Biblical Spirituality (BS9040W)

Postgraduate, 24.0 points

Content

This unit explores the spirituality of the Bible, bringing critical engagement with the biblical text into critical engagement with the lived experience of Christian faith. Topics covered include: how we read Scripture; the invitation of narrative; the prayer journey of the Psalms; justice, injustice and the ‘goodness’ of God; peace, destabilisation and the prophetic ‘voice’; wisdom and the good life; the Spirit and transformation.

Unit code: BS9040W

Unit status: Approved (New unit)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: Biblical Studies

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Whitley College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Reflect critically on a variety of key themes within the Bible, and how these have affected the life of the church
2.

Rigorously exegete and analyse selected biblical texts

3.

Relate critical reflection on biblical texts to their own spiritual development
4.

Develop a specific topic of research on a biblical theme in a critically rigorous manner
5.

Develop a case study in which biblical spirituality is brought into interaction with a particular area of ministry or life experience.

Unit sequence

Foundational unit in Biblical Studies

Pedagogy

Lectures; student-led seminars

Indicative Bibliography

  • Bowe, Barbara Ellen, Biblical foundations of spirituality: Touching a finger to the flame. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2003.
  • Brueggemann, Walter, An unsettling God: The heart of the Hebrew Bible. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2003.
  • Brueggemann, Walter, Spirituality of the Psalms. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2002.
  • Lincoln, Andrew, J. Gordon McConville, & Lloyd K. Pietersen (eds), The Bible and spirituality. Eugene: Cascade, 2013.
  • Niditch, Susan, The responsive self. New Haven/London: Yale University Press, 2015.
  • Rohr, Richard, Things hidden: Scripture as spirituality. Cincinnati: St Anthony Messenger, 2007.
  • Schneiders, Sandra, The revelatory text: Interpreting the New Testament as sacred Scripture. San Francisco: Harper SanFrancisco, 1991.
  • Thurston, Bonnie, Spiritual life in the early Church. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1993.
  • Turner, Mary Donovan, The God we seek: Portraits of God in the Old Testament. St Louis: Chalice, 2011.
  • Young, Francis, Brokenness and blessing: Towards a biblical spirituality. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Case Study

Case Study 4,500 words

 4500 60.0
Essay

Essay 3,500 words

 3500 40.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 27 Sep, 2019

Unit record last updated: 2019-11-08 14:38:04 +1100