The Surprising Lives of Christian Saints - Emily Graham

Category: Misc. Non-fiction, Spiritual & Religious
Language: English
Keywords: Christianity Great Courses Religion saints Theology

Written by Emily Graham
Format: M4B
Unabridged

You may be familiar with the Christian saints St. Peter, to whom Jesus gave the keys to the kingdom in the Bible; St. Joan of Arc, who led France to victory in the Hundred Years War; and St. Thomas Aquinas, whose philosophy around faith and reason, the existence of God, and the nature of the soul is embedded deeply in Church theology today. There are a host of lesser-known saints, who’ve been immortalized for the miracles attributed to them and the struggles they endured, including Kateri Tekakwitha, Absalom Jones, Josephine Butler, and many others.

Have you ever wondered who these people were who were named as saints? Or how everyday people around the world have been canonized to sainthood? Who were they, what did they do, and why do they matter for Christianity today? Now, you have the opportunity to unpack these questions with The Surprising Lives of Christian Saints. Over the course of 24 in-depth lectures, Professor Emily Graham, an Associate Professor of History at Oklahoma State University, surveys the global history of Christian sainthood.

As you’ll discover, the stories of Christian saints are not just fascinating, but they’re also an integral part of Christian history. Through their lives, in particular moments of time, you can trace the historical context that shaped the Church over two millennia, meeting such figures as:

- Mary Magdalen, an early saint who’s been interpreted and reinterpreted countless times over the years;
- Perpetua and Felicity, mothers and martyrs in fourth-century Carthage;
- Francis of Assisi, a homeless veteran known for ministering to the poor;
- Elizabeth Ann Seton, an American convert, founder, and struggling mother; and
- Andrei Rublev, an icon painter whose striking artwork married Byzantine and Russian influence.

What these saints have in common is that they were ordinary people who did extraordinary things, from negotiating political strife to championing the poor and the dispossessed. Filled with illuminating stories and a cast of unforgettable figures, The Surprising Lives of Christian Saints takes you on an enlightening journey through time, revealing the profound lives of individuals who’ve left an indelible mark on our world.