What Thomas Merton Would Say Today with Fr. Dan Horan (Part 1)

Ilia Delio interviews Fr. Dan Horan, professor of Philosophy, Religious Studies and Theology at Saint Mary’s College and author of Engaging Thomas Merton: Spirituality, Justice, and Racism. Ilia asks Dan how he became interested in Thomas Merton, and what relevant insights he believes the teachers of yesterday have for us today in the shadow of ecological crisis and in need of social justice.

ABOUT DAN HORAN

“God’s love is not conditioned like our love, God’s mercy is not bound as ours is, and God does not discriminate or reward a person according to the standards of a given society, no matter how widespread such criteria may be.”

Daniel P. Horan, OFM, PhD, is Professor of Philosophy, Religious Studies and Theology and Director of the Center for the Study of Spirituality at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana. He is also Affiliated Professor of Spirituality at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas. A columnist for the National Catholic Reporter, he is the author or editor of more than fourteen books, including Catholicity and Emerging Personhood: A Contemporary Theological Anthropology, A White Catholic’s Guide to Racism and Privilege, and The Way of the Franciscans: A Prayer Journey Through Lent. Prof. Horan’s most recent book is titled Engaging Thomas Merton: Spirituality, Justice, and Racism and his next book, due out in Summer 2024, is titled Fear and Faith: Hope and Wholeness in a Fractured World. He is currently working on a book on Christology tentatively titled, Not Because of Sin: Reconsidering the Reason God Became Human. His academic research, writing, and teaching focuses on medieval and contemporary spirituality, theological anthropology, Christology, antiracism and LGBTQ issues, and theologies of creation. Prof. Horan regularly lectures around the United States and abroad; and serves on several university, academic, and publication editorial boards. He is recipient of numerous awards for his writing and service and is co-host of The Francis Effect Podcast.