The Integration of Faith and Every Day Life

Lecture Description

Dr. Lawrence Cunningham, John A. O'Brien Professor in Notre Dame's Department of Theology, reflects on "living the Christian life in the concrete situation in which we find ourselves." He emphasizes that being a Christian means to adopt a certain way of life, or more precisely, a way of discipleship. After reflecting on ways we currently grow in discipleship (e.g. liturgy, prayer, actions, and catechesis), Dr. Cunningham offers some thoughtful reflections on what our Christian life might look like in the coming millennium. He challenges us to consider how we balance the universal and worldwide aspects of spirituality with our own personal and concrete situations, especially considering the growing importance of ecumenism and the explosion of communication technologies. This lecture was originally released on January 29, 2000 as part of a STEP videoconference series.

Meet the Developer

Dr. Lawrence Cunningham

Dr. Cunningham's scholarly interests are in the areas of systematic theology and culture, Christian spirituality, and the history of Christian spirituality. His most recent book is Thomas Merton and the Monastic Vision (1999). He has edited or written sixteen other books. He is also co-editor of the academic monograph series "Studies in Theology and Spirituality" and serves as an associate editor for a number of scholarly journals. The author of over fifty articles in peer reviewed or solicited journals and books, he has also written over two hundred articles for pastoral and popular outlets. He has won three Catholic Press Association awards for religious writing (1987, 1999, and 2000). The religion book notes columnist for Commonweal for over ten years, he is also an award winning teacher at Notre Dame: the Fenlon Award from Sorin College (1989) and a Kaneb award in 1999. A frequent visiting professor both here and abroad, Dr. Cunningham is currently at work on a new book on the theological meaning of saints. He is also finishing a study of Saint Francis of Assisi and is compiling an anthology of Cardinal Newman's spiritual writings. B.A., Saint Bernard's College Seminary, 1957; S.T.L., Gregorian University (Rome), 1961; M.A., Florida State University, 1963; Ph.D., Florida State University, 1969