Office Hours:

This course is devoted to examining the role Christian spirituality in general and the intense form of spirituality known as mysticism have played in the theological and historical development of Christianity in the East and West. Study is also made of the writings of individual mystics and spiritual masters, and their contributions to the historical development and theological enrichment of Christianity.

1. To understand the wide variety of spiritual practices included under Orthodox Christianity.

2. To be able to use the wide variety of traditions and practices in Christian history to enhance his own and others’ spiritual growth.

3. To know how Christianity has successfully adapted itself to be effective in a variety of places and cultural traditions.

Tyson, John R. Invitation to Christian Spirituality, Oxford University Press, New York, 1999. Abbreviated as ICS

The final paper will involve analysis of the spirituality of an individual spiritual master. It is recommended that students use masters represented by works on the reading list or those represented by excerpts in devotional classics by Foster, on reserve for course. In the paper, students are required to focus on a particular work by the spiritual master, analyzing its content, explaining the unique qualities and spiritual practices of the author and placing it within the historical and spiritual development of the Christian spiritual tradition. It is highly desirable that the class presentation deal with a short text of the same spiritual master used for the final paper. Students should use the critical issues outlined in CS, pp. 135-40, last few pages of syllabus. Students may choose one of the texts contained in the anthology. If the student takes one of the texts on the reading list, the student should make Xerox copies of texts for each class member and have them ready on the day of the presentation. The presentation will consist of an analysis of the text of about 20 minutes with 10 minutes for question and discussion. In class presentation will occur throughout course in approximately historical order.

V. SEMINARY POLICIES

Students are reminded that regular attendance and regular submission of assignments on due dates in syllabus is expected. Students must talk to the instructor about circumstances affecting their ability to attend class, complete assignments and take exams. The instructor is usually flexible, but such flexibility should not be taken for granted. Under normal circumstances, students will be able to delay submission of major papers and taking exams up to two weeks under extraordinary circumstances. After two (2) weeks, grade will go down five (5) points or one half grade for each week the student delays without talking to the instructor.

Students are permitted to miss up to six (6) hours of class. This would be about four (4) classes for twice a week classes, the two-classes-per-week classes. After this number has been reached, grades will be lowered half a grade for each week, three (3) hours, the student misses unless the student has made other arrangements to make up the missed time with the instructor.

VI. SCHOOL POLICY ON INCOMPLETE GRADES

Any student who requests an extension for this course must complete a "Request for Extension/Grade Change" form, which can be obtained from the Registrar. The form must be signed by both the student and the instructor and returned to the Registrar's Office along with a fee of $25.00 before the deadline for extensions. Extensions are granted only for extenuating circumstances and may not exceed thirty calendar days from the end of the semester (December 17,2007). All extensions are subject to review by the Dean of the Faculty. Final grades given under the extension policy will be reduced by one half letter.

VII. PLAGIARISM POLICY

Plagiarism is presenting the work of another person as your own without giving proper credit for the use of the information. Students must not quote books, articles, essays, or internet sites without giving proper credit to the author(s) of the work. Any student who is found guilty of plagiarism is subject to a range of consequences including failure of this course work and dismissal from HGST.

VIII. COURSE SCHEDULE

September 5	Christian spirituality, the institutional church and history. HCS 1-13, ICS 1-53 diagram HCS p. 4, deautomization, intrinsic vs. extrinsic religion, encratism, orectic forces, structure vs. antistructure. Apollonian vs. Dionysian spirituality
September 12	Foundations Christian spirituality--the Bible. Jesus and the early Church. Readings , introduction to textual analysis HCS1-29,,ICS 53-66 Key terms hokmah and shekinah, metanoia, mysterion, kenosis, gnosis, apatheia, acedia, arLte, perichoresis, apocalyptic mysticism
September 19	HCS 29-49, ICS73-99,103-120, www.geocities.com/~phsken/fathers 1_2html. Key terms: monasticism, 3 traditional stages of spiritual development: purgation, illumination, and union John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent. Monologistic prayer, Jesus prayer, mysterion, nous cataphatic vs. apophatic, desert fathers and mothers, anchoritic vs. cenobitic monasticism,” Sayings of the Desert Fathers”
September 26	ICS 124-39 www.christdesert.org use Monastery Porter to go to schedule, Rule of St. Benedict, Clement of Alexandria, 3 stages, Mary vs. Martha as active vs. contemplative life. Origen and 4 fold sense of scripture, literal or historical, allegorical, anagogical and tropological Dionysius, via negativa, Gregory of Nyssa theology of trinity, Augustine, 2 cities, origins of monastic rules, asceticism
October 3	Spirituality of the Middle Ages. HCS 48-70 ,ICS 140-68 Film Brother Sun, Sister Moon www.pathguy.com/francisc.htm
October 10	Key terms: 3 estates, laity, religious, clergy, meditation vs. contemplation, lectio divina, Realism vs. nominalism, scholasticism, Marian and eucharistic devotion, friar vs. monk, spiritual direction, Bernard of Clairvaux 4 degrees of love, bridal mysticism, knowledge of God as ascent, influence of Platonism, Francis of Assisi, creation spirituality
October 17	Thomas a Kempis.HCS 70-93, ICS 168-203 beghard and beguine, growth of lay orders and organizations,St. Bonaventure 6 stages of soul's ascent. Hildegard of Bingen, viriditas, growth of eucharistic spirituality The Rhineland mystics, Eckhart, Suso, Tauler and Ruysbroeck English mystics: Rolle, Hilton, Julian of Norwich, devotio moderna
October 24	Review and mid-term
October 31	Spirituality of the Protestant and Roman Catholic Reformations. Readings HCS 124-36, ICS,274-81 Pietism, quietism and enlightenment--spirituality of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
November 7	HCS 93-111, www.jesuit.org/pilgrim/Pages/introgui.html and www.stignatiussf.org/jesuit_spsirituality_1.htm Key terms: imitatio Christi, Thomas a Kempis and Brethren of Common Life, Devotio Moderna, Spanish Mystics: Ignatius of Loyola, spiritual exercises, consolation and desolation, discernment of spirits. Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross and 2 dark nights, of soul and of senses. French mystics: St. Francis de Sales, Madame Guyon, quietism, Pascal and Jansenism, Brother Lawrence, George Fox, inner light, Christ within, doctrine of justification, sola scriptura, priesthood of believer, whatever not forbidden by scripture, whatever mandated by scripture.
November 14	HCS136-150, ICS 318-55, 36-4524 John Wesley and doctrine of entire sanctification, William Law, Calvin and monergistic salvation, TULIP five points of Calvinism, pietism, American Great Awakenings, Pentecostal vs. charismatic
November 28	Orthodox Spirituality HCS 89-92,146-7 Key Terms: theosis or deification, hesychasm, use of Jesus prayer or prayer of heart, Philokalia, John Climacus ladder of divine ascent, function of icons and iconography in worship and prayer. Staretz,synergistic view of salvation
December 5	Modern Spirituality HCS 136-61; ICS 342-463 Key Terms: Therese of Lisieux, littleway, Thomas Merton and Dom Bede Griffiths, outreach to Buddhism and Hinduism, liberation theology and theology of dispossessed - Howard Thurman Review
December 12	Final Examination
December 17	Final Papers

IX. BIBLIOGRAPHY

A. History of Spirituality

Christian Spirituality I, II, III. World Spirituality.

Inge, Dean. Christian Mysticism.

Kelsey, Morton,The Other Side of Silence.

Merton, Thomas. Ascent to Truth.

Mursell, Gordon. The Story of Christian Spirituality. Fortress Press,

2001.

Novak, Michael. Ascent of the Mountain Flight of the Dove.

Underhill, Evelyn. Mysticism. Mystics of the Church

Mathewes-Green, Frederica. The Open Door, Paraclete Press, 2003.

B. Instruction in Spirituality

Corduan, Winfried. Mysticism.

Cronk, Sandra. Dark Night’s Journey.

Foster, Richard. Celebration of Discipline, especially chapters on prayer

and meditation. Prayer. Streams of Living Water.

Nouwen, Henri. Reaching Out.

Underhill, Evelyn. Practical Mysticism.

C. Great Spiritual Masters of the Judeo-Christian Tradition

1. Ancient and Medieval. Augustine

Augustine. Confessions.

Philokalia, any one of the collections of the works of a particular writer

Bernard of Clairvaux. Sermon on the Canticles. Love of God.

Catherine of Genoa. Treatise on Purgatorv.

Catherine of Siena. Letters. Divine Dialogue. Cloud of Unknowing.

Eckhart, Meister. Talks of Instruction.

Francis of Assisi. Little Flowers of St. Francis.

Hildegarde of Bingen. Revelations.

Hilton, Walter. Scale of Perfection.

Julian of Norwich. Revelations of Divine Love.

Kempe, Marjory. Book of Marjory Kempe.

Kempis, Thomas. Imitation of Christ.

Mechthilde of Magdeburg. Prayers.

Rolle, Richard. Fires of.Love.

Ruyesbroeck, John. Book of Truth.

2. Reformation and Seventeenth Century

Boehme, Jacob. Way to Christ.

Bunyan, John. Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, Pilgrim's

Progress

Fox, George. Journal.

Fenelon, Abbe. Spiritual Letters to Men. Spiritual Letters to Women.

Francois de Sales. Introduction to the Devout Life.

Guyon, Madame. Autobiography.

Ignatius of Loyola. Spiritual Exercises.

John of the Cross. Ascent of Mount Carmel. Dark Night of the Soul.

Spiritual Canticles.

Law, William. Serious Call to the Devout and Holv Life. Spirit of Prayer.

Spirit of Love.

Lawrence, Brother. Practice of the Presence of God.

Pascal, Blaise. Pensees.

Teresa of Avila. Autobiography. Interior Castle. Way of Perfection.

3. Modern and Contemporary

Buber, Martin. I and Thou.

Du Chardin, Pierre Teilhard. The Divine Milieu. Phenomenon of Man.

Foucauld, Charles. Letters from the Desert.

Hammerskjold, Dag. Markings.

John XXIII. Story of a Soul.

Kelley, Thomas. Testament of Devotion.

Merton, Thomas. Seven Story Mountain. Spiritual Direction and

Meditation. The Spirit of Holiness, New Seeds of Contemplation.

Theresa of Lisieus. Story of a Soul.

Wesley, John. Journal.

Woolman, John. Journal.

X. WEBSITES.

www.worship.ca/sec6.html. Lutheran website with a number of links to Christian mystics of a variety of denominations.

www.geocities.com/~jarrow/spiritual.html Excellent web site for writings by and about medieval English mystics such as Julian of Norwich as well as medieval mystics in general like Catherine of Siena and St. Augustine.

www.pastornet.com/links/ReadingsNChristSpirt.htm links to the writings of a number of spiritual teachers.

www.innerexplorations.com/chmystext/christia.htm excellent essays on John of the Cross as well as historical essays on various periods in the history of mysticism

vox.ucsb.edu/browse.asp?id=2730 Good links to a variety of biblical and historical websites.

www.fordham.eduhalsall/ancient/asbookl l.html Links to a number of early church fathers and early writings on a variety of topics, also links to medieval source book and one on Byzantine studies and early modern history.

www.thecentering.org/links.html selected links to a few spiritual teachers.

www.anamchara.com/websiteofunknowing.htm Links to a number of websites and writings of medieval English mystics

www.csbsju.edu/library/internet/theospir.html Benedictine college with excellent links to writings of mystical theologians from both eastern and western traditions.

www.wabashcenter.wabash.edu/ Go to religion on this for biblical links also a number of essays and links for history of religion and spirituality.

www.fontbonne.edu/libserv/fgic/contents.htm Excellent collection of websites on history of spirituality and biblical studies

netserf.cua.edureligion/defaulat.cfm Excellent medieval studies, medieval spiritual classics and medieval spirituality, Roman Catholic

www.ccel.org The spiritual library on a computer. If it isn’t here it isn’t a spiritual classic.

Date Prepared: August 16, 2007

2 Tests (Midterm and Final)	x	100	=	200
1 Final Paper		100	=	100
In Class Contributions		100	=	100
Total				400
A = 360-400 B = 320-360 C = 280-320 D = 240-280