Helen Mathis, professor of religion, explains how the grand cathedrals and religious communities on our route fit into the history of Christianity, especially their relationship with the Catholic faith tradition, and the impact of the birth and growth of Protestantism. Professor Mathis will pay specific attention to Martin Luther and the saga of European Bible translation after the invention of the moveable type press.

Clark Beim-Esche, longtime teacher of English and Integrated Arts at the Upper School, will help bring to life the various eras of art, architecture, history, and literature that make up the aesthetic context of the regions along the Rhine. His topics include the intensely personal drama of Van Gogh’s life, the spiritual underpinnings of Romanesque and Gothic cathedral architecture in Germany, and the rich historical and literary heritage related to Lorelei and Siegfried.