Showing results by publisher "Learn25" in Christianity

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.

Find hope in suffering in this lecture set by Henri Nouwen, one of the 20th century's great spiritual masters, as your guide. In our society, we learn to hide our grief, to suppress our joy, to fight darkness with darkness. We are like Jesus' generation, to whom he says, "We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry" (Luke 7:32). Now, the spiritual master Henri Nouwen helps you practice healing through both suffering and joy.

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.

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.

Fr. Charlie Smiech is a celebrated international retreat director and spiritual advisor. A Franciscan friar, he has traveled throughout the world offering the best in Catholic teaching and Franciscan spirituality. Now, Fr. Smiech will help you explore the life and teachings of St. Francis of Assisi in this rewarding audio retreat. As you listen, you will learn how St. Francis lived the Gospel and receive guidance for your own spiritual pilgrimage.

How do you define beauty? Do notions of beauty inspire your spiritual life? Vastly different cultural definitions of beauty may lead us to question what true beauty is and how those worldly definitions compare to God's definition. However, the real question is, do you let beauty define your spiritual life? Ideas of beauty and spirituality have always been intertwined.

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.

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.

As the Society of Jesus approaches its 500th anniversary, the Jesuits make up the largest unified religious order of men in the Catholic Church. How did these "Soldiers of Christ" grow from their humble beginnings to become an order deeply engaged in ministries, learning, and society in 112 nations on all six inhabited continents? Whether you are a Jesuit yourself or a person touched by Jesuit education, ministries, and writings, you will love this course.

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 very word "reformation" is shrouded in conflict, bringing to mind new beginnings, partisan church politics, and the dawn of a modern world vision. Indeed, when you hear it, you probably think of a single event - Martin Luther posting The Ninety-Five Theses on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg in 1517. The truth, however, is much more nuanced - and interesting - than that. Join award-winning historian, Prof. Christopher M. Bellitto, PhD, in The Reformations, a fascinating journey through Church history.

Explore the Fourth Gospel with one of Catholicism's leading biblical scholars. From the time of its first appearance, the Gospel of John has gripped the imagination and the hearts of Christians. Composed towards the latter part of the first century, the so-called "Spiritual Gospel" presents a compelling and distinctive portrait of Jesus and his mission.

Join Fr. David Meconi, multiple award-winning professor and Oxford-educated theologian on a journey through the most formative years of Christianity. Through 10 erudite and lively lectures, you will explore the formative centuries of the Church (100-800 C.E.) and the great figures whose lives and writings inspired generations of later thinkers and believers.

These are some of the most fascinating Thomas Merton lectures ever recorded. Recorded in the last year of his life, these talks capture Merton as he ponders profound questions in an accessible, down-to-earth way. You will glean insight from Merton on a wide range of subjects, all held together by his conviction in our call to live in freeing obedience to the Holy Spirit.

Join leading Catholic New Testament teacher Fr. Felix Just, S.J. for 36 lively, erudite lectures spanning the entire New Testament. Over 2,000 years, the New Testament has profoundly shaped the lives and faith of billions. Until now, though, covering the entire New Testament in one experience has been nearly impossible. This comprehensive course introduces you to the contents and historical contexts of all the books and letters of the New Testament.

Jesus comes to me and you through thousands of years of imagery and writing - a vast web of material that often does more to obscure than reveal. Now, one of America’s greatest living storytellers retells the greatest story ever told with unprecedented clarity and insight.

Perhaps the world’s leading expert on forgiveness research, Everett Worthington distills decades of wisdom into 15 life-changing lectures. The author or editor of more than 38 books on marriage, family, and forgiveness, Prof. Worthington received the Humanitarian Award from the Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling. Now you can learn to practice his groundbreaking REACH Forgiveness model through these 15 engaging lectures.

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 set of six talks reveals a lesser-known side of Thomas Merton: an eminent critic and teacher of literature. His dual identity as a monk and literati make him the premier guide to poetic expression. As you listen along, you will enjoy moments of penetrating insight and reflection as often as moments of levity and laughter.

Karl Rahner was one of the most influential theologians of our time. He was an important contributor to the Second Vatican Council, a Jesuit priest, a prolific author, a formidable professor of theology, and a leading voice of ecumenical dialogue. But until now, few have experienced his profound and edifying spirituality. Now, Radical Grace: A Retreat with Karl Rahner introduces you to the remarkable spirituality behind his theology.