Showing results by publisher "Learn25" in Religion & Spirituality

Do you believe God exists? This bold audio series invites you to join some of the world’s leading thinkers in taking on this profound question. In 13 riveting episodes, your host, Robert Lawrence Kuhn, tackles this topic in one-on-one interviews with leading figures across fields. Addressing issues ranging from the problem of evil to how the discovery of alien life might affect our belief systems, this series will engage your mind and heart in some of the universe’s biggest questions.

In this masterful audio series from Boston College theology professor Harvey Egan, S.J., you’ll focus on an often neglected aspect of the Apostle Paul’s genius - his mysticism. A mentee of Karl Rahner, Fr. Egan brings to this course the knowledge gained from a phenomenal 60 years of Jesuit spirituality and philosophical-theological studies. One of the world’s leading experts on Christian mysticism, he is the perfect guide for this course.

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.

Nearly eight years in the making, Mary: Mirror of God Who Sees, Hears, Cares, and Comes is neither “pious chatter” nor “frilly theology.” It is born, rather, of Fr. Crosby’s serious questions about Mary’s rightful place in Christian faith, his constant grappling with the “So what?” of effective preaching, and his insights into the importance that God desires Mary to have in our lives.

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.

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 the summer of 1967, religious communities around the world were experiencing a time of renewal and reflection. As monasteries sought to adopt practices prescribed by the Second Vatican Council, Pope Paul VI asked two Cistercian monks to compose a message about the contemplative life. Those monks in turn sought the contributions of a fellow monk and master of contemplation - Thomas Merton.

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.

Hear Thomas Merton’s spiritually edifying voice. Originally recorded in August of 1965 at the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani, Greek Tragedy: Suffering Leads to Wisdom considers the parallels between ancient Greek models of suffering (with Sophocles’s play Antigone as an exponent) and Judeo-Christian ideas about suffering and the creation of meaning. This was among the last classes that Merton ever gave to the novice monks at Gethsemani.

The Gospel of Matthew was written at a tumultuous time: the Romans had just destroyed the Temple of Jerusalem and were slaughtering Christians. The gospel is thus entrenched both in Christianity’s Jewish heritage and the message of Jesus. In this talk, Fr. Just provides you with the necessary tools to interpret the Gospel of Matthew, giving you fascinating insights into its composition, parables, relationship to Mark, and much more.

The shortest and oldest of the four gospels, Mark was written in the earliest days of Christianity, when its adherents faced violent persecution. Against this backdrop, Mark provided a source of hope for the young church. With Fr. Felix Just, SJ (PhD, Yale University), as your guide, you will explore Mark's action-packed gospel, looking at its composition, history, and structure before turning to its salient literary features and key stories.

For 2,000 years, Christians have studied the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. Perhaps no other individual has had such a wide-ranging and powerful impact on the history of the Western world. But deciphering the person of Jesus requires a firm understanding of history, culture, and language. In these lectures, you will gather and interpret evidence about Jesus’ life, exploring the New Testament, the oral tradition, issues of translation, archaeology, and accounts written during Jesus’ life.

Mark is a gospel of action, calling the first Christians to discipleship and encouraging them to have faith even amidst suffering and oppression. With Fr. Felix Just, SJ (PhD, Yale University), you will explore Mark’s vivid portrayal of Jesus and his disciples. You will also encounter minor Bartimaeus, the Syrophoenician woman, and Jairus - each of whom remains a powerful model of discipleship and faith in our time.