The Armchair Theologians is a safe place to share your questions, thoughts, and experiences about our spiritual journeys. We do not judge or try to

convince one another; rather, we find community in sharing our ideas openly, and enrichment in learning how the same story can inspire different reactions in different people. Using videos, audio programs, and the Gospel readings, our focus this year will be on exploring our Christian tradition as well as learning to hear those who have beliefs which differ from our own. Join us once or many times; we'd love to see you. The Armchair Theologians meet from 9-10 AM each Sunday in the St. Mary's Room.

NOVEMBER

November 2: Politics and Religion-St. Mary s is frequently a place of liberal political and religious thought.As we approach a contentious election, it can be difficult to walk the "middle way" of holding to your own beliefs while beingrespectful of those whose opinions differ from yours.Beth Varro will share selections from the MPR program Speaking of Faith from 2006, wherein Republican U.S. Senator and Episcopal priest John Danforth discusses his opinions about politicsand religion, and encourages us not to paint large groups of people with one brush.

November 16: The Freelance Monotheism of Karen Armstrong.Carol Anne Wall will lead us as we listen and discuss sections from this Speaking of Faith broadcast from May 2008.

November 23: Hinduism-Hinduism is the world's oldest religious system and was born in India.It has given the world some of its great religious literature and a vast and intricate cosmology.St. Mary s parishioner Ben Miller will lead a discussion on how some twentieth century Gurus (teachers) equate Krishna, one of the major Hindu deities, with Jesus as an incarnation of the Godhead.

November 30: Bible Study-On this First Sunday of Advent, Carol Anne Wall will lead us in Gospel Based Discipleship, a discussion technique for reflecting on the Gospel reading of the day and the different meanings it may have for each of us.