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Emerson Online Studies
About
Dr. Susanne Freeborn
"It
is the part of the wise instructor to tempt forth from the minds of his
pupils the facts of their inmost consciousness, and make them apprehend
the gifts and faculties of their own being. Education, when rightly
understood, will be found to lie in the art of asking apt and fit
questions, and in leading the mind by its own light to the perception of
truth."
Bronson
Alcott
Dr.
Susanne Freeborn is the founder of Emerson Online Studies and
developed this program for Emerson Theological Institute.
She is a recognized and respected expert in teaching New Thought
interactively on the Internet, which she began doing in 1997. The
creation of an online studies program making New Thought studies possible
was the final outcome of her doctoral dissertation. In the past few years she has presented
at the International New Thought Alliance, Affiliated New Thought Network
and was a featured speaker at the Emerson Institute's
Education Conference. She has been a guest speaker at numerous
churches. She is the moderator or co-moderator of six lists for
students, ministers and the curious at Yahoo Groups including
a private list for Emerson
Online Studies students and teachers, and another limited to
ministers. She publishes Peace Principles, a daily email that is
shared around the world. You can visit any of these by clicking on the
links:
While many other spiritual leaders have shied away from acquiring the
skills that the Internet requires, Dr. Freeborn has mastered the skills of
web site creation, chat, email, and web surfing, mining these skills for
what they have to contribute to the spiritual life.
She has used them to provide solid, practical and deeply creative and
engaging spiritual education at the new frontier of human expression, as
well as a means to nurture ministry through providing reliable support for
many of ministry's repetitive tasks.
Sometimes,
surprising even herself, Dr. Freeborn has successfully taught Internet
courses in subject areas that would seem to require physical presence,
such as Effective Speaking, a class for ministerial students, and
Meditation, which would seem to require physical observance of ones
students. Effective and transformative
teaching, whether in person or online, is both her passion and her
calling. It is with great joy and gratitude that she creates the
curriculum for the classes she teaches, often choosing subjects that
continually challenge her to learn still more.
After
changing schools 27 times in an extraordinarily challenging childhood, she
dropped out of high school. Her eventual and ongoing educational
accomplishment is genuine proof that the expression of Love and availing
oneself of Spiritual Law does result in the fulfillment of desire.
Without regard for circumstances-- including how high the odds seem
stacked against the possibility, she pursued her spiritual goals and
life's purpose and she now shares as a teacher the benefit of the wisdom
gained through moving through her life's challenges and commitments into
the life of her dreams.
Susanne is deeply committed to delivering exceptional quality spiritual
education and leadership training to students wherever they are. The
Internet removes many, many obstacles to education, while the intent of
the teacher and the student, when combined, are capable of creating a
program of study that meets the student's needs and satisfies religious
school accreditation standards. She envisions New Thought making its
way into the outback regions of the world via the Internet, to places
where it was once impossible to study New Thought and remain living in
ones home.
Susanne completed her ministerial studies through Emerson Institute under
the direction of Dr. Bill Little of Pacific Coast Church on the Monterey
Peninsula. She completed her Doctoral Degree from Emerson Institute
in Religious Studies in 1998, three years after having received her Juris
Doctor degree from the Monterey College of Law in 1995. She also
attended University of Maryland, focusing her studies in the Liberal Arts
including American Studies and Women's Studies.
Dr. Freeborn has been deeply engaged in spiritual inquiry since early in
her childhood and sees this quest as the key to living a creative,
successful life.
Comments And Acknowledgement:
1.
Online Studies
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"With all things that are new, online classes seemed
amazingly futuristic, but it didn't take more than that first moment of
opening the door to the online "study hall" that I felt
welcomed and inspired by the Rev. Dr. Susanne Freeborn. Her
heartfelt commitment to spiritual teachings, her desire to serve in a
compassionate and meaningful way completely shine through in her work as
a creative and inspiring minister." Rev. Dr. Ruth Marcus
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"It is not possible to enter into dialogue with Dr.
Freeborn and then go away from it unchanged. Her commitment to clearly
understand and demonstrate Truth is inspiring. Logic and passion
powerfully combine to result in a message, which is clear and credible.
Authenticity, integrity and competence characterize her leadership. She
is a faithful mouthpiece for timeless Truth as she yields to Spirit and
speaks the Word which can heal the soul. The success of her pioneering
work as an "on-line" teacher is validated by the
"on-line" spiritual community she facilitates, transcending
the perceived limitations of the internet and geography. What her
students receive far exceeds education and training. They come to know
themselves and experience God as Present in them." Rev. Dr. Gary
A. Knapp
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"It has been my distinct honor to receive my entire
ministerial credential instruction, online, from Dr. Freeborn. She has
reinforced integrity and commitment within me, and these, along with a
strong conviction of Principles, have been my greatest gifts from her.
In or out of class I feel that my classmates and I are seen in the
"light" at all times in her mind. She is committed to our
spiritual evolution!
She is gifted in expressing herself, and will only speak Truth.
Susanne is not afraid to blaze new trails, and thus is continually
"open at the top." Rev. Sharron J. Fickler
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"I am so grateful for her on-line classes. They've changed
my life in the most magnificent ways." Dr. Vickie Gardner
Placker
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Dr. Freeborn is very grounded in her Spiritual Awareness and
Attunement. I enjoy doing an online class with her that is
extremely stimulating and interactive. She is always very well prepared to teach and responds quickly
to questions -- which are then answered thoroughly and until understood.
Her excellent PC savvy allows her to promptly post segments of
pertinent text to our lesson discussions during the class each week from
the assigned reading, smoothly facilitating great discussions and a
deeper understanding -- which is wonderful as well! I am so much more in
tune with my Spiritual Self compared to when I began this class just a
few months ago! Susan
Cortez
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2.
Spiritual Counseling
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I've known Dr. Susanne Freeborn for the past 15 years as
friend, mentor, coach and spiritual advisor. We met in a
leadership program, and we immediately had a clash of wills.
Susanne has a gift of seeing straight to the heart of the matter and the
courage to tell the truth. In the moment, I was not ready to hear
it from her! But as I time went on, I grew to count on Susanne's
rigorous and compassionate point of view on all matters. In fact,
when I have a particularly difficult issue at hand, Susanne is the one I
will call. She helps me find my true self and true path, even if
it is not the same one that everyone else is walking down.
When Andrew and I got married last year, Susanne led the
ceremony. She is an elegant and powerful minister who inspired our
family and friends. She worked in partnership with us to
tailor the ceremony to our beliefs and commitments. Susanne
helped us craft our own vows and to create a special ceremony
honoring our deceased loved ones. Overall, it was a joyous,
spiritual, and special event that many people remember as one of the
most touching weddings they've attended.
I was happy to hear that Susanne is starting a ministry on the
Peninsula. I remember when Susanne pursued her Juris Doctorate.
While I knew she would be an excellent lawyer, I didn't feel that she
would be using all of her skills to their fullest. However, in
retrospect, I believe her law degree has strengthened her ability as a
minister, by building a strong foundation from which to provide
spiritual counseling.
When we move to the South Bay this summer, we will be so happy
to finally be able to attend Susanne's sermons. As mother of a
four-month old son, I am interested in raising him in a strong spiritual
tradition that does not limit him with moral injunctions, but helps
guide him in developing a sense of his
own integrity, his innate oneness with all of life. When I read
the newspaper and see the challenges facing young people today, I am
strengthened in my resolve to offer him a solid spiritual foundation
that will help him find his own true path. I know that Susanne
will be my partner in realizing that vision. Lori Nishiura Mackenzie
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Susanne’s spiritual coaching has assisted me, over the years,
in realizing many of my dreams, including the purchase of my home and
the expansion of my professional horizons.
She really understands how creativity supports all of life, and
teaches us how to use our innate creativity in practical ways. Clarity,
focus and intention are powers that she brings to bear on every inquiry.
Shirley Polovy, Internationally Collected Artist and founder of
Artcoaching
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I had tried every avenue that I was aware of to become the kind of a
minister that I knew that I wanted to be---not someone else's idea of a
minister, my personal expression and sharing of my true self. Dr.
Susanne Freeborn listened to me with warmth, openness, and
sincerity. She encouraged me and supported me, and now I am on my
way, able to share Ernst Holmes teachings, with a new depth and freedom.
She opened new doors that I had only dreamed of being open.
Dr. Susanne Freeborn is a Teacher's Teacher. Her love,
understanding of New Thought material, world religions, and Ernst Holmes
works, enable her to inspire, support and shape ministerial students
that will make a difference now and for future generations."
Wendy Collins, Minister, The
Wood River Spiritual Center
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I really need to express my gratitude to a very bright light, that came
shining to me when it seemed as though the darkness was enveloping me.
I had been shown through quite a bit of time and much effort that my
spiritual center was moving in a different direction than I was. I
needed to make a change it was finally evident. I was looking for
a similar movement when I called and reached Susanne Freeborn. I
know there is no such thing as luck, and I am so very grateful for her
"FREEING" words.
Not only was she giving me exactly what I needed, I was breathing
deeper, more relaxed, empowered. I am truly blessed to have found
the Emerson Institute and Susanne Freeborn. Her name stands for
what she is "Born to be FREE", and she inspires that in me
every time I get the opportunity to share in conversation. She
instilled in me that I am my own President. I am walking in a
different direction now, and that direction is blessed with creativity
and enthusiasm.
Sheila
Summers, RScP, The Wood River Spiritual Center
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3.
Classes Taught
For
more detailed descriptions of internet classes please see www.EmersonOnlineStudies.org
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Practical
Spirituality 100-200 Series - The Emerson One Year Course in Practical
Spirituality
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Practical
Spirituality 213 - The Holmes Papers, The Anatomy of Healing Prayer
- A 6 week study and practicum designed to advance the practice of treatment.
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Practical
Spirituality 214 - The Creative Word, explores the power of language in
creating a life that we love. Explorations through the literature of
sacred texts as well as poetry, literature and writings by participants.
Exercises are designed to empower students to use their power of description
to create a better story about their everyday experience of life, as well as
to empower them in creating what they truly desire through the use of their
own words in prayer and in consciousness.
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Practical
Spirituality 300 - Online Practitioner Course, Practical Spirituality
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Practical
Spirituality 309a and b - The Tao te Ching
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Practical
Spirituality 312 - The Tao of Service, 6 week exploration of the role
of service as a spiritual practice and avenue of transformation and
self-expression.
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Practical
Spirituality 425 - Effective Speaking, Eternal Truth In Contemporary
Language
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Practical
Spirituality 426 - Ministerial Ethics and Your Science Of Mind
Practice
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Practical
Spirituality 427 - Introduction to Buddhism (Dzogchen)
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Practical
Spirituality 428 - The Hindu Pantheon, Inquiry Into New Thought Roots
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Practical
Spirituality 430 - Remedial
Christianity
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Practical
Spirituality 501 - High
Mysticism, Emma Curtis Hopkins
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Practical
Spirituality 518 - Awakening,
An Introduction to the Sufi Way
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Practical
Spirituality 550 - Making
a Difference through Spiritual Counseling
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Practical
Spirituality 575 - Pastoral
Care, for Those Who Care About Caring
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