LIFE Retreat at Eden Theological Seminary, March 6-7, 2015.

Elective Course: Interfaith Offering: Islam.

Christopher’s teaching asks students to take God’s activity seriously. Christopher’s teaching focuses on the role worship has in forming, re-forming, healing, freeing and calling us out for the sake of God’s larger project in the world. His research currently focuses on the ways that we are formed by sacramental participation, particularly in relation to issues of power and violence. He has also been writing, recording and performing music for local, regional and national church gatherings for 13 years. His music was recently included in the United Church of Christ songbook Sing Prayer, Sing Praise!

Recommended Texts: “Preaching: An Essential Guide,” Ronald Allen, “Tell it Like It Is: Reclaiming the Practice of Testimony,” Lillian Daniel.

An introductory course examining the religion of Islam: its core beliefs, rituals, practices, spirituality, devotion, and concept of afterlife. This course will examine the historical, cultural and socio-political manifestation of Islam, with emphasis on the Qur’an and teachings of the Prophet, and its central role in the development of ethical concept and moral life of over one billion Muslims worldwide.Recommended text: The Vision of Islam, Sachiko Murata and Willam C. Chittick, Paragon House, 1994. Suggested: Memories of Muhammad: Why the Prophet Matters, Omid Safi.

Certificate Course: Proclaiming the Good News: Preaching.

Rev. Dr. Christopher Grundy - Carleton College, B.A. 1988Union Theological Seminary in New York, M.Div. 1992Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, M.T.S. 2001Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Ph.D. 2006Joined Eden faculty, 2004.

Dr. Gulten Ilhan is a Professor of Philosophy at Saint Louis Community College at Meramec. She has a Master's degree in Philosophy from Ohio University, Athens, Ohio. She teaches courses in World Religions, Introduction to Philosophy, and Logic at the Saint Louis Community College. Before joining the faculty of Saint Louis Community College, she taught at Saint Louis University, Maryville University, Webster University, and Ohio University. Gulten Ilhan is active in interfaith community organizations. Along with participating in interfaith efforts, she strives to promote better understanding of Islam in the St. Louis community. She regularly speaks to community organizations, and to area high school and university students about the religion of Islam and what it means to live the life of a Muslim. Gulten Ilhan came to the United States from Turkey.