DESCRIPTION:

Spirituality has to do with receiving and participating in avenues of relationship between ourselves and God. We can encounter the large narratives of creation, redemption, and eschaton in the daily activities which are in the context of cultures and societies. Some regular practices are known to be "spiritual" -prayer, scripture reading, worship. Additionally, our daily activities at home, work, and play, the ways we relate to creation, world, cultures, and neighborhood, and our interaction with media and arts are all significant in our "spiritual" lives. The choices we make, the perceptions we nurture, and the practices we develop directly impact our relationship with God and our participation in the Holy Spirit's initiatives in and around us.

Cognitive: Clarify concepts about Christian spirituality with attention to the relationship between corporate and personal aspects. Skills: Practice some classic disciplines, explore reflection exercises. Affective: attentiveness to the relationship between the mundane and the holy; commitment to personal and corporate aspects of Christian spirituality.

The class will meet for two hours, twice weekly, for ten weeks. Class times will include lectures, individual and group exercises, and reflective discussions of materials and experiences. Assignments will include readings, meditation, conversations, and reflective writing. Students can choose to do a personal retreat.

Chittister, Joan. Wisdom Distilled from the Daily: Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today. HarperCollins, 1990.

De Waal, Esther. Every Earthly Blessing: Rediscovering the Celtic Tradition. Moorhouse, 1991.

Kenneson, Philip. Life on the Vine: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit in Christian Community. InterVarsity Press, 1999.

Class Reader.

Balswick, Judith and Boni Piper. Life Ties: Cultivating Relationships that Make Life Worth Living. InterVarsity Press, 1995.

Banks, Robert. God the Worker. Judson, 1994.

Bass, Dorothy. Receiving the Day. Jossey-Bass, 2000.

Clapp, R., ed. The Consuming Passion: Christianity & the Consumer Culture. InterVarsity, 1998.

Lewis, C. S. The Four Loves. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1991.

Peterson, Eugene. Take and Read: Spiritual Reading, An Annotated List. Eerdmans, 1996.

Wadell, Paul. Becoming Friends. Brazos, 2002.

(1) Attend and participate in all classes. (2) Complete all reading assignments on time. (3) Provide a personal spiritual autobiography (1000 word). (4) Write a 600-word review and reflection on each of the three textbooks. (5) Select from options (retreat, cinemas, novels, topical small group) to integrate course materials and write a 600-word reflection paper. (6) Term project: Choose one topic from readings and lectures for additional reading (200 pp. min.) and reflection. Write a 2000 word paper that indicates interaction with class, texts, Bible, additional readings, at least two conversations with other Christians, and your personal reflections. (7) Students pursuing an A read an additional 200 pages, write reflective review, additional selection from #5, above.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.