Showing results by publisher "Learn25" in Christianity

Take solace in the Franciscans’ powerful faith with one of the world’s leading experts on St. Francis of Assisi. Throughout seven engaging lectures originally produced for Franciscan ministries, you’ll learn what defines the Franciscan view: a focus on the individual, a championing of interdependence, and a dedication to living with open hands.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

The Bible is not just one book but a whole library of books by different authors. In this lecture, Fr. Just situates the New Testament within its literary, historical, and theological context, helping you understand its mingling of genres and its relationship to the Old Testament. You'll study the formation of the canon, the languages used by the New Testament writers, and the order of the books. By learning how to interpret the key features of the New Testament, you will discover new depths in its ancient pages.

Originally recorded in July of 1968 at the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani, Eastern Gurus: Holiness, Discipleship, and the Mystical Heart puts forth a prayerful meditation of gurus and Jesus. Now You Know Media - through our exclusive partnership with the Merton Legacy Trust and the Thomas Merton Center - is proud to offer a wide selection of archival recordings of Thomas Merton: a Trappist monk, great 20th-century mystic, and beloved author of the 1948 autobiography The Seven Storey Mountain.

Fr. Dan Crosby, OFM Cap., lived with and learned from Blessed Solanus Casey during the last year of Casey's life. Now Fr. Crosby shares his precious memories with you in this moving portrait of a holy and humble miracle worker.