Content: This unit will focus on understanding the significance and transformative role of the Bible for Christian spiritual growth. Key themes in the faith of ancient Israel and the early Christian communities will be explored through examining particular Biblical stories and bringing these into critical engagement with contemporary experiences of God. Such themes include: the experience of God in prayer; calling; grace, sin and forgiveness; suffering; hospitality and strangers; prophecy and power; reconciliation and the reign of God; conversion and transformation; community and hope.

Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this unit,
   students taking the unit as a Biblical studies (BS) unit will be able to:

1. reflect critically on a range of theological themes within the Bible
2. rigorously exegete specific texts
3. demonstrate awareness of major scholarly writing on the chosen themes
4. relate critical reflection on biblical texts to their own life experience and spiritual development

   students taking the unit as a spirituality (DS) unit will be able to:

1. reflect critically on a range of Biblical themes for their relevance to Christian Spirituality;
2. employ appropriate hermeneutical tools for interpreting Biblical texts in the light of today's socio-cultural context;
3. demonstrate and evaluate various interpretative approaches to Scripture and religious experience
4. relate critical reflection on biblical texts to their own life experience and spiritual development

 

   students taking the unit at fourth level unit will be able to:

1. reflect critically on a range of Biblical themes for their relevance to Christian Spirituality;
2. demonstrate and evaluate various interpretative approaches to Scripture and religious experience
3. relate critical reflection on biblical texts to their own life experience and spiritual development
4. develop a specific topic of research in a critically rigorous, and self-directed manner
5. demonstrate competence in the methodology of advanced research in the discipline of Spirituality

Pre-requisites:

Undergraduate -
             45 units in Field B
Graduate -
             15 points in foundational studies in Field D (preferably in Spirituality)
              and
             15 points in foundational studies in Field B

Teaching Methods: Seminar format

Contact Hours: Three hours per week over twelve weeks.

Assessment:

Undergraduate (3rd level)
      One 2500 word seminar paper 50 %
      One 2500 word essay 50 %
Graduate (3rd level)
      One 3000 word seminar paper 50 %
      One 3000 word essay 50 %
fourth level
       One 6000 word essay 100%

 

Offered: Semester One, 2012 (Thursdays 10.00am - 1.00pm)

Faculty: Tim McCowan, Merryl Blair

Recommended reading:

Barton, S. C. The Spirituality of the Gospels. London: SPCK, 1992.
Bowe, B. E. Biblical Foundations of Spirituality. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2003.
Brueggemann, W. Peace. St. Louis, Mo.: Chalice Press, 2001.
L'Heureux, C. E. Life Journey and the Old Testament. Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1986.
Schneiders, S. M. The Revelatory Text: Interpreting the New Testament as Sacred Scripture. San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 1991.
Williams, R. The Wound of Knowledge: Christian Spirituality from the New Testament to St. John of the Cross. 2nd rev. ed. Cambridge, Mass.: Cowley Publ., 1991.
* Young, F. Brokenness and Blessing: Towards a Biblical Spirituality. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007.