Spring 2012/Pasadena
CN535
Augsburger
CN535: GRIEF, LOSS, DEATH AND DYING. David Augsburger.
DESCRIPTION: The nature of human suffering, the problem of theodicy, the
meaning of pain, the mystery of healing, and the discovery of hope will be
theological and experiential themes central to the course. Grief, pain, loss,
separation, death and dying--the major crises of life--will be explored
experientially, psychologically and culturally. The focus will be on personal
growth as the preparation for pastoral presence, care-giving and counseling.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The major opportunities for pastoral care
emerge from loss, pain, grief, death and the encounter with dying, support in
crisis and loss, and offering a constructive theology of suffering that faces
the problem of theodicy in pastoral theology.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon completion of this course, the participants will have
(1) encountered the reality of their mortality; (2) reflected deeply on the
need for thoughtful completion of life pilgrimage; (3) articulated the multiple
processes of grieving loss, encountering death, supporting the bereaved; and
(4) deepened skills in empathy and embodying incarnational presence.
COURSE FORMAT: The course offers both content and process: understanding the
nature of loss experiences, of grieving, of encountering the reality of dying,
of ministry in each of these crises and owning, facing, exploring and
embracing our own losses. Lecture and experiential process will be parts of the
whole experience of correlating theology and therapy. The class will meet once
a week for a three-hour session.
REQUIRED READING (*the first three and the last are for purchase):
- *Albom, Mitch. Tuesdays with Morrie. New York: Doubleday,
1997. ISBN: 0385484518. $13.99.
- *Anderson, Ray S. Theology of Death and Dying. New York: Basil,
Blackwell, and Sons, 1986. ISBN: 0631148469/77. $18.00.
- *Becker, Ernest. The Denial of Death. New York: Free Press, 1973.
ISBN: 0029021502. $15.99.
- Cobb, John. Matters of Life and Death. Louisville:
Westminster/John Knox, 1991. ISBN/ISSN: 0664251692. $30.00.
- Davidson, Glen. Understanding Mourning. Minneapolis: Augsburg,
1984. ISBN/ISSN: 0806614684. $5.94.
- Lester, Andrew. Hope in Pastoral Care and Counseling.
Louisville: Westminster, 1995. ISBN/ISSN: 0664255884. $22.89.
- Lewis, C. S. A Grief Observed. New York: Seabury Press, 1963.
ISBN/ISSN: 006065273X. $8.03.
- Sittser, Gerald. A Grace Disguised. Grand Rapids: Zondervan,
1996. ISBN: 0310202302. $9.35.
- Soelle, Dorothy, Suffering. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1975.
ISBN/ISSN: 0800604199. $20.00.
- Viorst, Judith. Necessary Losses. New York: Fawcett, 1986.
ISBN/ISSN: 0671456555. $10.88.
- *Wolterstorff, Nicholas. Lament for a Son. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,
1987. ISBN: 080280294X. $12.00.
RECOMMENDED READING: A broad bibliography is in the syllabus.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
- 1500 pages reading minimum
- Class participation in lectures and experiential processes
- A personal self-expression in journaling, composition, poetry, art,
photography, sculpture
- A written project of a chosen genre--a biblical, philosophical or
theological paper on a specific theme from this area of concentration
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets the MDiv core requirement in Pastoral
Counseling (MIN 5).
FINAL EXAMINATION: Process Examination.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (January 2012)