B14. Jesus Through the Centuries

Noted Yale University professor Jaroslav Pelikan (1923-2006) wrote a book titled Jesus Through the Centuries: His Place in the History of Culture in 1985 in which he set forth the many images of Jesus of Nazareth throughout history, such as “The Rabbi,” “The Light of the Gentiles,” “The Universal Man,” “The Teacher of Common Sense,” and “The Liberator.” Pelikan masterfully shows how each image of Jesus reflects the particular temper and values of that period. Eighteen images from the first through the twentieth century reveal a different side of the person that Time magazine has called the most significant figure in history. This course will analyze and discuss each image of Jesus and evaluate its relevance for us today.

Instructor: Dr Gary Shahinian is the Intentional Interim Pastor of the Federated Church of Charlton (United Church of Christ and Unitarian Universalist Association). He recently completed 20 years as the Senior Pastor of Park Congregational Church in Worcester. He earned a Ph.D. degree in Philosophy from the Free University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. He wrote his doctoral dissertation on the problem of evil in the thought of Alfred North Whitehead, the father of Process Philosophy. He taught philosophy and theology courses at Redeemer College in Ontario, Dordt College in Iowa, and Worcester State University.

Recommended reading:

• Jesus Through the Centuries: His Place in the History of Culture; Jaroslav Pelikan; Yale University Press; ISBN-13: 978-0300079876