Michael Bogar, M.Div, M.Th.

“As an instructor, Michael is able to create instant comfort in the classroom with his warmth and humor. Through solid academic preparation and exceptional communication skills, he makes education interesting and available to people from all walks of life. I would highly recommend him to you as an instructor.”

Valerie Barnes, Ph.D., Psychologist and former Instructor at the University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Michael D. Bogar M.Div., Th.M.

Michael D. Bogar is authentic. He has earned two masters degrees and framed houses for a living. He has experienced failure and success; has walked, sometimes crawled, through the valleys of life to the other side. His approach is from a full-life experience and he can relate to a wide range of human beings. He has a way of communicating to those at the top of their game and those ready to quit. Life is educational, each morning presents an opportunity to begin anew.

He has taught at the graduate and undergraduate levels and has a proven ability to inform and inspire students ranging from the informal amateur to the serious scholar. Students and audience members frequently comment on his depth of scholarship and personal approach. And he is funny.

Michael has studied and taught the classical religious texts from many religious traditions and is a very effective teacher of spiritual concepts. He has studied Jungian Depth Psychology and universal mythologies.

EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Michael began his formal education in the arena of creative writing and journalism, and then earned a Bachelors Degree in Biblical Studies in 1977. He traveled through Eastern Europe for a short time, and then went on to earn a Master of Divinity from Northwest Baptist Theological Seminary in 1982, and a Master of Theology Degree from Trinity Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois in 1983.

FIELD EXPERIENCE

· Currently seminar presenter and life coach in dozens of venues in U.S. and Canada on topics of the World's Religions. (www.michaelbogar.com).

· Teaching courses at University of Washington, Experimental College on World Religions.

· Scheduled to teach a course through Antioch University on World Religions. (mdance@antiochsea.edu).

· Have presented at Bastyr University on subject of Visioning and Intention Setting (oneacupuncture@comcast.net).

· Have spoken at such places as the Seattle Rotary Club (david@davidendicott.us), Home Street Bank on topics of Understanding Islam and other religious topics. (Dean.KiloDavis@HomeStreet.com).

· Have presented at the Pacific Northwest Alternative Dispute Resolution Conference and Oregon Mediation Association in 2007 on the topic of The Stages of Psycho-spiritual Development and Mediation (Stephanie.Bell@METROKC.GOV).

· Adult Education Instructor at the Center for Spiritual Living in Seattle, Washington since 1989 (KathianneL@cslseattle.org).

· Have been on Seattle radio discussing topics of religion and spirituality:

o KISW, 99.9 – Topic of The DaVinci Code and the modern search for spirituality (bj@bjaday.com).

o Interfaith Talk Radio with Rabbi Ted Falcon on topic of Religion: Damaging or Beneficial (rabbi.ted@betalef.org).

o The Gary Mantz Show - Tuesdays at Noon, 1150 AM KKNW (GARY MANTZ SHOW)

· Since 1987, been an Adjunct Instructor at the Holmes Institute of Consciousness/Seattle branch (revsuzi@csle.org).

· Adjunct Instructor OF Religions and Theology at the Western Reformed Seminary in Tacoma, Washington from 1980 to 1982.

· From 1998 to 2000, served as the Interim Minister at the Port Townsend Unity Church in Port Townsend, Washington.

· From 1995 to 1997, was Assistant Minister at Lynnwood Unity Church in Lynnwood, Washington. He assigned curriculum and taught classes.

· From 1985 to 1989, served as the senior minister of an Evangelical Free Church in Everett, Washington.

· 1976, took educational literature and medical supplies in Communist Europe with team of professionals dedicated to helping families undergoing political discrimination and persecution.

A SAMPLE OF CLASSES MICHAEL HAS CONDUCTED

· The Joy of Sects: An Introduction to the World’s Religions

· The Differences Between Islamic Sects: Sunnis and Shiites

· Writing a Conscious Intention Statement

· Discovering and Developing Your Life Purpose

· Developing A Cosmology for the 21st Century: For Personal and Work Life.

· Watching God Grow Up: The Bible as Stages of Spiritual Consciousness

· Ancient Gnosticism as a Paradigm for Modern Psycho-Spiritual Development

· The Ascending Soul: Introduction to the The Gospel of Mary Magdalene

· The Positive Power of Negative Events: The Gospel of Judas

· The Jesus Journal: The Gospel of Thomas

· How and Why the Bible Was Written

· Introduction to the Chinese Classic, The Tao Te Ching

· Introduction to the Hindu Classic, The Bhagavad Gita

· Introduction to the Islamic Qu'ran

· A Westerner Look's at Islam and Terrorism

· A History of the New Thought Movement

· Introduction to Religion in America

· Introduction to Western Theology and Spirituality

· Creating A One Sentence Vision Statement

· The Lord's Prayer for Everyday Use

· Gender Revolution: From Role Mates to Soul Mates

As you can see from this partial list, Michael integrates mythology, theology, personal spirituality, practical philosophy and depth psychology. He combines deep scholarship, spontaneous humor and contagious enthusiasm with a down to earth practical approach to personal and spiritual growth. People open up easily to his clear and amicable style.