Course Description

This is an Osher Online course, created and offered through the Osher National Resource Center.  These courses are different from our regular OLLI at Emory program.  These are six-week courses and live attendance required.  You must also have an active OLLI at Emory membership and to register. Currently all classes are limited with 13 seats.

This class is supported by the NRC and participation details can be found on our website.

Instructor: Jonathan Duncan

People throughout time and across cultures have looked to the mountains as powerful symbols. The Buddhists of the Himalayas, the Inca of the Andes, the Inuit of the far north, and the Romantics of Europe all created unique stories of what mountains mean and how they are to be approached. This course will provide an interdisciplinary exploration of the beliefs, traditions, and mythologies that have been inspired by the world’s mountains. Through richly illustrated lectures, short readings, and open discussion, this course will open a window into the world’s sacred mountains and encourage exploration of our relationship with the Earth’s high and wild places.

YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Jonathan Duncan

Jonathan Duncan is a photojournalist, writer, teacher, and public speaker with more than 25 years of experience. His work has been published in National Geographic, The Himalayan Journal, Sailing, Rock and Ice, and by the University of Utah Press. He has taught at the Art Institute of Portland, Western Washington University, and Westminster University. His work explores humanity’s complex relationship with the natural world, often in remote landscapes and cultures.

Fall 2026 Sacred Mountains of the World | Videos & Movies on Vimeo