This course will examine devotional literature of the Christian Church in order to explore some of the major themes in the history of Christian Spirituality. Attention will be given to the nature and development of spirituality with reference to selected texts from the western Christian tradition. The shape of Christian Spirituality will be traced from the New Testament period to the beginning of the Reformation

(1)  critically explore and identify key aspects of  Christian spirituality

(2)  to introduce and critically engage with some  texts from the Christian  tradition

(3)   critically examine a variety of approaches to Christian spirituality 

(4)   identify and critically reflect on examine  how spirituality  may be shaped by such variables as  personality, tradition and context

(5)  Examine the historical context for the development of different spiritual writers

 -      informal and formal lectures

• small group enquiry, discussion and  feedback
• prepared student contributions in module  meetings
• teacher  initiated discussion

-      printed material

Intellectual Skills:

3. Critically evaluate some of the different ways of understanding Christian experience.

4. Critically examine some of the insights of some devotional writers in the Christian tradition and appreciate the wide variety of interpretations of Christian experience.

Discipline Specific (including practical) Skills:

5. Represent their own views and those of others sensitively and  intelligently with fairness  and integrity

6. Expound some understanding of the need to examine the development and expression of religious belief within its particular historical context.

7. Offer an explanation and analysis of historical background

Transferable Skills:

Communicate information, ideas, perceptions, arguments, principles and theories by a variety of means written and oral.

Successfully reproduce, reflect upon and interact  with the experiences, ideas and  arguments of others

Critical engagement with  and reflection  on  the convictions  and  behaviours of others

Use It skills to  enhance learning and understanding

Give some account of their own beliefs, commitments and prejudices

Formative: two essays of 2,000 words. (one each term)

Summative:This course is examined by an essay of 2000 words and an examination of 1.5 hours in length.

The essay is 50% and the examination is 50% of the final mark.

The potential for reassessment in this module

As directed by the University timetable and regulations.

The focus for semester one will be a general introduction to the nature of Christian spirituality and an exploration of some important themes. In the second semester, students will engage the tradition by exploring the specific texts by Christian writers.

Spirituality or Spiritualities? 

The aim of this session is to provide a general introduction to the course and to begin to examine the many different ways of  approaching  Christian spirituality.

Expressions  of Christian Spirituality

The aim of this session is to note the various ways of interpreting  Christian experience.

Interpreting Spiritual Texts

The aim of this session is to talk about the way to interpret an historical text.

Christian Spirituality and the Bible

The aim of this session is to look at various biblical themes and explore the way they have shaped approaches to Christian spirituality.

Christian Spirituality as a life of  holy obedience

The aim of this session is to look at the beginnings of monastic life with special attention to the tradition of the Desert Fathers and Mothers

Christian Spirituality and the use of the Psalms

The aim of this session is to look at the way the Psalms have shaped the Christian understanding of an experience with God.

Christian Spirituality as a way of knowing or not knowing?

The aim of this session is to explore the ideas of some the early Christian mystics.

Christian Spirituality as a way of Life or a Way of worship

The aim of this session is to examine the role of the sacramental system in Christian spirituality in contrast to the idea that God is to be found in all of life .

Christian spirituality and the freedom of the believer

The aim is to begin to explore some of the issues relating to religious conformity and non-conformity. We will look specifically at some of the theological issues addressed in the Reformations.

Marks of Christian Spirituality

The aim of this session is to examine some of the historic, characteristic features of  Christian Spirituality.

Semester  II

In this semester we will explore some texts within the Christian tradition. The aim of each session is to examine a text and explore some of the ideas of the author.

St Augustine, Confessions

John Cassian

St Francis of Assisi

The Imitation of Christ

The Cloud of Unknowing

Richard Rolle

Mother Julian

Teresa of Avila

Ignatius Loyola

Reformation Spirituality

The set text for this course is: Karen E. Smith, SCM Core Text: Christian Spirituality, London, SCM, 2007.

Indicative Reading and Resource List:

Barton, Stephen. The Spirituality of the Gospels, 1992.

Bouyer, Louis. A History of Christian Spirituality. 3 Vols. 1960.

Cunningham, Lawrence S. and Keith J. Egan, Christian Spirituality, Themes from the Tradition, 1996.

Downey, Michael, Understanding Christian Spirituality,1997.

Francis, Leslie J. Personality Type and Scripture, 1997.

Holmes. Urban T, History of Christian Spirituality. 1981.

Holt, Bradley. A Brief History of Christian Spirituality, 1993.

Jones, Cheslyn and Geoffrey Wainwright and Edward Yarnold, The Study of Spirituality. 1986.

Johnston, William. Arise My Love, Mysticism for a New Era, 2000.

McGinn, Bernard and John Meyendorff and Jean Leclercq, Christian Spirituality, Vol. XVI, XVII, and XVIII, in World Spirituality, An Encyclopedic History of the Religious Quest, 1988.

McGrath, Alister E. Christian Spirituality, An Introduction, 1999

Mursell, Gordon. English Spirituality,  2 Vols  SPCK, 2001.

Pattison, Stephen and James Woodward, eds. The Blackwell Reader in Pastoral and Practical Theology Oxford, Blackwell, 2000.

 Sheldrake, Philip, Images of Holiness: Explorations in Contemporary Spirituality, 1988

______________. Spirituality  and History, 1995

 ______________. Befriending  Our Desires,1994

Waller, Ralph and Benedicta Ward, eds. An Introduction to Christian Spirituality, 1997.

Wakefield, Gordon S. A Dictionary of Christian Spirituality. 1983. Gordon S. Wakefield, Groundwork of  Christian Spirituality,2001.