The module aims to enable students to:

(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

Learning Outcomes of the module

 By the time you finish the course, you should be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding:

1. Understand the way to approach an historical text and be able to offer an historical introduction to several examples of Christian devotional literature.

2. Identify some of the various ways of approaching Christian spirituality and define for yourself what spirituality means.

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:

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

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

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

11. Use It skills to  enhance learning and understanding

12. Give some account of their own beliefs, commitments and prejudices

informal and formal lectures

-        small group enquiry, discussion and feedback

-        prepared student contributions in module meetings

-        teacher initiated discussion

-        printed material

On completion of the module a student will be able to:

1. Understand the way to approach an historical text and be able to offer an historical introduction to several examples of Christian devotional literature.

2. Identify some of the various ways of approaching Christian spirituality and define for yourself what spirituality means.

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.

5. Appreciate the wide variety of interpretations of Christian experience

How the module will be assessed

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 1/2 hours in length.

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

SYLLABUS CONTENT:

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.

 Dorothy Day,  Loaves and Fishes or The Long Loneliness

 The aim of this session is to look at the way Christian spirituality  addresses need and engages  life in the world.

 . Henri Nouwen, Reaching Out

 The aim of this session is to explore the significance of the community for Christian  Spirituality. 

 Dietrich Bonhoeffer  - Life Together and Letters and Papers from  Prison  - The aim of this session is to examine some themes which emerge in Bonhoeffer’s writings, particularly his understanding  of a  ‘polyphonic Christ’. ( led by Mr Craig Gardiner)

 Martin Luther King Jr,  Complete Writings

 The aim of this essay is to explore justice and  Christian spirituality.

Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation

The aim of this session is to explore the idea of prayer and contemplation.

 Jean Vanier, Community and Growth

The aim of this session is to look at community which embraces people. We will look especially at the idea of wholeness and the nature of community.

 Teilhard de Chardin. Le Milieu Divin.  and Hymn Of the Universe. The aim of this session is to examine Teilhard’s vision of God known in and through all things.

. Dag Hammerskold, Markings The aim of this session is to look at the political and practical  dimensions of Christian spirituality.

A Testament of Devotion  The aim of this session is to examine Kelly’s understanding  of life from the Divine centre.

 Evelyn Underhill, Mysticism. The aim of this session is to look at the recovery of a mystical tradition in the thought of Evelyn Underhill.

 William and Catherine Booth, In Darkest England and the Way Out  The aim of this session is to explore the practical  dimension  of spirituality as understood by the founders of the Salvation Army.

 John Woolman, Journal.  The aim of this session is explore  Woolman’s understanding of the ethical  dimension to Christian Spirituality

John Wesley, Journal.

 The aim of this session is examine Wesley’s understanding of an experience of grace and examine ‘methods’ for promoting growth. We will also explore the role of community in offering spiritual guidance.

 John Bunyan, A Pilgrim’s Progress or Grace Abounding

The aim of this session is to explore Bunyan’s idea of an experience of grace and to look at the idea of growth and development as depicted in the concept of pilgrimage

Richard Baxter, A Saints Everlasting Rest

 The aim of this session is to examine some themes in Puritan spirituality.

William Law, A Serious Call to A Devout and Holy Life

 The aim of this session is to explore Law’s understanding of a holy life.

Jeremy Taylor, The Rules and Exercises of Holy Living and Holy Dying -  The aim of this session is to examine some themes in Taylor’s approach  to spirituality.

Martin Luther, Letters of Spiritual Counsel The aim of this session is to begin to explore some key ideas in Luther’s understanding of the spiritual life.

Anabaptist Spirituality 

The aim of this session is to explore some major themes in the Anabaptist tradition. We will look particularly at the emphasis they placed  on suffering and martyrdom.

Aumann, Jordan, Christian Spirituality in the Catholic Tradition, 1985.

Baelz, Peter, Prayer and Providence ( London: SCM: 1968).

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

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

Bryant, Christopher.  The River Within. 1978.

___________________. Jung and the Christian Way. 1983.

Bloom, Anthony. School for Prayer. 1970.

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Life Together. 1949.

___________________. Letters and Papers from Prison. 1953.

___________________. The Cost of Discipleship. 1937.

 Byrne, Lavinia,  Women Before God ( London SPCK, 1988)

 Day, Dorothy. The Long Loneliness. 1952.

___________. On Pilgrimage, 1948.

___________. Selected Writings, 1997.

Foster, Richard. Freedom of Simplicity. 1981.

_______________. Celebration of Discipline.1980.

Fowler. James,  Stages of Faith. 1976.

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

Gibbard, Mark. Guides to Hidden Springs. 1979.

_____________. Twentieth Century Men of Prayer. 1974.

Gustavez Gutierrez. We Drink From Our Own Wells. 1984.

__________________. The God Of Life. 1991.

Hinson, E. Glenn. Seekers after a Mature Faith.

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

______________. Spirituality for Ministry. 1982.

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

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

Kelly, Thomas R. A Testament of Devotion. 1941.

King, Ursula, Women and Spirituality: Voices  of  Protest  and Promise, 2^nd ed.

(Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1993)

 Leech, Kenneth, Soul Friend, 1977.

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

Merton, Thomas Contemplative Prayer. 1973.

_____________. Thoughts in Solitude. 1958.

_____________. Seven Story Mountain. 1949.

Mursell, Gordon, English Spirituality from 1700 to the Present Day,  SPCK, 2001

Nouwen, Henri. Reaching Out. 1975

_____________. A Cry for Mercy.1981

_____________. The Wounded Healer. 1972

_____________. Creative Ministry. 1971.

Sheldrake, Philip, Images of Holiness: Explorations in Contemporary 

Spirituality, 1988

______________. Spirituality  and History, 1995

______________. Befriending  Our Desires

Steere, Douglas. Dimensions of Prayer. 1962.

Teilhard de Chardin. Le Milieu Divin. 1964.

___________________. Hymn Of the Universe.1961.

Underhill, Evelyn. Mysticism. 1911.

Vanier, Jean, Community and Growth

__________.  Be Not Afraid, 1993.

__________. Becoming Human.1999.

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

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

Williams, Rowan. The Wound of Knowledge.