This course is recommended for anyone who has reflected on God and suffering. Explore the approaches to suffering found in the Bible with gifted presenter Fr. Robin Ryan, CP, PhD. You will examine the classical Christian perspectives on God found in the writings of Augustine and Thomas Aquinas and then explore the insights of significant Jewish and Christian thinkers who have reflected on God and suffering in modern times.

Few books of the Bible are as important to believers as the Letter to the Romans. It appears in the Catholic Lectionary more frequently than almost any other New Testament epistle, and it is Paul’s greatest explanation of faith through the Gospel of Jesus. Written in the earliest days of the Church, Romans remains an inspiring and revealing document. Through these six thought-provoking audio lectures, you will gain fresh insights into this vitally important letter.

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.

Rediscover one of the Bible's most important books. With a leading Scripture scholar as your guide, you will gain powerful insights into one of life's most vexing questions. The Book of Job is a powerful and ultimately life-affirming book. But the text - one of the Bible's oldest - can sometimes seem puzzling to modern audiences. Now, The Book of Job: A Bible Study Course gives you an insightful look into how Job can transform your faith today.

Discover anew one of the most influential - and misunderstood - books of the Old Testament. In The Book of Isaiah: The Fifth Gospel, you will glean fresh insights into the prophet Isaiah's words. You'll join Old Testament expert Fr. Leslie Hoppe, who will deftly guide you through the historical context and literary beauty of Isaiah. As you prayerfully reflect upon the verses, you will gain deeper levels of understanding and more informed methods of reading and reflection.

Join celebrated Church historian John O'Malley in exploring the biggest meeting in the history of the world. The Second Vatican Council concluded 50 years ago, but it is a livelier topic today than it has been for decades. Basic questions are being asked. What did the Council do? Was it properly implemented? Are its decisions being systematically "rolled back"?

Enter into the ancient world of the psalms in this essential audio course. You will explore the literary forms of the psalms, especially praise and lament. You will learn how the New Testament writers and early Christians used the psalms. The psalms have their origin in the worship and prayer of ancient Israel, and now you, too, can discover them as models and guides for your life of prayer.

The four Gospels are foundational to Christianity. Yet Christian readers are often puzzled by the differences between the Gospels, preferring to harmonize the four into a single narrative. Now, this 24-part lecture course invites you to understand each Gospel's distinctive message. Along the way, you will examine theories about how the three Synoptic Gospels are related. You will also learn why the evangelists are symbolized by four living creatures: the man or angel, the lion, the ox, and the eagle.

Life During Jesus' Time transports you to the world that shaped Christianity. In 12 lectures, you will navigate the streets Jesus walked, enter the temples the disciples attended, and explore the sociopolitical context in which they lived. Fr. Collins, a renowned New Testament scholar, leads you on this journey with wisdom and wit.

Born in the fourth century, Saint John Cassian (AD 360 - 435) lived when tensions between the traditional and innovative peaked. A monk and theologian, Cassian made the Christian tradition relevant for the needs of his day in his spiritual works. Indeed, his spirituality remains essential today; he influenced Saints Benedict and Ignatius of Loyola, and his works continue to be read worldwide.

Join Fr. John R. Donahue, S.J., one of Catholicism's leading Mark experts, in exploring the Gospel of Action. Christianity was at a crossroads. The great apostles Peter and Paul had died. Members of the original Christian communities had passed. Jesus' word might also soon be buried and forgotten. But it was Mark's good news - not Matthew's - that saved the faith.

The Desert Fathers - Christian monks in the ancient Egyptian and Palestinian wilderness - strove to understand the causes and remedies of human sin and were the first to categorize temptations under the headings of the "deadly sins". This course will draw on their wisdom to gain a better understanding of how each deadly sin conflicts with God's plan of creation, redemption, and sanctification.

Stories about Jesus' miracles have enthralled men and women for the past 2,000 years. Now you can gain deeper knowledge about the miraculous stories in the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and the letters of Paul.

No other book of the Bible has captured the hearts, minds, and imaginations of people through three millennia as vividly as Exodus. With stories of a prophet rescued from a basket on the river, the parting of a sea, and an entire nation wandering in the desert, this book seems made for the movies. Appropriately, some theologians have called the book of Exodus "the most important book in the Bible."

Discover the Book of Genesis anew in this brilliantly taught Bible study course. Genesis may be one of your favorite books of the Bible, but many of its stories can seem puzzling or foreign. How are we to reconcile the two seemingly different creation stories? And why would a supposedly benevolent God ask Abraham to sacrifice his son? How is the bible’s first book relevant to our lives today?