In today’s world, religion gets much of the blame for the violence and strife affecting us all.

Beginning Oct. 11 and continuing through Nov. 15 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Orcas Senior Center, this six-week course is designed to get to the heart of the beliefs and practices of several of the world’s religions, in order to discern the truth of such claims.

Possible traditions to be discussed will be Judaism, Christianity and Islam (monotheistic religions) and Hinduism and Buddhism (Asian religions).

The sixth session will be used to address questions and topics that come up and are not able to be covered in the allotted time.

O’Neill is retired from Chaffey College in Southern California.  She has her Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion from Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, Calif. and is the author of two books on women in interreligious dialogue, “Women Speaking, Women Listening” and “Mending a Torn World.”

Fee for the class is $55 for six classes or $10 per session.  Contact the Orcas Senior Center at 376-2677 to sign up.