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Intro to Contemplative Prayer & Meditation
Rating: 4.7 out of 5(66 ratings)
283 students

Intro to Contemplative Prayer & Meditation

Learn about the history, theology, and methods of Christian contemplation in just 15 min. a day
Created byThomas Bushlack, Ph.D.
Last updated 7/2018
English
English [Auto],

What you'll learn

  • Be acquainted with many forms of contemplative prayer and meditation in the Christian tradition
  • Begin or deepen your personal practice of meditation with practical tips and insights from the course
  • Know how to access to resources for continuing to deepen your practice after the course is completed

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Course content

1 section • 14 lectures • 3h 23m total length

  • Introduction to "Contemplative Christianity"9:06

    Explore contemplative Christianity through practical, 10-minute daily micro-learning nuggets that deepen contemplative prayer, scriptural roots, and interior silence within a dialogue-rich spiritual community.

  • Mindfulness, Meditation, & Contemplation - What's the Difference?12:14

    Explore mindfulness, meditation, and contemplation, highlighting how mindfulness reveals nonjudgemental moment-to-moment awareness while meditation trains focus, and contemplation rests in the presence of God through an embodied, Christ-centered practice.

  • A (Brief) History of Contemplation13:56

    Trace the roots of contemplative Christianity in ancient Israel and Greek philosophy, follow desert monasticism, and preview modern shifts toward practice, dialogue, and well-being.

  • Methods & Forms of Contemplative Prayer14:30

    Explore contemplative prayer through lectio divina, centering prayer, Christian meditation, and the Jesus prayer, guiding the mind toward contemplative silence with sacred words and breath.

  • Heartfulness: Living from Your Divine Center15:03

    Practice heartfulness as a contemplative stance that unites intellect with the heart and centers awareness on the divine presence, with daily brief prayer and mantra toward the highest good.

  • Fruits of Contemplative Transformation16:19

    Explore the transformation from contemplative prayer, deepening your relationship with God through the fruits of the spirit, and learn how stories and short regular practice foster presence amid modern life.

  • Contemplative Theology13:58

    Explore the theology and practice of contemplation, including incarnation, grace, and divinization, and walk through illumination, purgation, divine union.

  • Contemplative Psychology15:25

    Explore the psychology of contemplation by examining the image of God, the shadow self, and implicit memory, and learn to cultivate grace, integration, and freedom through mindful practice.

  • Contemplative Neuroscience18:27

    Explore how contemplation engages brain and mind, from left-right brain dynamics to hippocampus, amygdala, and insula, and how mindful practice fosters memory, self, and relational integration.

  • Solitude and Community12:54

    Explore how solitude and interior practice foster communal awakening, solidarity, and divine union; discover contemplative communities and Benedictine-inspired paths that support compassionate, relational living.

  • Worship and Liturgy16:20

    Explore how communal worship and liturgy anchor the contemplative Christian life, from Eucharist and the communion of believers to a sacramental imagination that sees all creation as God's presence.

  • Love + Justice = Contemplation in Action15:28

    Explore how love and justice become active expressions of contemplation, drawing on Thurman, Gandhi, and King, while navigating the dark night and impasse toward the common good.

  • Inter-Spirituality and World Religions14:48

    Explore inter-spirituality as a Christian contemplative approach to dialogue with world religions and other traditions, focusing on shared practice, grace, and witnessing across diverse paths.

  • Deeper Into Silence15:20

    Explore the Christian contemplative path, resting in the presence of God through practices like centering prayer, the Jesus prayer, and scripture-led meditation, with practical tips for short, daily silence.

Requirements

  • No prior experience or knowledge required!
  • New terms and concepts are carefully explained in plain language

Description

Do you desire more calm amid the busyness of daily, while also cultivating a deeper relationship with God?  
If so, then this course is for you!

Whether you have a desire to learn more about contemplative prayer in the Christian tradition, you are looking for new ways to deepen your relationship with God, or you just want to learn more about contemplative Christianity; whether you are a practicing Christian, a member of another religious or spiritual tradition, a spiritual seeker of any background, or a "none" (a person with no commitment to a spiritual tradition), this course will inform you and inspire you.

This course will provide you with practical knowledge that can be easily applied to your contemplative practice or prayer life, while also familiarizing you with some of the history and theology of contemplation.

Who this course is for:

  • Anyone interested in learning about the history, theology, and methods for practicing contemplative prayer & meditation in the Christian tradition
  • Those seeking to begin or deepen a personal practice of contemplation will benefit the most from this course

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