Fall 2010/Pasadena
SP500
Bradley
SP500: SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS AND PRACTICES. James E. Bradley.
DESCRIPTION: Spiritual practices emerge out of spiritual traditions which, in
turn, develop under distinctive historical conditions. In this course we will
explore the structures of four traditions of Christian spirituality, including
Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, and contemporary expressions. Within
each tradition one or more spiritual practice will be examined (and often
experienced) with an eye to its use in the contemporary church. In addition,
these traditions will be set in conversation with recent and contemporary
spiritual traditions from the worldwide church (e.g., Howard Thurman's reliance
on Rufus Jones and the Quakers, Desmond Tutu's use of Julian in the South
African struggle, and Mother Teresa's work in India). Lectures will place these
traditions and practices in the context of the broad sweep of the history and
theology of the Christian Church and its communities.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Interest in spirituality is growing both in
the church and outside the church. This course will explore the nature of
Christian spirituality and encourage students to engage in various spiritual
practices and disciplines designed to nurture others, both individually and in
community.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: The student will
- understand the relationship between the spiritual traditions and the
spiritual practices of the leading Christian confessions;
- explore and experience various spiritual disciplines and practices from
these traditions;
- develop a deeper understanding of one particular school of spirituality;
- develop skills that may be used to lead others in the practices of
Christian spirituality.
COURSE FORMAT: A combination of lecture, discussion, small groups, and case
studies. The class will meet twice weekly for two-hour sessions. In addition,
each student will participate in a one-day spiritual retreat, either with the
class at a local retreat center on a Friday, 9:00-3:30, or individually on a
day of the student's choice.
REQUIRED READING: Students are required to read 1500 pages from the following
books, with required sections designated in the syllabus. Books marked with an
asterisk are available in the Christian Classics Ethereal Library at
http:www.ccel.org/.
- Augustine. The Enchiridion. Regnery, 1996. ISBN:
9780895267030, $10.95.*
- Gregory of Nyssa. The Life of Moses. Paulist, 1978. ISBN:
9780809121120, $21.95.
- St. Benedict. The Rule of St. Benedict. Anthony C. Meisel, ed.
Doubleday/Image Books, 1975. ISBN: 9780385009485, $7.95.*
- Bernard of Clairvaux. St. Bernard: Selected Works. Paulist, 1987.
ISBN: 9780809129171, $22.95.
- Julian. Julian of Norwich: Showings. Paulist, 1978. ISBN:
0809120917, $22.95.*
- Luther, Martin. Three Treatises. Augsburg Fortress, 1990. ISBN:
9780800616397 $16.00.*
- Calvin, John. Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life. Baker,
2004. ISBN: 9780801065286, $8.99.*
- Teresa of Avila. The Interior Castle. Paulist, 1979. ISBN:
9780809122547, $21.95.*
- Wesley, John. A Plain Account of Christian Perfection. Epworth,
2007. ISBN: 9780716206309, $12.99.*
- Thurman, Howard. Jesus and the Disinherited. Beacon Press, 1996.
ISBN: 9780807010297, $15.00.
- Mother Teresa: Contemplative in the Heart of the World. Angela
Devanda, ed. Fount, 1986. ISBN: 978006270737, $12.99.
- Tutu, Desmond. Made for Goodness and Why This Makes all the
Difference. HarperOne, 2010. ISBN: 9780061706592, $25.99.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
- Regular attendance and participation in all aspects of the course including
active involvement in a small group (10%).
- Attendance at a six-hour retreat plus reflection paper (10%).
- Personal engagement in weekly spiritual exercises with journal reflections
(20%).
- Three seven-page papers based on the lectures and required readings alone;
each paper will examine aspects of the traditions and practices of one of the
four main areas of study with applications for the church today (20%
each).
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets program requirement for MAT, MATM, MACL
(2010) or MA requirement in Foundational Spirituality (FSP, SP2, or SPIR).
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (August 2010)