REL 1010 The History of Religion 1 semester hour
Instructor-Dr. Alan Gleason
The class has 12 lessons and deals with the early history of man’s religious activities, including cave painting, burial practices, the earliest concepts of divinely required sacrifice, the concept of human sacrifice, where do we go when we die, and the earliest interactions and conflicts accorded to differing religious philosophies.

REL 1020 Romans 1 semester hour
Instructor-Dr. Billy Thompson
Dr. Thompson explores the Protestant New Testament theosophy as championed by Paul the Apostle in the book of Romans. The course is a true-false with essay. The text book used is the King James version of the Holy Bible.
 

REL 1021-02 Genesis ‘The First Family’ 2 semester hours is a first semester freshman level course offered by the Rio Verde University’s College of Religion School of Theology. The course is presented by English guest professor Dr. William Hertz. Dr. Hertz, is the Pastor-Emeritus for the Lancashire Church of Christ in Edmonton, CAN. He obtained his ThD in Comparative Theologies from Jersey Bible Seminary [UK] in 1971. He specialized in Old Testament Theology at the ThD level, and in the Pentateuch at the MTh level. He served  as  a  Pastor 

and Evangelist for theChurch of Christ both in Europe and Canada. He is currently semi-retired, as he classifies himself. He was married for 39 years to his wife Sarah before her untimely death in 1999. He has no children. He has written over 25 books and hundreds of magazine articles on OT topics. As a long time friend of Rabbi Dr. Moishe Cordoba of RVU INTL in Juarez, MEX he brings to us this introductory course in Genesis 1-5. Dr. Hertz is the son of a holocaust survivor z’tl, who as a young man of 14 came to America, with his father during WWII. His mother Havel perished in Europe during the War. His father wanted Professor Hertz to get a good education, but was so poor that he could not afford to send his son to school. His father Tzvi, re-married an American women, and they sent Dr. Hertz to a Jesuit school where he completed high school. After college at a small Catholic school in NYC, he chose to go back to Europe for several years to search for relatives of his mother and father. During this time he completed coursework in the UK, and obtained his Masters’ Degree while back in Germany.
 

REL 1030 Differing Views of Genesis 1 semester hour
Instructor-Dr. Alan Gleason with guest professor Dr. Auriel Combs  The course consists of notes and reviews gleaned from a two year study conducted by Dr(s). Gleason and Combs regarding the project Genesis analysis. The broad range of understandings and beliefs from varying sectors of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism and compared and contrasted.

REL 1068-02 Genesis Chapters 12-50 (Spring '08) 2 semester hours Tom Elseroad instructor

The Bible and Science is a first semester freshman level course offered by the Rio Verde University’s College of Religion School of Theology. The instructor for this course on Genesis 12 – 50 is Thomas Elseroad. Currently he works for a great company called Monaco Enterprises in Spokane, Washington. Tom Elseroad is a Web Master and a Computer Consultant. He owns and operates SPOCOM™ also in Spokane. God has laid it on him to become a Pastor wherever God chooses him to go. He seeks your prayers for direction and His timing to be fulfilled in Tom’s life. He is married to a lovely wife Karen of 18+ years. He spent 4 years in the United State Navy as an Electrician's Mate onboard the U.S.S. Nimitz (CVN68) aircraft carrier. He graduated from Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga Tennessee with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a Bible major. As an Alumnus of Tennessee Temple University, he still maintains, with a minor variance, their confession of faith. Tom wants to make it very clear that the above beliefs are not an absolute basis for fellowship. In fact, he has many friends who differ on some of the statements above. This is provided for the benefit of those who come to this course wanting to know where the instructor stands on certain fundamental beliefs. Tom's use of visual charts and tables often make clear, and put into perspective, harder concepts in the book of Genesis. Making spiritual resources accessible to all has been his life-long quest.
 

REL 1070 The Concept of Sabbath 2 semester hours
Instructor-Dr. Joseph Rubenstein
Dr. Rubenstein explores the initial concepts of a ‘weekly holy day’ and looks at the Judeao-Christian concepts surrounding Sabbath. In addition, two sessions are devoted to Islam and its concept of Sabbath. There is a mid-term and final exam and a term paper required for completion of the course.
 

REL 1088-02 The Bible and Science (Spring 2008) 2 semester hours

The Bible and Science is a freshman level course offered by the Rio Verde Univesity’s College of Religion School of Theology. The course is presented by Indian guest professor Dr. J. C. Philip. Dr. Johnson C. Philip, is the senior most Christian Apologist in India. He has done pioneering work in Rational Apologetics and its tools. He obtained his ThD in Christian Apologetics from International Seminary [USA] in 1984. He specialized in Rational Apologetics at the ThD level, and in Theology at the MTh level. He obtained his PhD in Physics in 1991 from Jiwaji University, India. He has specialized in Quantum Chromo-dynamics at the doctoral level, and in Solid State Physics and Electronics in MSc. Based upon his voluminous researches into non-occultic alternative medicine, he obtained his DSc in Alternative Medicine from Medicina Alternativa in 2003. He was awarded the DNYS in 2004 after years of study and internship in Naturopathy.
 

He is the author of over 50 books and 2500 articles in physics, theology, bible, and other fields. He has lectured in numerous countries, and his articles have been translated into several languages. Since 1978 he has been a prolific writer, and has published more than 50 books and 2500 articles in 6 languages in the fields of theology, apologetics, counseling, and communication. He has also published several research papers in apologetics and information technology as applied to libraries in India.

Making spiritual resources accessible to all has been his life-long quest, and with this aim he has established several theological and secular distance-training schools which now attract students from 120 countries around the world. He comes to Rio Verde University as a guest professor courtesy of our Vancouver, CAN branch.

During the course, if you have questions regarding the class or related comments, you can e-mail Dr. Philip at information@rioverdeunivesity.org. Currently this class is available by distance learning only. (The cost of this course may be tax deductible under either the HOPE or LIFETIME LEARNING programs approved by Congress and incorporated into IRS forms). If you are a minister, evangelist, rabbi, imam, a BACI* or other spiritual leader this course may be taken as a CEU program and provides 7.5 hour credits. Contact our admissions office for further instructions for CEU credit. [*BACI-Beth Adonai Congregations INTL is a primary supporter of RVU-School of Theology].

The textbook for the course will be the KJV Holy Bible. Other translations may be used as a substitute. INSTRUCTIONS: This course is designed to take the student approximately 35-40 hours to finish on average. It should take you about 2.5 hours to complete the mid-term and final exams. The mid-term comes after chapter 3 and the final exam at the end of chapter 6. There is one term paper required for completion of the class. The mid-term counts for 35% of your grade. The term paper accounts for 15%, and the final exam for 50%. A grade of 70% is required for successful completion.

Begin by opening the text materials. You may already have a Bible at home. To be more accurate dates are designated as A.C.E. and B.C.E. (After the Christian Era, and Before the Christian Era) instead of A.D. and B.C.

Note-Many of the theological views expressed in this course are the personally held beliefs of our guest professor and as such must be respected. Those from other denominational or religious belief systems should use these views as focal points for discussion and understanding though different than their own. Some of these views differ from the Beth Adonai INTL theological stance.
 

REL 4040 Is It Kosher? 2 semester hours
Instructor-Dr. Ari ibn Michell
Guest professor Dr. Michell, author of six cookbooks on the “Mystical Art of Kosher Kooking” discusses the concept of kosher ‘to do the right thing’, and its broad and narrow interpretations and practices. Jewish, Islamic, Orthodox Christian, and Protestant Christian practices are explored. The history of kosher food practices dating back to the time of Noah, the health aspects presented by the prophet Daniel, and the individual serving practice of the Essenes is highlighted. Over the past four years this has been one of the most popular distance learning courses offered by RVU Department of Theology.