Christian Spirituality: An Introduction

Spirituality, the search for personal meaning, fulfillment, and transcendence, attracts many people today.  This unit considers the factors that give rise to such interest and the nature of spirituality generally.  It examines the distinctive tradition of Christian Spirituality through a detailed study of some classical writings in the history of Christian spirituality, especially the Bible.  This unit explores the unique role of the Christian tradition in providing a framework for individual and societal meaning and the nurturing of personal relationship with God.

When & Where Offered

Offered in Semester 1 2008 as a face to face class at Macquarie University.
Note: A weekend retreat is a compulsory component of this unit.

Lecturers

Dr. Stuart Piggin, B.A. (Hons), Dip.Ed., University of Sydney; Ph.D., A.K.C., University of London; B.D., Melbourne College of Divinity; D.Litt., London School of Religion

  • Head of the Centre for the History of Christian Thought and Experience;
  • Founding Director, Macquarie Christian Studies Institute;
  • Senior Research Fellow, Department of History, Macquarie University.

Kara Martin, B.A. (Comm), M. Com.

  • Past Director of the School of Christian Studies, Robert Menzies College;
  • Facilitator, Consultant, Reviewer.

Unit Code and Details

IN418 (MCSI 211/311) Christian Spirituality: An Introduction
This unit is equivalent to a standard semester unit at advanced level.  For example it is worth:
3 credit points at 200* level towards Maccquarie University undergraduate degrees
4 credit points at 400 level towards Australian College of Theology undergraduate degrees.

For advice on how to credit this subject to other institutions please contact our advisor.

*Note: from January 2008 MCSI units are no longer able to be credited at 300 level towards Macquarie Degree programs.  Students enrolling in this unit will receive 3 credit points at 200 level.

Prerequisites: the equivalent of 6 months (1 semester) full time study (4 subjects) of university level study should be completed before enrolling in this subject.   (Students not meeting this prerequisite can request permission from MCSI Dean to enrol) 


It is recommended but not required that students have completed either or both of:

Worldview Survey: IN301 (MCSI 100) or
Bible Survey: IN302: (MCSI 101)


Unit Content /Lecture Topics

1. What is Christian Spirituality?
2. Journaling and Retreats
Retreat: ‘Becoming who you are: The Spirituality of Transformation'.
3. Psalms: Learning with David how to speak with God.  Text:  Eugene Peterson, Answering God
4. Jesus and ‘Lectio Divina'.  Text:  Tom Wright, Following Jesus
5. Monastic Spirituality. Text:  Augustine, Confessions
    Monasticism and the Celtic spirituality of creation and incarnation
6. Hildegard von Bingen
    Francis of Assisi and nature mysticism. Text:  Brother Ramon, Franciscan Spirituality
7. Catherine of Sienna:  meditation and service
    Ignatius Loyola and practical mysticism.  Text:  Ignatius,  Spiritual Exercises
8. Luther and the spirituality of word
    The Puritans:  Vitality with order.  Text:  John Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress or Holy War (Libby)
9. Pietism and Evangelicalism:  True Heart Religion.  Text:  McDermott, Seeing God
10. C.S. Lewis:  Finding light in shadow lands.  Text:  C.S. Lewis, Till we have faces or A Grief Observed
11. Bonhoeffer:  Passion for Truth. Text:  Bonhoeffer, Life Together or Cost of Discipleship 
     Henri Nouwen:  Solitude and Service.  Text:  Nouwen,  Reaching Out
12. Mother Teresa:  for ‘the Poorest of the Poor'
13. Celebration and Evaluation


Assessment 

Assessment is based assessed on four tasks:
1.            1,500 word Journal (10%--pass or fail)
2.            1,000 word Retreat Report (20%)
3.            1,000 Book Report (you will be marked on your oral presentation on the days in which you deliver the reports) (20%)
4.            2,500 word Essay (50%)


Texts and Readings 

Required Reader:  Available from MCSI Office
Recommended Text: Holt, Bradley P. A Brief History of Christian Spirituality. Oxford: Lion, 1997.

Texts Used for Book Reports:

Augustine, Confessions, Whitaker House, 1996
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich, Cost of Discipleship
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich, Life Together, Harper Collins, 1954
Lewis, C.S., A Grief Observed, Faber and Faber, Boston, 1961
Lewis C.S., Till we have faces, Fount, Harper Collins, London, 1998
Loyola, Ignatius, The Spiritual Exercises and Selected Works, Paulist Press, New York, 1991
McDermott, Gerald, Seeing God:  Twelve Reliable Signs of True Spirituality, IVP, Downers Grove, 1995
Nouwen, Henri, Reaching Out:  The Three movements of the Spiritual life, Double Day, New York, 1975
Peterson, Eugene, Under the Unpredictable Plant, Grand Rapids, Michigan, W.B. Eerdmans, 1992
Peterson, Eugene, Answering God:  The Psalms as Tools for Prayer, Harper Collins, 1989
Piper, John, Future Grace, Multnomah, Oregon, 1995
Ramon, Brother, Franciscan Spirituality:  Following St Francis Today, SPCK, 1994
Wright, Tom, Following Jesus: Biblical Reflections on Discipleship, SPCK, 1994