Christian Spirituality: A Lutheran Perspective (DS8096L)

Postgraduate, 18.0 points

Content

This unit explores Christian spirituality from Lutheran perspectives. Attention is given to how spirituality is shaped by personal experience and context and how this 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: DS8096L

Unit status: Approved (New unit)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Foundational

Unit discipline: Spirituality

Proposing College: Australian Lutheran College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Critically examine a significant tradition of Christian spirituality and identify the potential benefits of this tradition for the student’s own spiritual practices
2.

Investigate the key elements and emphases of Lutheran spirituality

3.

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

Pedagogy

Online learning: Engagement with online learning materials, which may include audio/video, self-reflection tasks, forums, and asynchronous discussion with lecturer.

Face to Face learning: 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

  • Foster, Richard. Streams of living water: celebrating the great traditions of the Christian faith. London: Harper Collins, 2018.
  • Geweke, Deborah. 'Woven whole: Weaving Spirituality through a Lutheran epistemology and a liturgical hermeneutic.' Currents in Theology and Mission 36, no.4 (Aug 2009): pp264
  • 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.
  • Mackay, Hugh. Beyond belief: how we find meaning, with or without religion. Sydney, NSW: Pan Macmillan Australia, 2016.
  • Perin, David B. Studying Christian Spirituality. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Routledge, 2024.
  • Sheldrake, Phillip. A brief history of spirituality. 2nd ed. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2013.
  • Slee, Nicola. Faith and feminism: an introduction to Christian feminist theology. London, UK: Darton, Longman & Todd, 2003.
  • Smith Karen Elizabeth. Christian spirituality. London: SCM Press, 2007.
  • Stjerna, Kirsi, and Brooks Schramm, eds. Spirituality: towards a 21st century Lutheran understanding. Rev. ed. Minneapolis, MN: Lutheran University Press, 2004.
  • Veith, Gene E. The Spirituality of the cross: The way of the first evangelicals St Louis, MI: Concordia Publishing House, 1999.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Exegesis

Exegetical analysis of a prescribed performance

1200 20.0
Investigation

Investigate and report on key elements and emphases of Lutheran spirituality

 2800 50.0
Personal Reflection

Students reflect on their own spirituality

1500 30.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 6 Feb, 2025

Unit record last updated: 2025-02-06 10:43:17 +1100