My educational background is on theology and political studies. I read hundreds of academic articles and dozens of books on any topic that catches my interest, and mythology has long been an interest of mine. I have written a secular Bible study guide and am currently working on a historic fiction novel about a neo-Assyrian diviner and his family. 

The source material for my ongoing classes is way too numerous to list. I draw from dozens of books and hundreds of academic papers. I will list only a few sources here (chosen based on the proximity of the books to my desk, and thus ease of access for me sharing the names). For Ugaritic mythology I look to the books of Simon B. Parker, Michael D. Coogan, Mark S. Smith, Alberto R. W. Green, Aaron Tugendhaft. For information about how the Assyrians understood the statues of their gods, I look to the book Born in Heaven, Made on Earth, edited by Michael Dick as well as the book Images of Others by Nathaniel Levtow. For information on Assyrian divination and medical practices I turned to many different sources, including J. A. Scurlock. My understanding of Mesopotamian literature is heavily influenced by Thorhild Jacobsen but also Martin Worthington. For information on ancient Greek atheism I look at Tim Whitmarsh's book Battling the Gods. Karen Armstrong's books on religion are also very valuable. I will probably be drawing from writings by Joseph Campbell as well as the book Classical Mythology edited by Stephen L. Harris and Gloria Platzner, but many other sources as well. Ancient Egyptian sources include Maat, the moral ideal in ancient Egypt : a study in classical African ethics by Maulana Karenga, the Literature of Ancient Egypt, edited by William Kelly Simpson, the Cult of Ra by Stephen Quirke, God's Wife, God's Servant by Mariam F. Ayad. This is just a partial list. I am an avid reader and active note-taker.

I will provide reading material for the students either as a file or a link to a website.