Fee for Rice alumni: $135

In this third offering of “Sacred Spaces of Houston,” participants will explore six houses of worship, each chosen for its distinctive identity. Contrast the beautiful Chung Mei Buddhist Temple and its collection of religiously inspired sculpture and tranquil columbarium with the down-home simplicity of the Norwegian Seaman’s Church. View the striking, vibrant images of the Durga Bari Hindu Temple and the environmentally conscious campus of Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church, including the first church building in the nation to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. From the austere beauty of the Heights Church of Christ, with its custom-made pews imported from Germany and distinct stained glass windows, to the alabaster windows and exquisite, deep-hued and gilt-adorned paintings and icons at St. George Orthodox Church, you will find a wealth of information and inspiration awaiting you in this extraordinary ­discovery of sacred spaces.

Note: The first class will meet at Rice University. The six subsequent classes will meet at the listed sites. Schedules will be provided.

Sites to be visited will include:

• Chung Mei Buddhist Temple
• Durga Bari Hindu Temple
• Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church
• Heights Church of Christ
• Norwegian Seaman’s Church
• St. George Orthodox Church

First session lecturer: Jill Carroll, PhD, is the former executive director of The Boniuk Center for the Study and Advancement of Religious Tolerance at Rice University and an expert on world religions, the modern philosophy of religion, and religion and world politics. Dr. Carroll holds a PhD in the philosophy of religion from Rice. Weekly speakers: Representatives from each site will speak about their religion and their facility.

Additional keywords: culture, local, cultural, personal development, religion, religious

Course Co-Sponsors