands of NDEs reported around the world have brought us powerful evidence that yes, Virginia, there is "life" after physical death and, as frosting on the cake, what awaits us is both heart-warming and extremely comforting. Physicians and professors at prominent universities, medical schools, and hospitals worldwide continue to study this phenomenon with mind-blowing results. This course brings you up to speed on these findings and on what we now know about other exceptional paranormal phenomena like Out-of-Body and Shared Death Experiences.

Between the years 600 BCE and 50 CE, Judaism experienced a profound transformation: first from its exposure to Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian culture, and next from the effects of Hellenization, including Greek philosophy and science. Alexander the Great conquered most of the Middle East by 320 BCE and his successors extended Greek language and culture throughout the region. These cultural shocks engendered such religious ideas as the struggle between heaven and hell, carried out by angels and demons, life after death, and new concepts of the cosmos. These ideas gave birth to new religious communities such as Qumran (of the Dead Sea Scrolls) and later Christianity. By 200 CE Judaism had purged most of these ideas, but they survived within Christianity, Gnosticism and Greek Mystery religions. This course will explore these events from earliest Israel and how they affected the development of Christianity.

Recommended Reading: The Crucible of Faith, Phillip Jenkins

What is a “conspiracy theory?” Why has it become popular in recent decades? How do we understand its role in the culture and in politics? How does it relate to misinformation and disinformation. How has the term been used/misused? How do the social scientists, social theorists and the philosophers think about “conspiracy theory” and all that it means for our contemporary period? The course will explore these issues.

We will use the book Conspiracy/Theory, a book of critical essays by professors from different disciplines edited by Joseph Masco and Lisa Weeden. There will be a limited amount of supplemental reading to guide our discussions. The course will be in the form of a seminar which will require reading each week so that we can all benefit from an informed discussion.

Required text: Conspiracy/Theory by Joseph Maasco and Lisa Weeden Duke University Press, 2024 ($28.98 paperback)

This course explores both the aesthetics of joy--different categories of stimuli and events that prompt the joy response, and happiness. Examples of aesthetics (Fetell-Lee, I.) include renewal (think baby chicks, spring flowers), freedom (think of riding in a convertible, or the start of summer vacation), and transcendence (imagine floating clouds or tree houses). Both “joy” and “happiness” refer to positive emotional states that motivate and energize people. “Happiness” also refers to the satisfaction humans experience from living well, specifically, living virtuously, meaningfully, and fully engaged. We’ll examine why happiness varies, how biology and culture shape our capacity for joy, and ways to make joyful living more common. Facilitators will rely on video clips, pictures, and music to help make both joy and happiness resonate. Discussions based on participants’ insights, experiences, curiosity, and questions should prompt a deeper understanding of joy and a greater commitment to living well.

People often talk about "ethics" but the term is usually vague and unclear. This class will explore how various philosophers have analyzed ethics and how those ideas apply today. We will definitely bring up several ethical issues in class but it is important to note that this will not primarily be a "case study" course. It is a class designed to discuss different ways philosophers in history and today have thought about how we should live together on this planet. Discussion is encouraged in all classes.

Frank Lloyd Wright designed nearly 1,000 buildings and helped define modern architecture. This course explores highlights of his practice, from Prairie houses to Fallingwater and the Guggenheim Museum, alongside lesser-known projects like affordable housing and city planning. We’ll examine how Wright’s work reflected cultural shifts in technology, science, and politics, offering a deeper understanding of his lasting influence on architecture and modern design.

This Osher Online course, offered through the Osher National Resource Center, lets you learn with fellow lifelong learners nationwide, guided by a world-class expert. OSHER ONLINE COURSES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.

Siberia covers three quarters of Russia’s territory but is home to only a quarter of its population. Yet its role in shaping Russia as a vast and wealthy empire is profound. In this course, we will explore Siberia’s economic significance, indigenous cultures, and history as a penal colony, along with its importance for climate change, environmental issues, and Russian-Chinese relations. We will also consider Siberia’s role in both the rise and possible fragmentation of Russia.

This Osher Online course, offered through the Osher National Resource Center, lets you learn with fellow lifelong learners nationwide, guided by a world-class expert. OSHER ONLINE COURSES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.

From earliest times, people have passed down stories of magic and mystery, of impossible deeds and heroic struggles. Jungian psychology sees these stories as meaningful maps that show us the good and the bad about ourselves, our "shadow" sides if you will, as well as the archetypal forces at play in our daily psychology. Fairy tales or folk tales are not just meant for children but hold universal truths clothed in metaphors and symbols. Myths grow out of a unique cultural psyche of a community, telling us the particulars of a culture. They have reached across time to speak directly to us. Jungian analyst Edward Edinger notes: "Myths are not simply tales of happenings in the remote past but eternal dramas that are living themselves out repeatedly in our own personal lives and in what we see all around us." In this class we will explore selected fairy tales and myths.

Imagine if you could persuade family, friends and even acquaintances to consider your perspective in an election year. What if you could change their minds? Persuasion is both an art and a science; more importantly, it can be learned. Join Denver Post columnist and communications specialist Krista Kafer as she unveils the secrets of how to converse with others on religion, science, public policy, even 2026 politics and candidates. Gain an understanding of the psychology behind persuasion and influence. See how stories and humor persuade better than facts. Practice pivoting to gain common ground. Learn how to spot the difference between facts, spin, and deceit. Discover how advertisers and other influencers get you to buy their products and adopt their ideas. What can we learn from them? Get the scoop on concepts like psychological reactance, confirmation bias, motivated reasoning, and cognitive dissonance. See how trust impacts influence. Kafer pulls from communication masters of past and present: Jonathan Haidt’s moral reasoning; Robert Cialdini’s six principles of persuasion; Vance Packard’s compelling needs; Robert Reich’s cultural parables, and Aristotle’s insights on the art of persuasion. Feeling persuaded?

Cultural symbols are everywhere — on our screens, in our politics, throughout our communities and in our own stories. They’re ancient, powerful, and multiplying precipitously; they quietly shape our choices, identities and collective imagination. Symbols guide, warn, inspire and/or divide us. But they speak a language older than words.

This course will examine cultural symbolism and uncover how profoundly it influences us. We’ll trace the journey of symbols from prehistoric markings and sacred icons to the hyper-speed imagery of the digital age and AI. In honor of America’s 250th birthday in 2026, we will spotlight some American iconic symbols.

Through selected readings and guided discussions, we’ll deconstruct powerful symbols from business, politics, pop culture and America’s history, revealing why some images unite us, while others separate us. Join me in decoding the language of symbols and how they help us make sense of ourselves, each other, and the culture we share.

"Join us in exploring one of the world's major religions. This course is designed for those who want to better understand Islam's rich history, diverse traditions, and its role in today's world. We will journey from 7th century Arabia to the present, discovering the life of Muhammad, the birth of a revolutionary faith, and how Islam has evolved. We'll examine such questions as: What made Muhammad's message so transformative? How did Islam spread so rapidly? What role have women played in Islamic history? What caused the Sunni-Shia division? How do Muslims today navigate tradition and modernity. Through guided discussions and thoughtful conversation, participants will gain a nuanced understanding of history, theology, and current issues. This course provides a space for questions, reflection, and the sharing of perspectives."

Required Reading: No God but God The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam by Reza Aslan. The Updated Version in Paperback $17.00

Something as ubiquitous and eternal as stupidity has naturally received formal consideration by many philosophers.

In this discussion course, we will load formal theories of irrationality into AI and then explore them using a chatbot. The goal will be to decide whether AI can help ordinary people avoid leading unexamined lives and falling into regret over their decisions. With the participants setting the pace, weekly topics will range from Daniel Kahneman’s cognitive biases and Jonathan Haidt’s moral foundations framework to Frankfurt’s lying versus "BS" in public discourse and Dunning-Kruger’s warning that overconfidence is often a lack of self-awareness. Throughout the course, we'll use AI tools to spot propaganda in historical texts, distinguish between spin and lies in media, and find self-deceptive patterns in our own narratives. We might even configure AI to speak in real time, taking the persona of each thinker we've studied, asking questions that let us consider AI's analytical accuracy and its own biases.

This course will examine the rise of contemporary Paganism from the abolishment of the last anti-witchcraft law in England in 1952 through today. We will look at major figures and scholarship, and students will be urged to participate actively in discussions. But Paganism is an embodied religion, and learning about it also requires active engagement in its practices. Therefore, students will be invited to join, as participants or observers, in rituals based on Wicca, the largest contemporary form of Paganism. There will be no required readings, but the facilitator will provide resources for discussion and a list of Pagan events in Denver to attend if students wish.