"Mystical Tradition: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam" Prof. Luke Timothy Johnson (DVD) (36 Lectures / 30 Minutes Per Lecture /  6x DVD - The Great Courses)
This masterclass delivers a gripping investigation into the hidden, experiential heart of the world's three great monotheistic faiths. Professor Luke Timothy Johnson pulls back the curtain on the Mystical Tradition, revealing how practitioners in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have sought a direct, unmediated encounter with the Divine that transcends mere ritual. You will trace this "inner path" from its ancient roots through the Middle Ages and into the modern era, uncovering how figures like Moses, St. Teresa of Avila, and Rumi dared to seek a union with God that often challenged the religious authorities of their time.
 
The series is an intellectual tour de force that tackles the big questions: What does it mean to "see" the invisible? How do silence, prayer, and even poetry serve as gateways to the ultimate reality? By comparing the Kabbalah, Christian contemplative prayer, and Sufism, Johnson demonstrates that while the doctrines of these religions may differ, their mystical cores share a profound, universal hunger for the sacred. It is an exhilarating, deep-dive look at the human spirit’s most radical attempt to touch the infinite, providing a sophisticated framework for understanding the shared spiritual DNA of the Western world.