Bryn Athyn College Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017-18 | Page 22

is typically supposed in Judeo-Christian discourse .”

At Bryn Athyn College , the course first launched under the name Perspectives on the Decalogue , as a 100-level course . The students read Rise Above It as their textbook , along with a course packet that included teachings on each commandment from the major world religions . Over time , it became a 200-level course and has remained as such to this time .

Creating A New Textbook In 2015 , Ray sat down with about 12,000 reflective essays and journal entries from his students and put together a selfbound version of Rise Above It : Spiritual Development for College Students . He used it for his course in the year 2016-2017 . But with exciting new material constantly rolling in , he kept revising and updating the content . He said , “ I ’ m getting better journal entries than ever before because my students can read things their peers have written .”

Now , Ray is incorporating the newest student stories , and working to get the book ready for publication . He envisions Rise Above It : Spiritual Development for College Students as a textbook that could be used in any university to teach religious ethics and spiritual practice . Rev . Bob Junge ( BA ’ 52 ), former dean of the Theological School , who previewed this proposed textbook said , “ I ’ m very excited about this book ’ s potential usefulness . It is an affectional , rather than didactic approach , and is very accepting of where students are .”

Ray ’ s approach is a gentle one ; he doesn ’ t try to push a religious agenda . Ray explained , “ When I first discovered Swedenborg ’ s writings , I wanted everyone to know about them . I thought they were the greatest thing ever , like the cure for cancer . I wanted to get people into the church . Today , I think of the church as already in people . You just have to touch it and awaken it .” He added , “ We ’ re all afloat today in a sea of so much information and misinformation . I think by awakening the students ’ God-given , inner sense of what is true , and supporting it with sacred scripture , we can inspire them to be the best they can be . College students care about changing the world for the better . Here ’ s a divine roadmap for being the change they want to see in the world .”

Gratitude to “ Coach ” Decades ago , Ray became acutely aware of an educational void . He dreamed of helping people tune into their own spiritual compass by learning the Ten Commandments . Today , students at Bryn Athyn College are reaping the rewards of his passion and efforts . Amber Wood (’ 19 ) sums it up by writing , “ Thank you so much , Coach , for allowing so many students to have an opportunity for a real spiritual awakening . It has helped me more than you will ever know , and I ’ m sure many other students feel the same way . This has truly been a magnificent class , and I cannot wait to continue my spiritual journey outside of this institution .”

Ray is now in his seventies — an age when many choose to retire . Is he getting tired of the material ? Wouldn ’ t he rather go fishing or play golf ? Not a chance . Ray says , “ When I get home after teaching at the College , and Star asks me about my day , I almost always tell her , with sincerity , ‘ It was the best class ever !’” He says , “ I pray that the Lord continues to bless this College , this course , and these wonderful students . And I pray that the Lord allows me to keep coaching for a long , long time .”

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