Religious school evolves, 'fosters free thinking'

COEUR d’ALENE — Rev. Marian Breckenridge, 76, is staying busy these days between providing spiritual training through a school here she helped found, and through fundraising for human rights causes.

Breckenridge, of Coeur d’Alene, helped found the Northwest School for Religious and Philosophical Studies, which has a three-year ordination program, though non-program students also may attend as many classes as they would like.

“Our thought in the beginning was the training of ministers,” she said. “But we evolved into a school that teaches classes that enrich people’s lives, and fosters free thinking.”

She founded the school with Rev. F. Lee Thompson. The school is based at The Church of the Truth, at 523 E. Garden, in Coeur d’Alene.

Breckenridge said that although it wasn’t the school’s intent in the beginning, its presentations of world religions, healing, and death and dying practices in different cultures has created what she calls global citizens.

The school teaches subjects such as the art of creation and manifestation, origins of Bible transcription and translation, world religions, sacred ceremonies, meditation training, end of life issues, ministering to children and youth, healing techniques, lecture, and counseling.

The students so far have been people from North Idaho and Spokane, usually older working adults, as well as a few people in their 20s and 30s, she said.

She said the school presents as much information as it can gather, and the students are left to make up their own minds.

“A person doesn’t have to believe a certain way to go to our school,” Breckenridge said. “We encourage free thinkers.”

The school has many guest instructors, she said.

“We’ve drawn some people of the highest caliber,” she said.

The cost for going through the three-year ministerial training program is $2,400. Students will have to buy some books, she said. For a single one-day class the cost is $10, and for an eight-week class the cost is $75, she said.

Breckenridge, originally from Pasadena, Calif., also does fundraising for human rights causes. She said she has done that work for many groups and causes.

“When you find your niche in life it’s psychologically impossible not to do it,” Breckenridge said.

Here are the next available classes through the Northwest School for Religious and Philosophical Studies: 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. April 7, exploring success; 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. April 14, psychological aspects of manifestation; 6:30 to 9 p.m. April 21, spiritual laws of success; 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., money consciousness. Information: (208) 667-6999 or (208) 667-9391.