Some of you know by now that I’m creating two online institutes. The academic calendar for the first year begins in October. One institute is called MEMRA. It focuses on ancient and biblical studies. I’m packing a lot of my content from my now fifteen years of classroom teaching for interested people who don’t care about earning credits. Courses are six weeks long (except for certain ancient language courses, which are year-long in duration).
For paleobabbler fellow-travelers, here are some MEMRA courses offered during the 2010-2011 year that may be of interest:
- ancient Egyptian history sequence (three modules); one module is on pyramds
- history of ancient Israel (has a lot of archaeological content)
- ancient Israelite religion
- ancient Egyptian religion
- history of the Old and New Testament texts (“how we got the OT / NT”)
- courses in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic (I’m waffling on whether to offer first-year hieroglyphics).
The other institute is for topics related to what is typically called the paranormal. It’s called the Institute for Paranormal, Preternatural, and Parapsychological Studies (IPPPS). I want to address a range of topics from a critical academic perspective, stressing good sources, methods, and coherent thinking. There’s actually a lot of peer-reviewed and otherwise academically-oriented material out there on strange topics that people could be exposed to. How many people know that psychic phenomena was studied by research institutes at Stanford, Princeton, and Duke? That alleged alien abductees have been researched by two psychology professors at Harvard ( who really don’t like each others’ work)? It’s interesting stuff.
For this audience, I’m offering three courses critiquing ancient astronaut theories during the first year (two focused on Zecharia Sitchin; the other on Barry Downing’s work), along with a sequence on the history of UFO sightings in the U.S. Another faculty member who just finished his PhD in historical anthropology is offering courses in the folklore of giants, vampirism, and witchcraft.
Just a heads up.
Just a comment re. the question of Sumerian images of the sun. They have heat waves as well as light rays. A simple and intelligent representation of the facts of their (and our) experience. Thanks for the debunking.
I propose a geometric explanation (tentative) of how the Mesopotamians came to have a sexagesimal number system. It’s in my book “Patterns of Eternity” published last November fy Floris publishers and available through Amazon. I read “Patterns of Eternity”‘s prologue on youtube.
I will look it up – is your idea connected to any specific numbers theory?
weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee if only i have the bucks to enroll these courses!:(
LOL
geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee but u r a great scholar mr. heiser. ur statements have authority coz u definitely know what u r saying.
I sure appreciate the insights on Nephilim and Elohim words and concepts. Finally, a clear explanation based on things as simple as English words like “sheep” and “fish.” Cool. I get it.
OK, about the courses. I work. Yep, part of the curse, eh. Actually, I work for myself, which is even worse when multiplied by the curse of time management. So – MSH – how much time commitment are we talking about when you say “six weeks” ??? or is that “six sevens? LOL
I am off topic again. So, to recap, if I take two hours a night for a course – or something like that, am I going to make it, or am I just deluding myself?
Awesome that you are going on Coast to Coast. I need to buy new batteries for my trusty Sony radio. George is good easy going guy. Unlike the Dark Knight of C2C, Ian Punnett. The Inquisitor of Christians who commit the mortal sin of calling in without having a degree. LOL
All Ian is missing is the Vader breathing apparatus.
I have other questions, unrelated to courses. But I will wait for youre answer on this one first.
🙂
Funny! I imagine that the courses will require about 5 hours per week for students. Glad the material was helpful.
I can’t wait to take some IPPPS courses! Lots to learn for sure…