THE VISION OF EDUCATION AID ?
The first years of the 2000's represent a critical, challenging and defining moment for humanity. On the one hand enormous problems and difficulties still remain on the global agenda: war, violence, disease, ignorance, unemployment, poverty, civil and political conflict, crime, world hunger, the degradation of nature and the environment, drug abuse, despair, militant nationalism and racialism, inner city problems, violence and sexual abuse against women and children, religious conflicts..... In the aftermath of the tragic events of September 11th 2001, and the continuing conflict in the Middle East the global situation remains poised on a knife-edge.

At the same time we all know that there are answers to these problems. Details apart, all who think long and clearly can see that education holds the key to the future: education, in all its variety, complexity and depth: - formal and informal - scientific, ethical and spiritual - from primary school and kindergarten, through secondary and up to higher education and the work of Universities and beyond.

•  April 9 - Introduction - Towards a Periodic Table of the World's Religions
•  April 16 - Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism
•  April 23 - Sumerian, Babylonian, Zoroastrian and Bahai Philosophies
•  April 30 - Judaism and the Kabbalah and Phoenician (Canaanite) religion
•  May 7 - Islam, Sufism and Sikhism
•  May 14 - Greek and Roman philosophy
•  May 21 - Druidry and Celtic teachings
•  June 4 - Chinese and Japanese philosophy
•  June 11 - Anglo-Saxon, Germanic and Scandinavian Paganism
•  June 18 - Wicca, Neopaganism, Shamanism and New Religious Traditions
•  June 25 - Christianities: Gnostic, Catholic, Protestant, Ecumenical, Orthodox traditions
•  July 2 - Ancient Egyptian philosophy and African traditional teachings
•  July 9 - Modern Spiritualism, A.R. Wallace, Theosophy, Anthroposophy and New Age Teachings
•  July 16 - Modern Science and scientific philosophies, quantum theory and consciousness

This pioneering Summer 2008 study course is the third and final session in the series of adult evening classes courses given by Dr. Thomas Daffern, Head of Religious Studies and Philosophy at Poole Grammar School . He has taught and travelled in over 30 countries worldwide and has twice spoken at the United Nations Headquarters about peace studies and global spirituality. It is taking place Wednesday evenings in room one at Poole Grammar School from 6 to 8pm. The cost for the entire course is 65 pounds (50 pounds concessions). The purpose of the course is to advance understanding of different philosophical and spiritual traditions, and to enable students to gain a broad and also deep knowledge of different spiritual paths, so as to make informed life choices for their own spiritual journeys, and also to help guide others through the complexities of life. By focusing on the esoteric philosophical core teachings of each tradition, we hope gradually to unveil a transpersonal common denominator underlying all the spiritual paths of mankind and to point the way towards peace and interfaith harmony. Thomas is also chairing the 2008 Annual A.R. Wallace Memorial Lecture at Poole Grammar School on May 7 th. To book a place on the course please send a cheque payable to IIPSGP, addressed to: Dr. Thomas Daffern, Poole Grammar School , Gravel Hill, Poole, Dorset , BH17 9JU . Tel. 07951 600959