Module THMN1137: Christian Spirituality

Department: Theology and Ministry

THMN1137: Christian Spirituality

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To give students an appreciation of the richness of our common spiritual heritage, its development through the centuries and its relevance to the world we are called to serve.

Content

• The course will provide a basic introduction to the nature of Christian spirituality, prayer and mysticism. Whilst recognising the unique heritage of each institution, the course will cover a selection of the major writers on Christian Spirituality, and their respective traditions, beginning with the spiritual developments within the early Christian communities and ending with present day authors (although not necessarily being taught in historical order). At the same time, it will cover as many as possible of the major themes that emerge in Christian spirituality as they pertain to the spiritual life.
• Traditions:
• Desert Fathers & Mothers
• Monastic
• Celtic
• Franciscan
• Carmelites
• Ignatian
• Reformed
• Evangelical & Charismatic
• Denominational: Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, Orthodox, etc
• Themes:
• Prayer and scripture - lectio divina, imaginative meditation
• Prayer in the desert - prayer as struggle & the dark night of the soul
• Prayer and mission Prayer and the Spirit Psychology of spirituality
• Prayer, community and the sacraments
• Prayer in the modern world (e.g., eco-spirituality, prayer and justice)
• Ways of praying: e.g., icons, Jesus prayer, etc
• Spiritual direction, retreats & pilgrimages
• Contemporary trends and future developments

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the course students will:
• Have a deeper understanding of prayer and of the spiritual resources of the Christian traditions
• Be able to demonstrate a critical knowledge of earlier generations of Christians as they received and experienced their vocation

• Have reflected on their own experience of vocation, identity and spirituality;
• Have a deeper appreciation of their participation in the mission of the Church

• Be able to make links between their developing lives of prayer and their academic and pastoral courses.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• 14 hours contact time in lecture and seminars

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

In-class exercise