Showing results by publisher "Learn25" in Religion & Spirituality

If you or someone you love is facing death, this deeply compassionate series offers hope and comfort. While conversations about dying and death have become more popular in recent years, a decidedly Catholic perspective is often missing. Now, this course offers a unique approach to these conversations grounded in the Franciscan tradition. Combining historical analysis and meditations for reflection, these lectures provide you with new insights into the spiritual dimensions of dying and death.

An institution that has existed longer than any extant government on earth, the Catholic Church continues to touch the hearts and minds of billions. The fact that Catholics in Creed recite the words "I believe in one holy, Catholic, and apostolic church" means that there is more to the church than meets the eye. Now you can encounter the enduring power of the theology of the church through this 18-lecture audio course.

Beginning with the seemingly simple question "what is human?" Fr. FitzGerald investigates the implications of modern science. Several lectures are devoted to stem cells. What are they, where do they come from, and how are they used? Does it matter if a stem cell comes from an embryo versus bone marrow, the placenta, or skin? Examine the promise and dangers of stem cell research. The world marveled at Dolly, the first cloned sheep, and now cloning is widespread. What is cloning, how is it done, and are humans being cloned now?

An apostle, preacher, bishop, and martyr, Peter is one of the most important figures in early Christianity. Indeed, Catholics believe that the pope is the successor to St. Peter. Now, in this fascinating course, you will explore the powerful portraits of Peter found in the New Testament.

Christianity is a religion of salvation, and Christ is the Savior, but what does it mean to be saved? Through 12 brilliantly taught lectures, you will gain an enhanced understanding of salvation. You will examine such models as revelation, redemption, liberation, justification, expiation, reconciliation, and deification.

Known by many names - Lucifer, Beelzebub, Mephistopheles, and Satan, to name but a few - the Devil is universally recognized as the embodiment of pure evil and rebellion in Christianity. Although little is said about this figure in the Bible, the Devil has, throughout history, served as an abstract canvas onto which human beings have projected their greatest fears and adversarial forces. Depictions of the Devil also come complete with the allure and romance that accompanies characters associated with rebellion and transgression.

At one point or another, most of us have ruminated on the ultimate meaning of our lives. We may ask questions such as what is this life all about? What is my purpose, and how might I come to realize it? And what does my prayer and reception of the sacraments really do for me? In this illuminating audio series, Fr. David Meconi, S.J., award-winning professor of historical theology at Saint Louis University and director of the Catholic Studies Centre, helps listeners answer such questions in seven soul-searching conferences.

What were Jesus’ final seven statements on the cross? How do they speak to your life today? In this audio retreat, award-winning New Testament Professor Sr. Laurie Brink tells you how to lift Jesus’ last words off the pages of Scripture and inscribe them onto your own life. An engaging retreat leader, Sr. Brink imparts wisdom that will uplift and edify your spirit.

In Mindfulness, Meditation, and Happiness, Professor Kenneth Rose (PhD, Harvard University), introduces you to the basic practices of meditation. In 24 informational and inspiring audio lectures, you’ll explore the spiritual roots of mindfulness alongside the burgeoning academic and scientific study of mindfulness in connection to human flourishing. Throughout, Dr. Rose counsels you on how to avail yourself of mindfulness practices en route to cultivating happiness.

A doctor of the Church and influential writer, St. Alphonsus de Liguori changed the way we think about moral theology. In this audio course inspired by his wisdom, you will explore the relationship between spiritual direction and the moral life. In 22 15-minute lectures, Fr. Dennis J. Billy seeks to infuse the Alphonsian approach to mental prayer into the practice of spiritual direction today. Mental prayer is a valuable new tool that you can use to become your truest self through your faith. And, in the spirit of Alphonsus, it is simple, practical, and easy to implement.

Brilliantly taught and richly textured, this course is a treasure for those with an eye for art and a passion for exploring biblical allusions. Revisit familiar scenes from the gospels with Oxford-educated New Testament scholar Prof. Ian Boxall. Masterful and perceptive, Prof. Boxall commands your attention through the sheer caliber of his analysis - especially of biblical subjects in art.

In The Synoptic Gospels: A Bible Study on Matthew, Mark, and Luke, a comprehensive audio course, Fr. William Burton, OFM, breaks down the first three gospels for an astute audience. Carefully situating each in its historical and cultural context, Fr. Burton gives you fresh insights into the similarities and differences across their accounts of Jesus's life and ministry. Under his guidance, you will dissect the chronology and authorship of the gospels,the religious milieus in which the evangelists wrote, and issues of translation over time.

Immerse yourself in the diverse teachings of the world’s greatest spiritual masters through this illuminating and unifying audio course. Your guide is Dr. Kenneth Rose (PhD, Harvard University), an acclaimed expert in comparative religion. Under his tutelage, you'll discover the lives and teachings of 11 holy persons throughout the ages and from around the world.

In Holy Land: An Introduction to Biblical Archaeology, leading archaeology expert and Catholic Theological Union professor Fr. Leslie J. Hoppe (PhD, Northwestern) reveals the Holy Land to you in a new light. The first lecture of the course introduces you to the enterprise of "biblical archaeology". Under Fr. Hoppe’s expert guidance, you will then learn about the histories and cultures of civilizations from the Iron Age up through the arrival of the Muslims in Jerusalem. Discover the legacy in stone still standing amidst the dust of civilizations.

Study a premier Jewish writer of the 20th century with one of the century’s most important Catholic authors. This digitally remastered recording is part of Thomas Merton’s spoken word legacy, and it presents his voice at its most spiritually edifying. Originally recorded in February of 1968 at the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani, Thomas Merton on The Mystical Life and Martin Buber unpacks Buber's resonant Hasidic tales one at a time in a discussion-heavy class setting.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke seem to view Jesus "with the same eye" - hence the term Synoptic. Indeed, their narratival and linguistic similarities are so great that they likely shared a common source. Under the guidance of Fr. Felix Just, SJ (PhD, Yale University), you will explore the authorship of the Synoptic Gospels, exploring their fascinating history and curious differences.

With Zach Flanagin (PhD, University Chicago), you will study cutting-edge scholarship that reconstructs the historical Jesus. From The Da Vinci Code and Jesus Christ Superstar to the works of Thomas Jefferson and contemporary scholars, Prof. Flanagin merges popular with scholastic “portraits” for full effect.

In this tour de force, the University of Oxford’s Dr. Tim Mawson turns a thoughtful eye to the questions about existence you have undoubtedly asked yourself. An expert on the philosophy of religion, Dr. Mawson combines wit with masterful scholarship to explain deep philosophical topics in an easy-to-understand yet erudite manner.

What do developments in biology, and genetics in particular, mean for theology? You couldn’t ask for a more qualified guide than Prof. Paul Scherz, who holds a PhD in genetics from Harvard and a PhD in theology from Notre Dame. A superb lecturer, he will help you answer some of the most pressing questions of our time.

Recorded in May of 1966 at at the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani, The Christian in the World contemplates the value of life on the premise that Christ died for a world he thought was worth dying for.