SF 501 HGST Introduction to Christian Spirituality
Fall 2008 Dr. Barbara Worden
Office Hours: M, W, 9-1 PM, Tu 9-4, Th 9-12 PM bsworden@hgst.edu
Fri By appointment only
I. Course Description. A study of the history, theology and psychology of spirituality in Christianity, especially focusing on developing concepts of prayer and meditation. Attention will be given to the history of spiritual direction and its role in pastoral care in church history, and how skills in this area enhance ministry. Four hours.
II. Objectives. By the completion of this course, the student will:
1. Know the outlines of the history of spirituality in Christianity and the contributions of the great spiritual masters in the faith.
2. Know the nature, objectives and traditions of spirituality and how they can enhance both the students’ own faith and that of the people they serve.
3. Be aware of some of the basic techniques of spiritual direction and where they can go for additional training if they desire it.
4. Know basic concepts of the psychology of spiritual development.
III. Texts.
Notebook of course handouts. Pay $10 for reproduction cost for handouts.
Demarest, Bruce. Satisfy Your Soul, abbreviated as Dem.
Foster, Richard. J. Streams of Living Water abbreviated as Fos.
2 tests x 100 = 200
1 final paper 200 = 200
1 presentation see below 100
5 responses to questions in Demarest 100
Rule of Life and Journal 100
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700-658=A
658-610=B
560-615=C
The short paper—oral report will cover the spirituality of the student’s denomination of origin or present denomination. Special attention should be paid to the way the six spiritual streams described by Foster are present or absent and how this affects the denomination or church. It will be given in class and will relate to the final paper. The final paper will cover the student's own vision of how greater practice of spirituality can enhance his own life and ministry to others. It
should also cover an analysis of the student’s own denomination and local church and how these institutions either enhance or discourage growth in spirituality. Reference should be made to the types of spirituality described by Foster and which ones are stronger and weaker in the denomination and why?
As part of HGST’s ongoing curriculum assessment, the Rule of Life for this course will be collected for inclusion in the student portfolio.
Attendance Policy
Since the class meets for three and a half hours each meeting, the student may miss two class meetings without having it affect the final grade. Students however, are obliged to make up missed assignments such as quizzes or homework within two meetings of the missed period. Under normal circumstances, students must notify the instructor by e-mail or telephone voice mail, before noon on the day of the class. Extraordinary circumstances include automobile accidents, sudden illnesses and family difficulties. Under ordinary circumstances, absences above the two mentioned above and work handed in after the deadline will result in grades reduced by one half, approximately five points
Grades and the HGST Policy on Incompletes
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 August 14, 2008). 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.
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. Possible consequences range from lower of the grade for short incidents of plagiarism, one paragraph or less to failure in the assignment or failure in the course for plagiarism of whole papers and repeated incidence of plagiarism.
V. Course Outline
August 28 What is Christian about Spirituality and Why should I care? Preassignment, before August 28, read Fos 1-22, Dem 7-10. Assignment for next class meeting. 13-39. Answer questions 39-40 Terms spirituality, spiritual formation, kairos, charism or charismata, imitatio Christi
Keeping a Spiritual Journal http://earthlink.net/~haywoodm/SpiritualJournal.html
http://edge.net/~dphillip/Journal.html
September 4 written answers to questions due. Response 1. Dem. 43-90 Answer to questions 60-2, spiritual materialism, characteristics of abusive or cult like religious groups, spiritual materialisms or designer spirituality
September 11 questions 60-2, Responses 2 due. Toward a healthy spirituality Dem 91-120. Answers to questions 120-2 Terms: Difference between Christian spirituality and other spiritualities, spirituality as experience, biblical metaphors-see Dem 103-7, mysticism, Pascal’s wager, Methodist Quadrilateral—reason, experience, scripture, tradition
http://home.earthlink.net/~deah13/id13.html
www.lexpages.com/SGN/paschal/SPIRHEAL.htm
spiritual materialism www.orednet.org/~jflory/spiritual_materialism.htm
September 18 Responses 3 due. Spirituality and experiencing God. Dem. 157-87 Contemplation, the depths of Experience. Terms: monologion, prayer of heart, centering prayer, contemplation vs. meditation, journaling, lex orandi, lex credendi www.centeringprayer.com/methodcp.htm
September 25 The Contemplative Tradition of Christianity Fos. 23-58 Film John of the Cross , desert fathers, asceticism, encratism, apophatic vs. cataphatic spirituality, via positiva vs. via negativa, monasticism and monastic rule, eremic vs. cenobitic monasticism, St. Benedict, St. Antony
October 2 The Holiness Tradition Fos 59-96 Film on Bonhoeffer Hung From a Twisted Cross Terms: sanctification, Phoebe Palmer, cheap vs. costly grace, only he who believes is obedient, only he who is obedient believes, legalism Pelagianism, TULIP, synergistic vs. monergistic concept of grace, occasions of sin,
October 9 –16 The Charismatic Tradition Fos 97-133 Reports on Spiritual Tradition Terms: Azusa St. Revival, charismatic vs. Pentecostal, www.azusastreet100.net/history.htm
October 23 Mid Term Examination
November 6 Social Justice Tradition Fos. 135-83 Film Mother Teresa Terms: John Woolman, personal sin, social sin, institutional sin, institutional righteousness, chesed, shalom, mishpat, Dorothy Day and Catholic Worker, works of mercy vs. works of justice
November 13-20 The Evangelical Tradition Fos. 185-233 St. Augustine, four loves—storge, eros, agape, philia sola scriptura, sola fides, “in essentials unity, in nonessentials liberty, in all things, charity.”Dem.123-55 Spirituality of Scripture Reading and Lectio Divina, Terms lectio divina, icon and iconography Lectio Divina www.cellofpeace.com/refl_lectio.htm
December 4 Incarnational Spirituality Fos235-72 Spirituality of the Artist Video Quilters of Gee’s Bend, Terms: definition of sacrament, liturgy and liturgy of hours
St. Francis www.pathguycom/francisc.htm Church Year http:// www/creresourcei.org/colorsof.html Film Brother Sun, Sister Moon Dem. 187-216 .229-53 Being a Spiritual Helper Answers to questions 216-7 Hand in Journals, Terms spiritual direction or spiritual companionship vs. counseling vs. pastoral care, discipling, general revelation vs. special revelation, visualization, addiction cycle,
December 11 Response to Questions due Dem. 283-97 Planning for Spiritual Growth, Your Rule of life. See Dem. 296-7 Four Jungian Typeshttp://anglicanhistory.org/usa/advent/rule.html http://home.earthlink.net/~haywood/EFM-RuleofLife.html Introduction to Spiritual Direction Rule of Life due. Final Exam Review
December 18 Final Exam
December 22 Papers due.
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.
Novak, Michael. Ascent of the Mountain, Flight of the Dove.
Underhill, Evelyn. Mysticism.
______. Mystics of the Church.
B. Instruction in Spirituality.
Corduan, Winfried. Mysticism.
Cronk, Sandra. Dark Night Journey.
Foster, Richard. Celebration of Discipline, especially chapters on prayer and meditation.
_____. Prayer
_____. Streams of Living Water.
Groeschel, Benedict. Spiritual Passages.
Nouwen, Henri. Reaching Out.
Underhill, Evelyn. Practical Mysticism.
Willard, Dallas. Renovation of the Heart.
C. Great Spiritual Masters of the Judeo-Christian Tradition.
1. Ancient and Medieval.
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 Purgatory.
Catherine of Siena. Divine Dialogue, Letters, Cloud of Unknowing.
Eckhart, Meister. Talks of Instruction.
Francis of Assisi. Little Flowers of St. Francis.
Hildegarde of Bingen. Revelations, Book of Life’s Merits, Sciavas.
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.
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 Holy 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.
Greeley, Andrew. Any of the four volumes of prayer journals.
Hammerskjold, Dag. Markings.
John XXIII. Story of a Soul.
Merton, Thomas. Testament of Devotion.
Kelley, Thomas. The Seven Story Mountain, Spiritual Direction and Meditation, The Spirit of Holiness.
Nouwen, Henri. The Wounded Healer, Gennessee Diary, Daybreak.
Therese of Lisieux. Story of a Soul.
Wesley, John. Journal.
Woolman, John. Journal.
Useful website Addresses:
www.sdbsju.edu/library/internet/theospir.html Website of a Benedictine college, excellent for on-line texts of spiritual classics through the ages.
www.worship.ca’sec6.html Lutheran website with a number of guides where to find texts of spiritual classics, also links to and practical ideas on a variety of spiritual disciplines such as meditation, lectio divina, etc.
www.innerexplorations.com/chmystertext/christia.html. Roman Catholic websites with both links to a number of spiritual classics and mystical writings and articles of practical advice on evaluating a number of issues in spirituality and spiritual direction.
www.thecentering.org/links.html Website for Centering Movement. Links to spiritual classics as well as excellent guides to doing Centering Prayer.
Edge.edge.net/%7Edphillip/process.html Good guide to a number of spiritual disciplines.
www.rockies.net/~spirit/spiritconnect.html Mainly for women. A number of excellent links to a variety of religious issues, especially spiritual practices such as journaling and prayer.
www.centeringprayer.com/methodcp/html Official centering prayer movement website, good guide and many links
www.lessons4living.com/labyrinth.htm Good website, if a bit new agey devoted to labyrinth. Good links
www.spirithome.com/spirdisc.html great essays and links on each of disciplines, follows Foster
www.renovare_br.org/spiritual-disciplines.htm Renovare’s official website. Essays and links on each of disciplines.
Lectio Divina Psalm 1
http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/innerscoop/lectio3.html
Take a Look at Your Prayer Life
http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/innerscoop/lectio3.html
Lectio Divina, the Order of St. Benedict
http://www.osb.org/lectio/olivera.html
Lectio Divina Explanation
http://www.cellofpeace.com/refl_lectio.htm
Basil Pennington on praying the Scriptures
http://www.thecentering.org/pennington_on_lectio.html
Praying with Scripture (Orientations Vol. 1 – Section 1 to Page 6
http://www.thecentering.org/pennington_on_lectio.html
Prayer Methods, Lectio Divina
http://www.methodx.org/thelife/prayermethods/lectio.asp
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