Systematic Theology Reading History

Published on Updated on Theology

What we’ve read recently.

 

 

For April 26

Reading Days: 12

DISCUSS:

  • Hildegard of Bingen: An Anthology: Letters
  • Meditations of the Heart (1953) by Howard Thurman: Part II. The Binding Ties, numbers 1-7

RESOURCES:

  • Hildegard of Bingen: An Anthology. This anthology of Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179) was edited and introduced by Fiona Bowie and Oliver Davies.
  • Meditations of the Heart (1953) by Howard Thurman (1899-1981). Biography at Wikipedia; book summary at goodreads, read for free online at Internet Archive.

 

For April 12

Reading Days: 8

DISCUSS:

  • Hildegard of Bingen: An Anthology: Book of Divine Works. This anthology of Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179) was edited and introduced by Fiona Bowie and Oliver Davies.

 

For March 29

Reading Days: 12

DISCUSS:

  • The Ladder of Divine Ascent: Part 26-30

RESOURCES:

  • The Ladder of Divine Ascent (7th century) by John Climacus (6th–7th century). We suggest the translation by Archimandrite Lazarus Moore. Read for free online at Internet Archive.

 

For March 15

Reading Days: 12

DISCUSS:

  • The Ladder of Divine Ascent: Part 24-26
  • Meditations of the Heart (1953) by Howard Thurman: Part IV. The Moment of Celebration, numbers 1-3

RESOURCES:

  • The Ladder of Divine Ascent (7th century) by John Climacus (6th–7th century). We suggest the translation by Archimandrite Lazarus Moore. Read for free online at Internet Archive.
  • Meditations of the Heart (1953) by Howard Thurman (1899-1981). Biography at Wikipedia; book summary at goodreads, read for free online at Internet Archive.

 

For March 1

Reading Days: 12

DISCUSS:

  • The Ladder of Divine Ascent: Part 15-23

RESOURCES:

  • The Ladder of Divine Ascent (7th century) by John Climacus (6th–7th century). We suggest the translation by Archimandrite Lazarus Moore. Read for free online at Internet Archive.

 

For February 15

Reading Days: 12

DISCUSS:

  • The Ladder of Divine Ascent: Part 6-14
  • Hildegard of Bingen: An Anthology: Causes & Cures

RESOURCES:

  • The Ladder of Divine Ascent (7th century) by John Climacus (6th–7th century). We suggest the translation by Archimandrite Lazarus Moore. Read for free online at Internet Archive.
  • Hildegard of Bingen: An Anthology. This anthology of Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179) was edited and introduced by Fiona Bowie and Oliver Davies.

 

For February 1

Reading Days: 12

DISCUSS:

  • The Ladder of Divine Ascent: Part 4-5

RESOURCES:

  • The Ladder of Divine Ascent (7th century) by John Climacus (6th–7th century). We suggest the translation by Archimandrite Lazarus Moore. Read for free online at Internet Archive.

 

For January 18

Reading Days: 12

DISCUSS:

  • Scotus for Dunces: Today
  • Hildegard of Bingen: An Anthology: Scivias

RESOURCES:

  • Scotus for Dunces by Professor Mary Beth Ingham. It has 130 reading pages. John Duns Scotus (1265/66–1308) is a Doctor of the Church.
  • Hildegard of Bingen: An Anthology. This anthology of Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179) was edited and introduced by Fiona Bowie and Oliver Davies.

 

For January 4, 2026

Reading Days: 8

DISCUSS:

  • Hildegard of Bingen: An Anthology: Songs
  • Meditations of the Heart (1953) by Howard Thurman: Part III. Life is Alive, numbers 1-6

RESOURCES:

  • Hildegard of Bingen: An Anthology. This anthology of Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179) was edited and introduced by Fiona Bowie and Oliver Davies.
  • Meditations of the Heart (1953) by Howard Thurman (1899-1981). Resources: biography at Wikipedia; book summary at goodreads, read for free online at Internet Archive.

 

For December 21

Reading Days: 12

DISCUSS:

    • The Ladder of Divine Ascent: Steps 1-3

RESOURCES:

  • The Ladder of Divine Ascent (7th century) by John Climacus (6th–7th century). We suggest the translation by Archimandrite Lazarus Moore. Read for free online at Internet Archive.

 

For December 7

Reading Days: 15

DISCUSS. Scotus for Dunces:

  • Chapter 2. Creation
  • Chapter 3. The Covenant

This work is by Professor Mary Beth Ingham. It has 130 reading pages. John Duns Scotus (1265/66–1308) is a Doctor of the Church.

 

For November 16

Reading Days: 12

DISCUSS:

  • Scotus for Dunces: Creation. This work is by Professor Mary Beth Ingham. It has 130 reading pages. John Duns Scotus (1265/66–1308) is a Doctor of the Church.

 

For November 2

Reading Days: 12

DISCUSS:

  • Revelation by Flannery O’Connor. Read for free online at The Sewanee Review.
  • Scotus for Dunces: Life & Works. This work is by Professor Mary Beth Ingham. It has 130 reading pages. John Duns Scotus (1265/66–1308) is a Doctor of the Church.

 

For October 19

Reading Days: 12

DISCUSS:

  • On the Apostolic Preaching by Irenaeus: DEMONSTRATION

RESOURCES:

  • On the Apostolic Preaching by Irenaeus (130-202 AD).

 

For October 5

Reading Days: 12

DISCUSS:

  • On the Apostolic Preaching by Irenaeus: Text & Translation
  • On the Apostolic Preaching by Irenaeus: Apparatus
  • On the Apostolic Preaching by Irenaeus: DEMONSTRATION (through the spies & incredulity)

RESOURCES:

  • On the Apostolic Preaching by Irenaeus (130-202 AD).

 

For September 21

Reading Days: 12

DISCUSS:

  • A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Connor
  • On the Apostolic Preaching by Irenaeus: St. Irenaeus of Lyons
  • On the Apostolic Preaching by Irenaeus: Demonstration

RESOURCES:

  • A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Connor. Read for free online at Internet Archive.
  • On the Apostolic Preaching by Irenaeus (130-202 AD).

 

For September 7

Reading Days: 11

DISCUSS:

  • Hildegard of Bingen: An Anthology: The Woman
  • Hildegard of Bingen: An Anthology: Today
  • Hildegard of Bingen: An Anthology: Chronology & End Part I
  • Hildegard of Bingen: An Anthology: Part II Notes
  • Hildegard of Bingen: An Anthology: Extracts
  • Hildegard of Bingen: An Anthology: Book of LIfe’s Merits

RESOURCES:

  • Hildegard of Bingen: An Anthology. This anthology of Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179) was edited and introduced by Fiona Bowie and Oliver Davies.

 

For August 24, 2025

Reading Days: 12

DISCUSS:

  • Meditations of the Heart (1953) by Howard Thurman: Inward Sea (#1-9)
  • Hildegard of Bingen: An Anthology: Turmoil
  • Hildegard of Bingen: An Anthology: Life & Works
  • Hildegard of Bingen: An Anthology: Living Light
  • Hildegard of Bingen: An Anthology: Theology

RESOURCES:

  • Meditations of the Heart (1953) by Howard Thurman (1899-1981). Biography at Wikipedia; book summary at goodreads, read for free online at Internet Archive.
  • Hildegard of Bingen: An Anthology. This anthology of Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179) was edited and introduced by Fiona Bowie and Oliver Davies.

 

For June 1, 2025

End-of-Year Summations. Summations are a review of how our work has impacted your faith-life over the past year. Here are some suggested questions for your End-of-Year Summations:

  • How has our work affected your faith-life?
  • What have you been able to put into practice?
  • How have you ministered to other people?
  • Have you grown as a disciple?
  • What challenges did you face as a disciple?
  • What challenges did you face in your ministry?
  • How has your spiritual life changed?
  • Are you more in love with God?

As a review, here are the works we’ve read in this current academic year:

 

For May 18, 2025

Discuss On the Holy Spirit by Basil the Great, chapters 13 through 30. Read for free at Internet Archive.

 

For April 13, 2025

Discuss The Idea of the Holy by Rudolf Otto, chapters 18 through 21. Read for free at Internet Archive.

 

For March 30, 2025

Discuss The Idea of the Holy by Rudolf Otto, chapters 13 through 17. Read for free at Internet Archive.

 

For March 16, 2025

Discuss The Idea of the Holy by Rudolf Otto, chapters 10 through 12. Read for free at Internet Archive.

 

For March 2, 2025

Discuss The Idea of the Holy by Rudolf Otto, chapters 07 to 09. Read for free at Internet Archive.

 

For February 16, 2025

Discuss The Idea of the Holy by Rudolf Otto, chapters 01 to 06. Read for free at Internet Archive.

 

For January 19, 2025

Discuss Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich, part 3 (chapters 51 to 65). We suggest the translation by Mirabai Starr.

 

For January 5, 2025

Discuss Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich, part 2. We suggest the translation by Mirabai Starr.

 

For December 15, 2024

Discuss Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich, part 1. We suggest the translation by Mirabai Starr.

 

For November 17, 2024

Discuss The Qur’an, chapters 16 though 18.

 

For November 3, 2024

Discuss The Qur’an, chapters 12 to 15.

 

For October 20, 2024

Discuss The Qur’an, chapters 09 to 11.

 

For October 6, 2024

Discuss The Qur’an, chapters 07 to 08.

 

For September 22, 2024

Discuss The Art of Dying Well by Robert Bellarmine, chapters 12 to end.

 

For September 8, 2024

Discuss The Art of Dying Well by Robert Bellarmine, chapters 07 to 11

 

Resources

Resources for the Systematic Theology Project

  • Schedule. Our schedule for the coming weeks and months.
  • Introduction. Join us in reading the greatest theological books of all time, a few pages per day.
  • Reading Pace. We read the greatest theological books of all time, but at a modest few pages per day.
  • Calendar. Our day-by-day calendar for the recent academic years.