Content

This unit explores the nature of Christian spirituality from a Lutheran perspective. Attention is given to how spirituality is affected by personal experience and context and how this in turn is expressed in both beliefs and practices. The unit examines the key elements and emphases of Lutheran spirituality and explores a number of personal and corporate spiritual disciplines as well as various traditions in Christian spirituality. The unit concludes with an analysis of secular spirituality today.

Unit code: CT8121L

Unit status: Archived (New unit)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Foundational

Unit discipline: Systematic Theology

Delivery Mode: Online

Proposing College: Australian Lutheran College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Outline different aspects of Christian spirituality

2.

Examine at least one significant tradition of Christian spirituality and identify the potential benefits of this tradition for the student’s own spirituality

3.

Contrast the key elements and emphases of Lutheran spirituality with other forms of Christian spirituality

4.

Analyse common elements of secular spirituality today

5.

Critically reflect on their own personal spirituality in light of learnings from the unit

Pedagogy

Learner-centred approach, incorporating strategies such as lectures, group discussion and debate, reporting on weekly set readings, visual representation of ideas by students, personal reflection and brainstorming.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Bouma, Gary. Australian soul: religion and spirituality in the twenty-first century. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2006.
  • Collins, Kenneth, ed. Exploring Christian spirituality: an ecumenical reader. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000.
  • Foster, Richard. Streams of living water: celebrating the great traditions of the Christian faith. London: Harper Collins, 1999.
  • Hanson, Bradley. A graceful life: Lutheran spirituality for today. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg, 2000.
  • Howard, Evan B. The Brazos introduction to Christian spirituality. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2008.
  • Kleinig, John. Grace upon grace: spirituality for today. St Louis, MO: Concordia, 2007.
  • Mackay, Hugh. Beyond belief: how we find meaning, with or without religion. Sydney, NSW: Pan Macmillan Australia, 2016.
  • Sheldrake, Phillip. Spirituality: a brief history. 2nd ed. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2013.
  • Slee, Nicola. Faith and feminism: an introduction to Christian feminist theology. London, UK: Darton, Longman & Todd, 2003.
  • Stjerna, Kirsi, and Brooks Schramm, eds. Spirituality: towards a 21st century Lutheran understanding. Rev. ed. Minneapolis, MN: Lutheran University Press, 2004.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay

Essay 2000 words

2000 30.0
Essay

Essay 3500 words

3500 50.0
Reflection

Summative Reflection 1500 words

1500 20.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 26 Sep, 2019

Unit record last updated: 2020-10-05 11:27:36 +1100