This summer, unearth the riches of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition with the Lumen Christi Institute’s online short courses.
No matter your age, profession, or educational background, these two-day seminars will give you a chance to discover something new in the Church’s tradition.
The Trinitarian Theology of Karl Barth
When we say “God is love,” what do we really mean? And what does a Protestant have to do with contributing to a Catholic understanding of the Trinity? Explore how Karl Barth,whom Pope Pius XII allegedly called “the greatest since Thomas Aquinas”, adds to the Church’s tradition.
Session 1: Tuesday, June 13: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Session 2: Saturday, June 17: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Session 3: Saturday, June 17: 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Tolkien, Christianity, and Art
JRR Tolkien stands as a colossus among modern fantasy writers and mythmakers. Many are familiar with his Christian faith and his famous books, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and many discuss whether or how his Christian faith figures into these fantasy stories or whether his fantasy is separable or only superficially related to his personal Christian belief. This course will examine Tolkien’s robust concept of creativity and art in his other writings, Leaf by Niggle, “On Fairy Stories,’ and selected letters, and excerpts from his Silmarillion. In these texts Tolkien articulates his ideas of subcreation, ‘the long defeat,’ and ‘eucatastrophe’, the promise and danger of art as well as art’s redemption.
Session 1: Tuesday, July 18: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Session 2: Saturday, July 22: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Session 3: Saturday, July 22: 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Early Christians on Mary, Mother of God
What was the Early Church’s Vision of Mary? In the 20th century, Pope Pius XII declared the Assumption of Mary, but the belief in Mary’s unique role in the world holds roots in the deeper and early Chrisitan tradition. This course will examine early Christians’ vision of Mary in the New Testament, in aspects of early Christian thought, the Christological roots of Mary as Theotokos, Mother of God, and as well as early accounts of Mary’s assumption or ‘dormition.’
Session 1: Tuesday, August 15: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Session 2: Saturday, August 19: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Session 3: Saturday, August 19: 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM