Showing results by publisher "Learn25" in Religion & Spirituality

Explore the transformative power of Buddhist philosophy with Dr. Douglas Gentile, renowned psychologist, celebrated professor, and Zen Buddhist monk.

This set of captivating talks brings you face-to-face with an intimate side of Thomas Merton - the monk, poet, scholar of literature, and social activist who rocked the 20th century. As with so many of the talks that Merton gave to his novice monks at the Abbey of Gethsemani, these talks put the progression of his thinking - from cloistered monastic life to issues of social justice and interreligious understanding - on view.

Join celebrated Church historian John O'Malley in exploring the biggest meeting in the history of the world. The Second Vatican Council concluded 50 years ago, but it is a livelier topic today than it has been for decades. Basic questions are being asked. What did the Council do? Was it properly implemented? Are its decisions being systematically "rolled back"?

Learn about Irish Catholicism, early Christianity, and Eastern religions with Thomas Merton as your teacher. Recorded in March of 1968 at the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani, Celtic Spirituality: The Beginnings of Irish Monasticism investigates the history of Irish monasticism with special attention to St. Patrick.

Perhaps no 20th-century spiritual thinker so profoundly captured the human experience as this Catholic priest and psychologist. Now, in this moving audio program, you have the rare opportunity to listen to Nouwen's voice. He powerfully draws upon his own struggles to show you how to move from loneliness to solitude, from hostility to hospitality, and from illusion to prayer.

More than any other Gospel, Matthew reflects Christianity’s Jewish roots. As the first book of the New Testament, it provides a fitting transition from the Old Testament. Revered as the “Church’s Gospel”, Matthew draws on Jewish Law while anticipating a Church “of all nations”. Now, Fr. Donald Senior, a leading expert on Matthew, helps you discover anew the evangelist’s profound themes and literary features.

This is the theology course you wish you had taken in college or graduate school. This special series surveys the rich landscape of Catholic theology and presents it clearly and passionately. Begin by following your presenter, Rev. Kevin Burke, SJ, dean of the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, through the ancient origins and modern developments of our rich Catholic tradition. Each lecture builds on the next so that you will gain a keen sense for the synthesis of theological thought.

Encounter the power of the Holy Spirit in this life-giving retreat. How does the Holy Spirit make a difference in the Church, the world, and your own life? Far too often, people overlook the influence of the Spirit. And yet according to Church teaching, the Spirit is equal to the Father and the Son, playing a fundamental role in the Scriptures and life of Jesus. In The Spirit of Life: A Catholic Retreat with the Holy Spirit, you will awaken a deeper appreciation and greater awareness of the third Person of the Trinity.

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?

Fifty years of Jesuit spirituality and scholarship come to full expression in Fr. Harvey Egan’s audio collection, 77 Great Catholic Homilies. Divided into five subsections - by feasts, family occasions, Christ-focused subjects, and miscellaneous reflections - the series telescopes from the general to the particular in fluid motions.

In the final year before his death in 1996, Henri Nouwen wrote an account of the death of his friend Adam, a severely handicapped young man from L'Arche. In the story of Adam he found a way to describe his own understanding of the Gospel message. Adam could not speak or even move without assistance. Gripped by frequent seizures, he spent his life in obscurity. And yet, for Nouwen, he became his friend, teacher, and guide. It was Adam who led Nouwen to a new understanding of his faith and what it means to be Beloved of God.

In this revelatory audio course, you will explore the full reality of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, our Lord and Savior. Each of the course’s 12 lectures illuminates different portraits of Jesus: a man and mystic, a preacher and servant, a prophet and incarnation of God. Under the guidance of award-winning teacher Fr. Donald Goergen, you will explore the human, historic Jesus, drawing out the contours of the man who lived among us.

For nearly 500 years, Jesuits have given us a trove of spiritual insight and practice. In this unique audio course by one of the most gifted Jesuit spirituality experts of our time, you will find wise reflections on 10 great Jesuit prayers. Georgetown University's Fr. Howard Gray, SJ, PhD, introduces, narrates, and faithfully examines each prayer with your spiritual growth in mind.

Lent, Holy Week, and Easter commemorate the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. A time period of vital importance to Catholics, these 13 weeks are fundamental to the liturgical year. During this time of sacrifice and solemnity, we are called to reflect on the presence of Christ in our lives.

This series explores the Bible through the fascinating lens of feminism. How can feminist methods help you better understand Scripture? What do these methods entail, and why are they important to both men and women? You will answer these questions with a variety of examples from both the Old and New Testaments. Along the way, award-winning professor Sr. Barbara Reid will teach you different ways to approach the Scriptures from a feminist perspective.

Explore the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas with Thomas Merton as your guide. While he was a student at Columbia University, Thomas Merton stumbled upon The Spirit of Medieval Philosophy by renowned neo-Thomistic philosopher Étienne Gilson. An essential work on St. Thomas and other Christian philosophers, it led him down a path of spiritual seeking that would culminate with his conversion to the Catholic Church and entrance into a Trappist monastery.

Fr. Dennis Billy holds three doctorate degrees and has published 40 books, but his humble approach to teaching and quiet wisdom will make him one of your favorite professors. This is much more than just a theology and philosophy course: It's an invitation to grow and deepen one's friendship with God.

The Cloud of Unknowing, a 14th-century mystical text on contemplation amid a pandemic, is experiencing a renaissance in our current moment. Join award-winning Christian spirituality expert Fr. Anthony Ciorra to discover why this “journey from head to heart” is so relevant to today’s spiritual seekers. Through 12 transformative audio lectures with Fr. Ciorra, a Learn25 favorite, you can experience the power of The Cloud of Unknowing to open your mind and heart. You will discover a precious treasure that will open your eyes to God in the ordinary.

The Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles are two parts of a single triumphant work. Each an epic work in its own right, together they proclaim the gospel message and narrate the gripping story of the Church’s early days. Using the metaphor of a double helix, Fr. William Burton asks you to imagine Luke’s gospel and Acts as a single account with many parallels or rungs connecting the two sides of the twisted ladder.

You are invited on the most powerful journey that you can take in your life: the journey from your head to your heart. On August 11, 1938, Bill Wilson created the first 12-step fellowship. Since then, countless men and women have participated in this powerful program. The spirituality of the 12 steps transcends multiple religious and secular traditions. This is truly a spiritual approach for everyone. Now, renowned spiritual expert Fr. Anthony Ciorra, PhD, will guide you through the deep spirituality behind the 12 steps.