I will be teaching my "Sociology of American Religion" course in our intensive Centre Term in January. This term is designed for field trips.
Last time we went to:
Southeast Christian Church (largest in the state)
Presbyterian Center (denominational headquarters)
Gethsemani Abbey (Trappist monastery most famous as the home of Thomas Merton)
Sisters of Loretto Motherhouse
Both synagogues in Lexington
The Creation Museum.
In addition, we met with informed Mormons and Muslims who came to our class. An eminent Hindu leader was honored during Founders Day, which we incorporated into class. We looked into the Buddhist retreat center at Furnace Mountain, but January was not an excellent time to visit.
All of these places and people are great.
There are also several other great places and people within a three-hour drive (about the limit of a day trip).
Some that I am thinking about:
Covington Cathedral
St. Stephen's Church, Louisville (largest black congregation in the state)
The Louisville synagogues (including an Orthodox synagogue, not found in Lexington)
Lexington Universal Academy (Islamic school)
Southern Baptist Seminary
Asbury Theological Seminary
I am open to suggestions.
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8 comments:
I think an uninformed muslim mosque would be the most interesting and informative. Maybe visit both types then compare and contrast.
Uninformed?
The Covington Cathedral is gorgeous, and worth the trip for the artistic value alone. It's a scale replica of Notre Dame with the largest stain glass window in the world.
One of the sites connected to the Camp Meetings of the Great Revival of 1800.
I remember visiting a really nice hindu temple in louisville.
Oh how I miss Sociology of Religion, so much more fun than practicing law. I digress...
Furnace Mountain Buddhist Temple in the Red River Gorge needs to be on the list, if for no other reason than it's so unlikely.
I agree the Furnace Mountain would be a good place to go, but mountain retreat centers are not so bustling in January. I will check again, though.
Nevermind, I just saw that that won't work. You need more contemplatives... A visit to Shakertown for some historical perspective might be nice, or perhaps New Harmony, Indiana.
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