In this thought-provoking episode, I am joined by theologian and philosopher Kevin Hart to discuss the nature of contemplation in both religious and secular contexts. Hart traces the historical origins of contemplation from ancient Rome and Greece through Christian traditions, distinguishing it from meditation and contrasting it with our modern culture of fascination. He draws on phenomenology, particularly Husserl's work, to explain how contemplation offers a way to move beyond the limiting "natural attitude" to experience reality more fully. Hart discusses how poetry, particularly that of Gerard Manley Hopkins, exemplifies contemplative engagement with the world, and explores how Jesus' parables invite a shift from worldly preoccupations to an intimate relationship with God. Throughout the conversation, Hart warns about the dangers of our technology-driven "culture of fascination" that traps our attention and leads to emptiness, while offering practical guidance on contemplative reading through practices like Lectio Divina that might help modern people recover a more enriching way of engaging with texts, the world, and the divine.
You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube
Dr. Kevin Hart is Jo Rae Wright University Distinguished Professor in the Divinity School. He is a philosopher, phenomenologist, and theologian. His academic work spans the intersection of philosophy, literature, and theology, with particular emphasis on religious experience, contemplation, and phenomenology. Hart is known for his significant contributions to understanding both religious and secular forms of contemplation, drawing on thinkers like Edmund Husserl while engaging deeply with Christian contemplative traditions.
If you are new to Dr. Hart’s work, check out Contemplation: The Movements of the Soul, Lands of Likeness: For a Poetics of Contemplation, and Poetry and Revelation: For a Phenomenology of Religious Poetry.
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