CH517
Bradley
CH517: WESTERN SPIRITUALITY. James Bradley.
DESCRIPTION:
- A survey of the practice of piety in the Roman Catholic, Reformed,
and Arminian traditions, with a focus upon the distinctive theology of each.
"Spirituality" is understood to encompass both the inward activity of the
spiritual disciplines and the outward activity of social involvement (Matt.
6:6; James 1:27). Therefore, in all three traditions the relation of
justification to sanctification, of faith to works, will receive detailed
attention. The course will examine the thought and piety of such notable
figures as Augustine, Gregory the Great, and Margery Kemp; Luther, Calvin, and
John Bunyan; George Fox, Margaret Fell, and John Wesley.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
- Christians in different ages and cultures have understood
spirituality in different terms, and the disciplines of piety have varied
almost as dramatically as theology. Through a comparative historical method,
this course will foster critical discernment regarding the nature of Christian
spirituality. It will encourage empathy for other traditions of piety, and
commitment to one's own.
COURSE FORMAT:
- The class will meet two hours twice a week for lectures and
discussion.
REQUIRED READING:
- Augustine. Confessions. Penguin, 1961.
- Calvin, John. Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life. Baker,
1975.
- Luther, Martin. Three Treatises. Fortress, 1970.
- Tavard, George. Justification: An Ecumenical Study. Paulist, 1983.
- Toon, Peter. Justification and Sanctification. Crossway, 1983.
- Wesley, John. Christian Perfection. Mimeograph.
- Williams, Rowan. Christian Spirituality. John Knox, 1979.
- In addition, there will also be several short works on reserve as
required reading.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Three papers of five to seven pages each which integrate the
assigned reading and lectures will be due at the end of the fifth, eighth, and
eleventh weeks of class. The first paper will focus upon Roman Catholic
spirituality; the second and third papers will examine the relation of Roman
Catholic to Reformed, and Reformed to Arminian spirituality, respectively. The
grade for the course will rest upon these three papers.
PREREQUISITES:
- None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:
- Meets the M.A.T. requirement in Spirituality (SPIR).
FINAL EXAMINATION:
- None.