Centre Place

“God on the lips, without a good conduct of life, is a word.” –Plotinus, Enneads 2.9.15
In our last lecture “Christian Mysticism – Part 3: Neoplatonism,” we explored Plotinus’ thought and lasting influence. In this quote, he is refuting some Gnostic positions that deemed the world a corrupt or evil creation of the Demiurge, a lesser creator being. Learn more about Plotinus and his school of thought, known as Neoplatonism, and its lasting influence on Christianity.
🎥 Watch video: https://youtu.be/HDrWPoWYihU

1 day ago | [YT] | 34

Centre Place

How did Greek philosophy shape the development of Christian mysticism? The philosophy of Plotinus and his successors offered a language for Christian mystics to speak about divine transcendence, the hierarchy of being, and the contemplative journey of the soul. Figures such as Augustine, Gregory of Nyssa, and Pseudo-Dionysius drew on Neoplatonic metaphysics to express both mystical experience and the relationship between creation and the divine.


In this live lecture, Leandro Palacios of Toronto Centre Place examines how Neoplatonism shaped the language of Christian mysticism and how the at times clashing encounter of Greek philosophy and Jewish mystical tradition shaped the spirituality of the early Church.

4 days ago | [YT] | 7

Centre Place

🎥 NOW LIVE 🎥 As Jesus is about to be born, Joseph has a vision in which time itself seems to stop—even the birds of the air are frozen mid-flight. With this scene, the Protoevangelium of James offers a symbolic portrait of the paradoxical encounter between eternity and time. Yet many Christians continue to struggle to separate faith from historical certainty, asking, “Are we supposed to believe this?”—meaning, that it happened in real life.
Today on Beyond the Walls, we explore how texts like this challenge us to approach scripture as theology rather than history, and how they can nurture faith, develop spirituality, and help us find God beyond questions of historicity.

6 days ago | [YT] | 7

Centre Place

🎥 NOW LIVE 🎥 John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place reviews the evidence we have for why Christians ended up celebrating Christmas on December 25th. Associated with the Winter Solstice, December 25th had ancient associations with Pagan holidays like Saturnalia. What traces of the earlier pagan festivals survived through the Middle Ages and even into the present?


Join us NOW to share insights in the live chat with our community of critical thinkers and spiritual seekers, and to ask questions to our lecturer in real-time! 🙋‍♀ 🙋‍♂

1 week ago | [YT] | 5

Centre Place

Why do Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25? Was Christmas deliberately chosen to replace pagan festivals like Saturnalia? The Bible never mentions a date for Jesus’ birth, and early Christians didn’t agree on one. By the third century, some marked it on August 28, others on May 20, and still others on April 21.
The first record linking Jesus’ birth to December 25 appears in the year 354—around the time of the Roman festival Saturnalia and the birthday of Sol Invictus, the unconquered sun. Was Christmas placed here to replace these pagan celebrations, or did the date have deeper symbolic meaning?
John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place explores how December 25 became Christ’s birthday, tracing how ancient solstice festivals, sun worship, and Christian theology merged into what we now call Christmas.


📅 Tuesday, Dec 12
⏰ 7:00 pm ET
🎥 Watch live: https://youtu.be/F2GXHfFCIxg

1 week ago | [YT] | 39

Centre Place

🎥 NOW LIVE 🎥 As we light the Candle of Hope 🕯️ on the Second Sunday of Advent 🌟 we continue our exploration of the Christmas Story as told in the Protoevangelium or “Infancy Gospel” of James.
The idea of God becoming flesh was shocking enough, but insisting that this infant is not the offspring of a great emperor but of ordinary people in impoverished circumstances, is scandalous. James’ narrative highlights the scandal even further elaborating on Mary who became pregnant before her wedding.
In what ways, proclaiming Christ continues to be a source of scandal in our own time and place?
We will share communion 🍞🍇 with all those participating live from around the world 🌏

1 week ago | [YT] | 8

Centre Place

🎥 NOW LIVE 🎥 John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place will look at the origins and development of the Holy Grail legend, from the 12th-century poet Chrétien de Troyes to Monty Python, Indiana Jones, and the Da Vinci Code. How did the Holy Grail legend become central to medieval Christianity and does it have any link with the historical Jesus?


Join us NOW to share insights in the live chat with our community of critical thinkers and spiritual seekers, and to ask questions to our lecturer in real-time! 🙋‍♀ 🙋‍♂

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 5

Centre Place

For Giving Tuesday, we invite those who value our lectures and podcasts to help us continue to produce and share them with everyone. We believe we can build a better world together by providing opportunities for learning and self-reflection to all, regardless of financial capacity. If our lectures have helped you expand your understanding or deepen your insight, please consider a donation to invite others to learn and grow.

Donate at www.centreplace.ca/donate
Tax receipts are available in Canada and the USA.
❤️THANK YOU❤️

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2 weeks ago | [YT] | 20

Centre Place

How did the Holy Grail legend become central to medieval Christianity and does it have any link with the historical Jesus? 🏆 Few symbols have inspired more mystery, imagination, and debate. Some say it’s a cup, others a dish—or even a stone. Depending on the legend, it grants infinite abundance, eternal youth, or divine wisdom.

Most often, the Grail is thought to be the cup Jesus used at the Last Supper—or the one said to have caught his blood at the crucifixion. Yet the Bible gives no special significance to this cup, and the term “Holy Grail” doesn’t appear until the Middle Ages, when it entered Arthurian legend.

John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place traces the evolution of the Grail story—from the 12th-century poet Chrétien de Troyes to its reinvention in modern pop culture, from Monty Python to Indiana Jones and The Da Vinci Code.'


📅 Tuesday, Dec 2
⏰ 7:00 PM EST
🎥 Watch live: https://youtu.be/NwZbjEtQ22Q

2 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 33

Centre Place

🎥 NOW LIVE 🎥 Today we turn to the nativity story and we look at Mary, the mother of Jesus. Early Christians explored hope, renewal, and new beginnings by expanding what we know about Mary from the New Testament. Our Christmas tradition is thus partly shaped by non-canonical texts like the Infancy Gospel of James, a pseudepigraphic apocryphal text from the 2nd century CE.
This Sunday, we consider the story of Mary’s dedication at the Temple and how she was fed by the angels in preparation for her role as the Theotokos — the “God-bearer.” What is the deep meaning of this scene that inspired Christians throughout the centuries?
We invite you to share this moment with our global community 🌏

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 8