Beloved: World Religions and Mystical Oneness
Can you call yourself interfaith without knowing about the faiths?
Tree of Life Interfaith Temple was originally created as a holding vessel for our interfaith seminary. For those blessed to have been able to attend the seminary, learning about various religions of the world was a key component of the program. But we, as a Temple, have grown beyond being a space only for our ordained ministers. We now find ourselves a spiritual home to many people who have not attended seminary - either ours or elsewhere - as well as those who ordained with another organization. This coming school year, we invite all who are interested to join our Spiritual Mentoring Certificate Program students in a survey of world religions and a dip into mystical oneness. By holding both the distinct aspects of religions and the mystical depths at which they overlap, we will approach the balance and bliss that interfaith can offer. Each month we will deep dive into a particular faith or spiritual tradition as well as having a spiritual experience that –might, possibly– bring us into the mystical.
Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions, and we understand that ‘life happens'.
Program Objectives and Outcomes: At the end of this course, participants will be able to (1) demonstrate familiarity with at least five religious traditions, including naming one distinctive element from each; (2) explain the concept of mystical oneness; (3) demonstrate at least three spiritual practices from different spiritual/religious traditions.
Who will this program benefit? This program will benefit all who seek to understand different spiritual / religious traditions and all who want to deepen their interfaith perspective.
Required/Recommended Reading: To be determined prior to the first class.
Minimum/Maximum Number of Participants: 2/12
Start/End Date: October 8, 2025/June 10, 2026
Class Day and Dates: Second Wednesday of each month: 10/8, 11/12, 12/10, 1/14, 2/11, 3/11, 4/8, 5/13, 6/10
Start/End Time: 6 PM/8 PM
Number of Classes in the Session: 9
Frequency: Monthly
Are participants required to attend all classes, or select individual classes to attend? All classes required
Tuition: $99
Location: online via Zoom
Questions about this class? Email programs@tolit.org. Be sure to include the title of the class and your email will be forwarded to the presenter.
About the Presenter: Rev. Carrie Ives was ordained through Tree of Life Interfaith Temple in 2013. She minored in Religious Studies in college (along with her psychology BA) and she recently earned her Masters degree in Spirituality from Merrimack College. Her personal faith journey has included various forms of mainline / progressive Protestantism, Siddha Yoga, Theravaden Buddhism, Wicca, exposure to Catholicism (Franciscan and Augustinian), and –most consistently– Unitarian Universalism. She is blessed and honored to lead the Spiritual Mentoring Certificate Program at Tree of Life Interfaith Temple.
