Book Ernest as a Guest Speaker

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Ernest has dedicated his entire adult life to the study and teaching of religious beliefs.  He completed 14 years of full-time University studies up to and including the level of PhD.  He then conceived, researched, designed and delivered 61 courses at the University-level (The University of Toronto and Winnipeg).  These courses focused on World Religions, the Sayings of Jesus, Apocalyptic Literature and (of course) Dying, Death and the Afterlife.  For 30+ years, he has taught thousands of University students about the beliefs of all the major world religions.  He would say that to the extent that someone can “know” something about what billions have believed for millennia, he knows a little something, and he would add that he is in the unique position to understand beliefs both from a personal and a professional perspective.  “Personal” because he was a believer for many years but now no longer is, and fearnotdeath.com is designed to explain why he changed his mind.  More tellingly, the feedback from his students played a critical role in this journey.  The students who have filled his classrooms over decades are of a diversity of faith-based believers (as well as non-believers), and it was their consistent encouragement and prompting that led Ernest to develop and launch this Website.  Its purpose is to provide a professional and solidly academic investigation into a topic that faith has attempted to answer for thousands of years.  Ernest explains that facts will confirm that the variety of those faith-based answers belies this fundamental problem:  you can believe anything that you like (and we have for thousands of years) but believing something does not make it so.  Instead, as a lifelong educator, Ernest proposes addressing the subject matter on a factual basis.  And that is what this Website will provide you with:  a decidedly different discussion about dying, death and the afterlife.  Finally, unlike the dizzying differences among all of the faith-based answers, Ernest will provide you with an alternative that is intelligent, viable, sustainable and respectful.  That alternative will be presented to you by way of his signature teaching style that is shaped with a commitment to being fully transparent:  Ernest will provide you with the means to fact-check him on the claims that he makes - something you rarely (if ever) hear from those behind the pulpit.

Students have their say

Thank you, Ernest, for everything this term.  It was great hearing your lectures, learning from your real-world experience and being able to come across [as] an instructor capable and willing to criticise the textbook when needed, creating a new analytical habit in me.  I enjoyed all the stories you told us, and I appreciate all the effort you put into every single lecture.

Excellent Prof.  Always prepared and knowledgeable.  This class was one of the most interesting electives I have ever taken.

Everything was great:  time management, great communication skills, clear answers to questions

Instructor was very knowledgeable of the subject areas covered in class.  Very passionate about Religion and Culture.

Very knowledgeable, interesting class, enjoyable and would recommend it.  Professor makes students comfortable and facilitates learning.

Amazing instructor.  Always informative & really showed that he wants to teach this course.   Couldn't think of anyone better to teach this course.

Evaluations from multiple Chairs:  Department of Religion & Culture (University of Winnipeg)

We are extremely fortunate that Ernest continues to teach for us.  He regularly teaches our largest introductory class (World Religions, cap of 100) and, in the year under review, taught a New Testament course (Synoptic Gospels) that no one else in the department has enough background to teach.  His contribution to the department is highly valued.

Professor Janzen received a rating of 100% satisfactory for this course, with students expressing their appreciation for his organization skills, knowledge and innovative teaching methods.  Due to the latter, particularly in offering a wide variety of opportunities for student learning, I evaluate Dr. Janzen's performance to be exceptional.