Fall 2013/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 (1) understand the relationship between the spiritual traditions and the spiritual practices of the leading Christian confessions; (2) explore and experience various spiritual disciplines and practices from these traditions; (3) develop a deeper understanding of one particular school of spirituality; (4) 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, 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: 978-0895267030, Pub. Price $10.95.*

St. Benedict. The Rule of St. Benedict. Anthony C. Meisel, ed. Doubleday/Image Books, 1975. ISBN: 978-0385009485, Pub. Price $8.99.*

Bernard of Clairvaux. St. Bernard: Selected Works. Paulist, 1987. ISBN: 978-0809129171, Pub. Price $24.95.

Calvin, John. Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life. Baker, 2004. ISBN: 978-0801065286, Pub. Price $8.99.*

Gregory of Nyssa. The Life of Moses. Paulist, 1978. ISBN: 978-0809121120, Pub. Price $21.95.

Julian. Julian of Norwich: Showings. Paulist, 1977. ISBN: 978-0809120918, Pub. Price $24.95.*

Luther, Martin. Three Treatises. Augsburg Fortress, 1990. ISBN: 978-0800616397, Pub. Price $22.00.*

Mother Teresa: In the Heart of the World. Angela Devanda, ed. New World Library, 2010. ISBN: 978-1577319009, Pub. Price $12.99.

Teresa of Avila. The Interior Castle. Paulist, 1979. ISBN: 978-0809122547, Pub. Price $22.95.*

Thurman, Howard. Jesus and the Disinherited. Beacon Press, 1996. ISBN: 978-0807010297, Pub. Price $15.00.

Tutu, Desmond. Made for Goodness and Why This Makes all the Difference. HarperOne, 2010. ISBN: 978-0061706592, Pub. Price $25.99.

Wesley, John. A Plain Account of Christian Perfection. Epworth, 2007. ISBN: 978-0716206309, Pub. Price $12.99.*

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Regular attendance and participation in all aspects of the course including active involvement in a small group (10%).
  2. Attendance at a six-hour retreat plus reflection paper (10%).
  3. Personal engagement in weekly spiritual exercises with journal reflections (20%).
  4. 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, MAIS (2010); meets the following MA spirituality requirements: FSP, SP2, or SPIR.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.


NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.