Online and in-person formation and education

(Each of the series noted below can be an online class with four to six segments,  an in-person weekly series, a weekend retreat or a one-time seminar event. They can even take place as ongoing conversation.)

Spiritual Directions: Using the fourfold model of Table, Journey, Breathing, and Beginning Again to explore our own biography as a place where God acts to meet us in history, mystery and hope. This offers a model of exploring, recalling, and renewing our deepest spiritual identity.  Course material provided. More information here.

We Make the Road by Walking, With insightful questions and room for sustained reflection and conversation, Brian Mclaren offers a one year program of reflecting on scripture, tradition, grace and ethics in trying to walk the way of Jesus — designed for a small group with various configurations. Sample the book

Contemplative Actions: The life and vision of Thomas Merton uses the biography and writings of the twentieth century mystic and activist as a template for considering our own spiritual path and pilgrimage. Reading sources would include online resources as well as the following: Sample the book

Spirituality, Themes from the Tradition, by Lawrence Cunningham and Keith Egan explores themes such as scripture, journeying, meditation and contemplation, asceticism, mysticism, solitude and community, friendship, and Eucharist. Sample the book

The Heart of Christianity, Marcus Borg offers a systematic and accessible summary of  progressive theology to make sense of the central Christian message to the modern world. This would be a two-part series with six sessions each. Sample the book

Seeing through the Screen; Spirituality as Media. A four to six session series using online sources, and the text, “How to Talk to a Movie: Movie-Watching as a Spiritual Exercise,” to consider and discuss the films of Peter Weir as spiritual and theological texts. Sample the book

The Powers That Be, Theology for a New Millennium, Based on his reading of the Bible and analysis of the world around him, Walter Wink articulates  new ways of understanding God and the devil, heaven and hell, angels and demons, principalities, politics and powers as tangible parts of our day-to-day experience. Sample the book

Continue the conversation! robwhalley@themertoncentre.org