Sophia Institute Introduction to Theology Group

Each session holds my attention, and I am struck with the depth of knowledge presented to us. There will be certain Monday sessions I will not be able to attend during the summer months, but I take the time to listen to the recordings and refer to the recommended readings. The discussion question for Session 9 was “What does Mary mean to me”? I will share a few of my very personal thoughts.

Mary was a Jewess and always remained a Jewess. She was faithful to her Jewish family and studied Torah and fulfilled the Laws of Moses, according to her female status. The images of her as a gaudy queen of heaven have never tugged on my heart and soul. The beautiful African Icons, which we experienced this session, did move my soul. The visions of Mary by children are beautiful and yet I hold them within the context…

The Webinar on The Genesis session, held on June 9, 2025, was very informative. Thank you for this presentation. Rabbi Michael Hilton and Professor Beattie were a wonderful duo when they expanded the many layers and nuances of the Hebrew language. At the beginning of the lecture, Rabbi Michael gave examples of “word play” in Genesis Chapter 2, verse 23. It is the recognized passage “Bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called ‘woman’ for out of man this one has been taken”. On my own study and prayerful reading of these passages, I have never grasped the powerful, intrinsic meanings.

During the times I try to discover the heartbeat of God in scripture, I have found it best not to take most of the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures literally. Over these many years, it has only been through courses, such as these, that…

I am really happy to be member of this class really i have gain a lot of knowledge and the youth at the parish are happy. Sometimes i cant join but will watch the recorded class because of the problem of the electricity in Qwa Qwa where i am staying. By the end of the course i will be a new servant of God ready to be sent everywhere just like St. Paul our patron saint of my congregation.

I would like to continue to be part of the Discussion Forum. During the last few months, I have been available to attend live zoom meetings. However, for the next few months, I will have the need to listen to the recorded sessions.

If I had been able to participate in the breakout rooms for session 8 there would have been a desire to share my thoughts on the vision of Pope Leo XIV during the first days of his papacy.

I will start on a lighthearted note. Each time Pope Leo addresses the College of Cardinals, he reminds them, and all of us who are part of the community, to be grateful to the Lord for His blessings and to be Jesus’ friends.  He envisions as a community who professes that Christ, is the Son of the living God, we will go out and announce the Good News. During this moment…