The Howard Thurman Podcast

The Meaning of the Religious Experience, Part 1, 1976 July 23

In this first sermon, Thurman sets out to explore the meaning of religious experience, and the religious experience of Jesus specifically. For Thurman, religious experience is a private and intimate experience, and yet it also seems to involve everything that is. Religious experience is not static, but rather a dynamic experiencing that our minds cannot capture totally. Nevertheless, the mind tries to freeze it into doctrine, dogma, and theology – the language of rationality. But Thurman says religious experience cannot be reduced to the practical and empirical. Ultimately, religious experience is our awareness of the presence of God, and nothing we do gives us control over that presence. For it is God that gives of Godself freely and lovingly. Part of the Collection, The Meaning of the Religious Experience (1976, [Disciples of Christ Retreat], Santa Barbara, CA) Tags: Description by Rodell Jefferson III. Recorded in Santa Barbara, CA Citation: Thurman, Howard, “The Meaning of the Religious Experience, Part 1, 1976 July 23,” The Howard Thurman Digital Archive, accessed July 9, 2024, https://thurman.pitts.emory.edu/items/show/1283.

Readings from the Inward Journey - 1 Corinthians 13, 1970 Jan 10

In this first installment of Readings From Deep is the Hunger, Howard Thurman uses Matthew 5 as a framework to discuss the sufficiency of God as we wrestle with the concepts of kindness, mercy, and humility. Thurman goes on to discuss the need for God as we navigate challenges internally and externally with the world around us. Part of the Collection, Featured Thurman Recordings Tags: Description by Unknown Recorded in NA Citation: Thurman, Howard, “Readings from the Inward Journey - 1 Corinthians 13, 1970 Jan 10,” The Howard Thurman Digital Archive, accessed July 9, 2024, https://thurman.pitts.emory.edu/items/show/1276.

For the Quiet Time, 1974 July 18

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Ideals and Goals (1964-02-14)

In this recording within the We Believe series, Thurman draws upon the novel "The Choir Invisible" by James Lane Allen, to reflect upon God's relationship to humanity. Thurman deeply leans into the mystery that is associated with humanity's actualized potential. He notes that our arrival to our actualized potential is inevitable; however, we shall not know the time or place of this arrival. Rather than giving quick answers, Thurman encourages us to look to the horizon for the next goal, trusting that the same God who cares for the birds of the air is the same God that cares for humanity, and is moving humanity towards a shared goal. Part of the Collection, We Believe (Television Series, 1958-1965) Tags: actualized potential, gate, goal, horizon, love, tension, youth Description by Dustin Mailman Recorded in WHDH-TV, Boston, Massachusetts Citation: Thurman, Howard, “Ideals and Goals (1964-02-14),” The Howard Thurman Digital Archive, accessed July 9, 2024, https://thurman.pitts.emory.edu/items/show/1272.

Always the Open Hand (1964-02-21)

In this recording within the We Believe Series, Thurman reads a poem sent to him from a friend. This poem speaks from the perspective of Phillip, one of Jesus' disciples. The content of this poem wrestles with the demands of the people upon Jesus, and Jesus' willingness to pour himself out to benefit those who are in need. In the author's engagement with Jesus' life, work, death, and resurrection, we are asked to ponder the human quest of making sense of God's open, relational, and creative nature. Part of the Collection, We Believe (Television Series, 1958-1965) Tags: christology, communion, disciples, Feeding of the Five Thousand, healing, Incarnation, Jesus, kenosis, Last Supper, miracles, Phillip, poem, Spirit of Love Description by Dustin Mailman Recorded in WHDH-TV, Boston, Massachusetts Citation: Thurman, Howard, “Always the Open Hand (1964-02-21),” The Howard Thurman Digital Archive, accessed July 9, 2024, https://thurman.pitts.emory.edu/items/show/1271.