Showing results by publisher "Learn25" in Christianity

From internationally acclaimed New Testament scholar Fr. Raymond F. Collins, essential listening for Christians, Catholics, and all who seek to understand scripture. Through this audio course, the capstone of Fr. Collin’s decades of teaching and scholarship, you’ll understand Paul’s Epistles like never before. Through 24 erudite and engaging lectures, you will gain new insights into the 13 letters attributed to Paul, the New Testament’s oldest texts.

You are invited to sit at the feet of a contemplative master. In the words of renowned theologian Fr. Lawrence Cunningham, Thomas Merton was perhaps "the greatest spiritual writer and spiritual master of the 20th century". With a poet's sensibility, an intellectual's inquiring mind, and a prophet's courage, Merton has captured the hearts of readers and listeners around the world.

Experience Henri Nouwen's fullness of life spirituality with this new course presented by his official biographer. Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) was one of the most popular and influential spiritual thinkers of the 20th century. Born in the Netherlands, Nouwen was ordained as a Catholic priest and trained as a psychologist. He spent much of his life in America, where he ministered and taught throughout the continent.

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.

Journey through the life, thought, and works of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. One of the most celebrated spiritual minds of the 20th century, Teilhard de Chardin was both a respected scientist and a Jesuit priest. He combined an evolutionary worldview with his commitment to his Christian tradition and Catholic faith. A pioneer in the dialogue between religion and science, he remains a widely influential mystical voice.

Through this special 18-lecture course, explore a powerful four-fold ancient pattern found throughout life, Christian worship, and many revered spiritual exercises. This pattern appears to underlie the choice of four Gospels and their sequencing into the three-year Sunday reading cycles. The four Gospels, when read through this lens, move beyond separate accounts of Jesus to become a seamless spiritual guide for daily life.

"Thy kingdom come." Christians frequently recite these words. But what is God's kingdom? Such a question has fascinated the faithful for more than two millennia. Throughout history we have pondered our ultimate salvation and the "end times", from St. Paul's eschatological epistles to modern best sellers like the Left Behind series. Now this brilliant course introduces you to that history and practice of eschatology, or the study of the final events in history.

Peek into the mesmerizing imagination of C. S. Lewis with the world's leading authority on the beloved author. The Chronicles of Narnia is one of the best-selling book series ever. Its enduring success is no accident, but rather the result of C.S. Lewis's extraordinary imaginative skill. Few understand the full cosmological and theological depths of Lewis's world. In Christology, Cosmology, and C. S. Lewis, you will discover new dimensions that will enrich your enjoyment of these classic tales.

What does it really mean to be a Christian today? What is "good" about the good news Christians profess? Join acclaimed spirituality scholar, author, and professor Sr. Ilia Delio in exploring the Christian adventure.

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.

Under the guidance of leading theologian Fr. Richard Lennan, you will explore the impact of Vatican II and how it shaped our understanding of the church. Through exploring the ideas of such noted theologians as Yves Congar and Walter Kasper, you will gain new insights into the theology of the church.

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.

The Desert Fathers - Christian monks in the ancient Egyptian and Palestinian wilderness - strove to understand the causes and remedies of human sin and were the first to categorize temptations under the headings of the "deadly sins". This course will draw on their wisdom to gain a better understanding of how each deadly sin conflicts with God's plan of creation, redemption, and sanctification.

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.

The chronicle of Catholicism can seem daunting: full of names, dates, places, and phrases. Getting ahold of such a rich and diverse history requires guidance and a skillful approach. In this brilliant survey course, you'll explore traditions of belief and innovate ways to describe, share, and live that faith. With Dr. Bellitto as your guide, you'll look at the major periods of church history: early, medieval, reformation, and modern. As you take this journey, you'll examine changes and continuities across the centuries.

The mystics show us the deepest recesses of the human spirit. Now, this remarkable series gives you the rare opportunity to take one of the world's leading experts on mysticism as your personal guide. Boston College's Fr. Harvey Egan draws on 50 years of teaching the Christian mystics. Brilliantly taught, his lectures are filled with faithful insights. Under his guidance, you will explore the mystical life by focusing upon 11 significant figures. You will begin with Ignatius of Loyola and his finding of God in all things.

The Spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi invites you to learn from the Franciscan tradition of living the Gospel. In this inspiring course, you will look at the spiritual writings of St. Francis and his followers as well as how they put their beliefs into practice. Br. William Short's powerful yet accessible lectures deliver you the heart of the treasures from this "little poor man of Assisi".

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.

Saint Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) is one of the most inspiring figures in Christianity: a Doctor of the Church, visionary mystic, powerful composer of hymns, artist, and philosopher. Now, you have the opportunity to know Hildegard intimately in this program on her life and spirituality.

Celtic Christianity has produced a kaleidoscopic array of saints, monks, and poets. In this series, Dominican Prof. Richard Woods cultivates more than 1,500 years of Celtic spirituality's rich traditions to acquaint you with the insight that these fascinating figures can offer us today.