Spirituality focus of talk

"I don't talk long, and I don't talk like a professor," joked the theology professor from the University of Notre Dame and author of 17 books. "I encourage a lot of dialogue."

Dr. Cunningham's talk, "What is Christian Spirituality?" will be held March 23 at The College of Saint Rose (CSR) in Albany. Part of the annual Hesburgh lecture series, it is co-sponsored by CSR, the Notre Dame Club of Northeastern New York, and the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.

'Spiritual person'

"When people use that language, they mean, `I'd like to have something deeper in my life than the routine of ordinary living,'" he explained. "People line up things: `I find my deepest spirituality in gardening or running.'"

Dr. Cunningham plans to argue that Christian spirituality means more than that. "We live in a highly therapeutic culture," he stated. "Everybody wants good feelings. That's not what Christian spirituality is all about. That doesn't allow much for the cross, does it?"

Scripture

"When you're `on the way,' you're not there yet," he explained. "It helps us understand the imperfection of our lives in the context of Christ."

Discipleship is a key concept in Christian spirituality, said Dr. Cunningham. He noted that in the New Testament, the word "discipleship" is repeated about 200 times, with an emphasis on disciples as students under the mastership of someone else -- in this case, Christ.

He remarked that "all the usual suspects" are good examples of modern disciples, from Mother Teresa to Jean Vanier (founder of the L'Arche community for persons with disabilities) and Pope John Paul II.

Resource

He added that Christian spirituality "is not a matter of believing certain propositions, but of doing something well and faithfully."

As someone who teaches on the subject, Dr. Cunningham believes he can offer new insights into why Christian spirituality is so vital today. He also hopes to take questions and comments from the audience.

However, he joked that if he doesn't get a host of comments from those attending the lecture, he may revert to his teaching tools: "I might start calling on people."

("What is Christian Spirituality?" will be held March 23, 7 p.m., at the Hubbard Interfaith Sanctuary of The College of Saint Rose in Albany. Admission is free. For information, call 454-5105.)

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