spiritual development student syllabus
SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT STUDENT SYLLABUS Lay Study Program Winter, 2016 Rev. Trudy U. Pettibone, Instructor This class will last for ten (10) weeks, beginning on January 12, 2016 and ending on March 15, 2016. Classes will begin at 7:00 p.m. and last for two (2) hours and will be held on line. Within the understanding and experience of the instructor, Spiritual Development is not a text book class like Theology or Old Testament. Spiritual Development is something which has to be experienced, and class sessions will be geared toward this experientialism, along with text book study and discussion. The mandatory text is Richard J. Foster’s Celebration of Discipline, published by Harper Collins. We will be using the 1998 edition. Additionally, I would recommend that each student obtain a one-year subscription to Weavings, A Journal of the Christian Spiritual Life. This is published by Upper Room, and print versions as well as on-line versions can be obtained. This little quarterly has been very influential in helping the instructor understand different viewpoints of spirituality and the Christian life. Additionally, a bibliography of recommended reading accompanies this syllabus and there is an informative bibliography in the back of the text. Each student will be required to do a research paper on some aspect of the spiritual life. The paper might examine the life of one believed to be a spiritual “giant” in history. It might also delve more deeply into one of the aspects discussed, or serve as an overview to a topic not discussed within the class. The latter would be preferred, as the idea is to get the student to interact with all areas of spiritual life, not only those discussed in class. The chosen theme for the paper will be submitted on January 26. The research papers will be due by March 1, 2016. Each student will also be required to keep a journal during the class term. The journal will help the students measure spiritual growth and development in their own lives. We will discuss journal entries in each class. Spiritual development is a very personal thing, and there will of course be things you might not be willing to share, and this will be understood. Sharing what is going on in our spiritual life, however, and hearing what is happening in the lives of others are both aspects of growing in our spiritual life. Course Schedule Session 1 January 12: Introduction; Discussion of Journal; What is Spirituality; What Spiritual disciplines are practiced?; Why is it necessary to study Spiritual Development in a Lay Studies class?; Required Reading (all are from Foster’s book). Readings should be done before class: Chapter 2: Meditation, Page 15, and Chapter 7: Solitude, Page 96.
Session 2 January 19: Discussion of Journal entries for the week; Discussion of prayer practices engaged in and hoped to be engaged in; Required Reading: Chapter 3: Prayer, Page 33, and Chapter 8: Submission, Page 110. Session 3 January 26: Submission of research paper topics; Discussion of journal entries; Discussion of fasting experiences; Required Reading: Chapter 4: Fasting, Page 47. Session 4 February 2: Discussion of Journal Entries; a review of study habits; Required Reading: Chapter 5: Study, Page 62. Session 5 February 9: Discussion of Journal Entries; Overview of Outward Disciplines; Required Reading: Chapter 6: Simplicity, Page 79. Session 6 February 16: Discussion of Journal Entries; Review of areas of service of students; Information on how to submit research papers; Required Reading: Chapter 9: Service, Page 126. Session 7 February 23: Discussion of Journal Entries; Discussion of elements of confession and use among students; Discussion of possible upcoming celebration; Required Reading: Chapter 10: Confession, Page 143. Session 8 March 1: Discussion of Journal Entries; Research Paper submission due date (should be in instructor’s possession at this point); Discussion of types of worship services among students; Required Reading: Chapter 11: Worship, Page 158. Session 9 March 8: Discussion of Journal Entries; Required Reading: Chapter 12: Guidance, Page 175. Session 10 March 15: Discussion of Journal Entries; Discussion of favorite ways of celebration; Required Reading: Chapter 13: Celebration, Page 190. The class of Spiritual Development has ended. Thank you for your participation. Each class session will also offer opportunities for discussion of other reading done by students and instructor that impacts the topic for that particular week.
Session 2 January 19: Discussion of Journal entries for the week; Discussion of prayer practices engaged in and hoped to be engaged in; Required Reading: Chapter 3: Prayer, Page 33, and Chapter 8: Submission, Page 110. Session 3 January 26: Submission of research paper topics; Discussion of journal entries; Discussion of fasting experiences; Required Reading: Chapter 4: Fasting, Page 47. Session 4 February 2: Discussion of Journal Entries; a review of study habits; Required Reading: Chapter 5: Study, Page 62. Session 5 February 9: Discussion of Journal Entries; Overview of Outward Disciplines; Required Reading: Chapter 6: Simplicity, Page 79. Session 6 February 16: Discussion of Journal Entries; Review of areas of service of students; Information on how to submit research papers; Required Reading: Chapter 9: Service, Page 126. Session 7 February 23: Discussion of Journal Entries; Discussion of elements of confession and use among students; Discussion of possible upcoming celebration; Required Reading: Chapter 10: Confession, Page 143. Session 8 March 1: Discussion of Journal Entries; Research Paper submission due date (should be in instructor’s possession at this point); Discussion of types of worship services among students; Required Reading: Chapter 11: Worship, Page 158. Session 9 March 8: Discussion of Journal Entries; Required Reading: Chapter 12: Guidance, Page 175. Session 10 March 15: Discussion of Journal Entries; Discussion of favorite ways of celebration; Required Reading: Chapter 13: Celebration, Page 190. The class of Spiritual Development has ended. Thank you for your participation. Each class session will also offer opportunities for discussion of other reading done by students and instructor that impacts the topic for that particular week.
