A10. Rumi and Francis: a Sufi and a Saint for All Times

The Persian poet Rumi and the Italian Saint Francis both lived in the 13^th century, but never met. Their lives overlapped by about 19 years, during an era of the Crusades launched by Christians against Muslims. Had their paths crossed, the older Christian friar and the younger Sufi teacher might have discovered a surprising spiritual kinship shaped by mystical experiences that changed their lives. Though different in approach, they saw social issues through a sacred lens: the role of women, the relationship to nature, the conflict of religions, and the many forms of human suffering. In this course we’ll explore if and how their spiritual wisdom speaks to our times.

Kathleen Fisher has taught in WISE since 2019, offering courses in The Gnostic Gospels, Celtic Spirituality, and the poet Mary Oliver. She holds a Ph.D. in Medieval History and Religion from Boston University where she focused on Irish history and medieval monasticism. The current course on Rumi and Francis comes from recommendations from participants in previous classes and offers a comparative exploration of the spirituality and poetry of two major religious figures. Recently retired from a long teaching career in Theology at Assumption University, Kathleen now lives in Chapel Hill, NC.