Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) – Successful the first project of formation at a distance on the “Fenomeno religioso in Italia” organised by the Centro Consulenza on line on sects religions and spirituality SRS in collaboration with CESNUR Centro Studi Nuove Religioni. The course which had 25 participants from all voer Europe was articulated no the platform of e-learning Hubble called after the space telescope. “Hubble can be considered a window on the universe which allows us to view the galaxy of religions and the nebulous of new religious movements,” says Raffaella Di Marzio, directress of SRS, planner and promoter of the course.
The project, the first of its kind in Europe, is non confessional and it will end on 2 July. It has involved expert teachers in the field such as Prof. Massimo Introvigne, director of CESNUR whereas many of the participants were Catholic teachers of religion, Catholics involved in pastoral work and also non Christians interested in the subject. The technical modalities include standard forms to be downloaded every two weeks, forum with questions put by students to teachers, evening chat line service.
One of the participants, Prof. Carlos Arboleda Mora, university docent and head of the Ecumenical Centre of Medellin archdiocese in Colombia, described the course as “very useful for understanding the problem of religions today” and he said he would like to see the experience also in Latin America. Positive reactions came also from other students.
Given its success, the course will be offered a second time from 2 October 2003. Next year the centre plans to offer four monographic courses on line on Islam, Jehovah Witnesses, Satanism, New Age. For more information in Italian see www.corsiweb.org or write to info@corsiweb.org PA (Fides Service 24/6/2003 EM lines 33 Words: 395)
