Week Three: On the Move with Abraham

The further you go into the desert, the closer you come to God.
Arabic saying

 

11. Monday: Convivencia, a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain

8:00 am sharp: Depart for Baca from Armstrong
12 noon: Lunch at Desert Sage, settle into Baca rooms
1:30 pm: Depart for San Isabel hermitages, discuss Merton introduction
6:00 pm: Dinner at Desert Sage
7:30 pm: DVD and discussion in seminar room: “Three Faiths, One God” (2 hours)

  • Read for tomorrow:
    • Abbey, pp. 129-189; Merton, pp. 39-52

12. Tuesday: Santos, Santeras, and Ghost Ranch

7:00 am: Breakfast at Desert Sage
8:00 am: Depart for Santa Fe and Ghost Ranch (with bag lunch)
12:30 pm: Visit Museum of Spanish Colonial ArtsVisit santera Arlene Cisneros Sena at her home studio and art gallery
Drive to Ghost Ranch, settle in, dinner
7:30 pm: DVD and Discussion, “Milagro Beanfield War”

  • Read for tomorrow:
    • Abbey, pp. 189-244; Merton, pp. 53-66
    • Prepare three handwritten questions for Walter Declerck at Dar al-Islam

13. Wednesday: Dar al-Islam in Abiqiu; Zevk Music Ensemble

Solitary hike at Ghost Ranch, breakfast
10:00 am: Depart for Dar al-Islam (with bag lunch)
Hike White Place
Dinner at Ghost Ranch
7:30 pm: Concert and Storytelling with Zevk Ensemble (Rabia and Benyamin van Hattum)

  • Read for tomorrow:
    • Abbey, pp. 245-303; Merton, pp. 66-81

14. Thursday: Desert Spirituality I

Breakfast, move out of Ghost Ranch
9:00 am: Depart for Baca (with bag lunch)
1:30 pm: Solitary hike at Sand Dunes (preparation for final paper)
6:00 pm: Dinner at Desert Sage
7:30 pm: Discuss Edward Abbey and Merton in the Library:

  1. What were Abbey’s major themes? Merton’s? The Desert Fathers?
  2. For you, what was the most significant part of Edward Abbey?
  3. What was the most significant Desert Saying?

15. Friday: Desert Spirituality II

Final class/Farewells

  • Discuss:
    • 4) What was the most significant part of the class for you?
    • 5) Who was the most significant person we studied or met?

Clean rooms, pack, bag lunch, depart for Colorado Springs

  • Over the weekend:
    • Write your responses to questions 2-5, one page each (see separate sheet)

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