I have to admit: learning this material sometimes made me uncomfortable. It has challenged parts of my own faith.

And its been utterly worthwhile.

I'm talking about the material I'm weaving together in a course I'm calling, “An Update from The Middle Ages: the Christianization of Europe and the Loss of Indigenous European Tradition.” It offers you a deeper understanding of where "Western Civilization" and many of our current challenges arise from. It compliments our ReMembering Course (and if you have already taken that course, I absolutely think you will enjoy this one).

This week, at the Parliament of World Religions, I keeps seeing the ramifications of these histories. Especially in the ongoing tension between universalism, universalizing, and unity.

I see these histories echoing into the present moment the "conversion" process (and its many methodologies) - be that for business, environmental organizations, or religious entities. In the way religions define themselves to one other. In how people think about start-ups and scale. In how people engage with peace. In the ongoing trauma. In the way institutions (especially educational institutions) are shaped.

I see these histories echoed in how contemporary indigenous communities, Christians, Catholics, Muslims, and Jews engage with one another.

Sometimes disturbing; sometimes encouraging. I'd say - fascinating.

I'm hoping it might support you and your sense-making, storytelling, and wondering about our world and this moment.