This event is free and open to the public. Online registration is required. Registrants will receive an email witha link to join the webinar on Zoom.
How can scripture guide our search for wisdom? Bernard McGinn, professor emeritus in the Divinity School of the University of Chicago, begins our webinar series on Reason and Wisdom in Medieval Christian Thought by presenting on Gregory the Great and reading scripture for wisdom.
Pope Saint Gregory the Great lived in an age of tumult–war, waves of disease, economic depression, and civil deterioration. Alongside his administrative reforms and leadership, Gregory described a spirituality that centered around meditative and contemplative reading of sacred scripture. Gregory’s practice of reading scripture, particularly the Book of Job, and his description of the practice had great influence upon medieval meditative and contemplative practices of reading the Word of God.
What can reason discover about God? Are there other possible ways to know God? Medieval Christians undertook great rational enterprises—including the sharp logic of Abelard and the grand system of Thomas Aquinas—as well as practiced experiential and contemplative modes of knowing, as did Bernard of Clairvaux. This course will examine how different preeminent medieval Christian thinkers saw the relationship between reason and wisdom, how to arrive at them, and so how to seek the face of God.
This series is cosponsored by the Collegium Institute, the Nova Forum, the Saint Benedict Institute, the Beatrice Institute, the Harvard Catholic Center, and Calvert House Catholic Center.
Upcoming Seminars
Thursday, April 16, 7PM
“Anselm of Canterbury on the Rationality of Faith” | Aaron Canty (Saint Xavier University)
Thursday, April 23, 7PM
“Thomas Aquinas on Ways to Know God” | Brian Carl (University of St. Thomas, Houston)
Thursday, April 30, 7PM
Hildegard of Bingen (Title TBD) | Barbara Newman (Northwestern University)
Thursday, May 7, 7PM
Abelard and Bernard of Clairvaux (Title TBD) | Willemien Otten (University of Chicago)
Thursday, May 14, 7PM
Julian of Norwich (Title TBD) | Katie Bugyis (University of Notre Dame)
Thursday, May 21, 7PM
Bonaventure (Title TBD) | Kevin Hughes (Villanova University)
Thursday, May 28, 7PM
Meister Eckhart | Bernard McGinn (University of Chicago)
Thursday, June 4, 7PM
Nicholas of Cusa | David Albertson (University of Southern California)