You’re probably familiar with practices of meditation and contemplation that focus on breath and attention, and that integrate the body, mind, and world. But did you know these practices have deep roots in the Christian tradition? This Sunday’s Adult Forum engaged with the lives of three Christian mystics from across time and space—Julian of Norwich, Gregory Palamas, and Howard Thurman—and asked: Where do contemplation and meditation fit into the Christian tradition?

There’s no video for this Forum, but you can download the slides as a PowerPoint presentation or a PDF.

You can find the two Howard Thurman videos from the presentation below:

This is the official trailer of "Backs Against The Wall: The Howard Thurman Story, " produced and directed by Martin Doblmeier of Journey Films. Used with permission. More information about this film at http://journeyfilms.com/batw/ For more information about Wesley, go to www.wesleyseminary.edu

This excerpt is taken from a sermon by Howard Thurman entitled "The Inner Life #2: Charting the Inward Sea," recorded live at Boston University on January 25, 1952. Howard Thurman (1899-1981) was a Christian mystic, pioneer of non-violent activism, mentor to Martin Luther King Jr., founder of the first interfaith church in America, and a prolific author, preacher, and educator.