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Explore the fascinating history, theology, and practices that 250 million Orthodox Christians claim as their own, and discover the differences and similarities between Orthodoxy and Catholicism with this incredible series. The Orthodox Church is the second largest Christian community in the world after the Roman Catholic Church. In this exceptionally well-taught audio course, you will explore the rich history, theology, liturgy, and traditions of Orthodoxy.

Before entering the monastery, Thomas Merton studied English at Columbia University and taught literature at St. Bonaventure University. His passion for literature never faded, and now, you have the rare opportunity to take Thomas Merton as your guide in this set of his outstanding, remastered talks. Delivered to the community at the Abbey of Gethsemani in 1965 and 1966, Merton’s talks examine one of his favorite poets: Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926).

You are invited into the classroom in which Thomas Merton delivered some of his most impassioned lectures on a timeless topic. In 1962 at Gethsemani Abbey, Thomas Merton taught an extraordinary course on the heart of Benedictine spirituality.

No other institution, except possibly the papacy, has more greatly influenced the church and the larger history of the Western world than the ecumenical council. Most of us, however, know little about it. This course is designed to take you through the fascinating history of the ecumenical (church-wide) council, from its first appearance in Nicaea (325) through Vatican Council II (1962-1965). This 12-part audio series explores the deep issues of faith and the sometimes curious issues of clerical behavior with which the councils dealt.

Julian of Norwich was a 14th-century Christian mystic, important English theologian, and visionary writer. Indeed, her masterpiece, A Revelation of Divine Love (or Showings), is the first book written by a woman in English. Six centuries after her death, she continues to inspire with her pious and moving words. Now you can enjoy this brilliant course on Julian. In nine lectures you'll consider what we know (and don't know) about her life and the larger historical context into which she fits.

In this remarkable course, you will explore with fresh insight the centrality of prayer for the Christian life while learning concrete, edifying steps for enriching one's relationship with God. Through 12 brilliant and moving talks, you will discover what makes prayer uniquely Christian and examine the essential role of prayer in the spiritual life. This course is thoughtfully designed for those who seek to gain a more profound background on the theology of prayer.

Masterminded by Michael Christensen, PhD, and Rebecca Laird, MA, DMin, The Nouwen Trilogy compiles Nouwen’s unpublished homilies, interviews, classes, and speeches, as well as excerpts from his published writings. Available as an audiobook for the first time ever, Spiritual Formation: Following the Movements of the Spirit is part of this trilogy. These convenient audio sessions move you through the five classical stages of spiritual development: Awakening, Purgation, Illumination, Dark Night, and Unification.

Join one of the world’s most acclaimed theologians, award-winning professor Fr. Harvey D. Egan, S.J., as you will grapple with life’s ultimate questions and explore our rich Christian heritage. Here, you will discover powerful insights into the meaning and salvific value of the truths of Christianity. This illuminating audio course will explore the Christian faith as a powerful whole, allowing you to discover the full range of life’s greatest mysteries.

Take an unforgettable retreat with Teilhard de Chardin's masterpiece: The Divine Milieu. A Jesuit priest and scientist, Teilhard's powerful vision of the universe has influenced countless spiritual seekers. Written in the 1920s but published posthumously, The Divine Milieu is a spiritual work at once cosmic and personal. Mapping the horizons of transcendence and intimacy, it illuminates the boundless contours of our true nature and home in God.

In this compelling audio series, renowned human behavior experts Roy Baumeister and Dianne Tice unravel the mysteries surrounding one of humanity’s most talked about but least understood forms of social interaction: sex.

Beginning in the third century AD, pious men and women journeyed into the Egyptian desert, where they sought to be "alone with God alone." Known as the Desert Fathers and Mothers, they pursued lives of solitude and prayer in order to make offerings of themselves to God. They acquired great insight into the spiritual life, which has been passed down to us in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers. Now, you can discover the fascinating lives and works of such awe-inspiring figures as St. Antony the Great and St. Mary of Egypt.

From the Virgin Mary and Francis of Assisi to the Jesuit poet Gerard Manley Hopkins and the French philosopher Simone Weil, this inspiring course introduces you to the mysticism of ten inspiring luminaries of faith. In 12 lectures, you will look carefully at the lives of these 10 beloved mystics - five men and five women - from the Christian tradition. Bookended by an introduction and conclusion, this series helps you understand mysticism at both the individual community level.

Have you considered psychotherapy, but aren’t sure if it’s right for you? Even if you’ve already decided to give it a try, it can be hard to choose among the many types of therapeutic approaches. Luckily, celebrated professor and psychology expert Rebecca Shiner can help. In this insightful audio series, Professor Shiner provides an in-depth look at some of the most effective therapies available today.

In this engaging audio course, you can explore the fascinating science of emotions with Vassar College’s Randolph (Randy) Cornelius. The author of The Science of Emotion: Research and Tradition in the Psychology of Emotion, Professor Cornelius is an expert on the history of emotion research, conceptions of emotions in popular culture, and close relationships. Over the course of 15 lectures, the insights you’ll gain will enrich your emotional intelligence.

Explore the rich spiritual world of Eastern Christian and its 2,000-year history of faith. Tracing their history back to the Apostolic Age, Eastern Christian churches keep alive ancient traditions. Their perspectives are fresh yet steeped in history, familiar yet unique. Now, this 12-lecture course offers you a glimpse into the living faith of the Eastern Christian churches and the early traditions that shaped all of Christianity, Eastern and Western.

Groundbreaking new scientific research illuminates surprising ways in which you can live a more healthy, happy, and flourishing life. Until now, psychology has focused on resolving people’s problems. But the relatively new field of positive psychology instead examines the things that make your life worth living. Positive Psychology: How to Sustain Happiness in Your Life gives you practical steps for leading a flourishing life. Your guide is Professor Catherine A. Sanderson of Amherst College, named one of America’s Best 300 Professors by the Princeton Review.

The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius Loyola has been one of the greatest classics of Western spirituality for more than 400 years. Whether you are discovering it for the first time or you are an expert seeking fresh insight into the Exercises, you will profit from this unique new series. Your guide is Fr. Brian McDermott SJ, former academic dean of the Weston Jesuit School of Theology.

Merton first looks at the "Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy," which is, as Merton calls it, a work of supreme faith and the most important document on the liturgy in 1,600 years. He then explored the Vatican II's schemata on the religious life, which eventually culminated in the "Decree on the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life." Merton's lectures took place before this document was issued, so you will get a fascinating look at the inner workings of the church.

Why are we so fascinated by the Dead Sea Scrolls? In the mid-20th century, several Bedouin shepherds happened upon ancient scrolls housed in a cave. These documents, called the Dead Sea Scrolls, are often considered the most important manuscript discovery of the modern era. A veil of mystery, however, shrouds these ancient scrolls.

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.