T8192 – Contemplative, Charismatic, Visionary Experiences
Unit Code
T8191
Unit Name
Contemplative, Charismatic, Visionary Experiences
Unit Weighting
9 Credit Points
Type of Unit
Specialised
Prerequisites, corequisites or exclusions
9 credit points of a Theology unit (i.e “Introduction to Theology” or “Church Fathers: An Introduction”)
Academic Staff
Very Rev. Dr Doru Costache, BTh (Bucharest 1993), PhD (Bucharest 2000), Associate Professor
Background and Context
Contemporary people look for ways of counteracting the pressures and stress of duty, information overload, and social life. As a result, meditation and other spiritual practices are becoming more widespread as people search for serenity. But, in the absence of a tradition as a context for validation, it is difficult to ascertain the effects of such practices on a long run. The Christian spiritual tradition has its own ways of addressing issues such as stress, burnout, fatigue, despondency etc. It also has the advantage of having assessed the outcomes of relevant practices through the ages. This unit discusses techniques of nature contemplation (Clement, Athanasius) and scriptural anagogical reading (Origen, Evagrius), together with measurements of these practices from the viewpoint of their anthropological efficacy in terms of “divine sense-perception” (Athanasius, Diadochus, Maximus), dreaming and visions (Antony, Athanasius, Evagrius), and other charismatic experiences, such as the “burning heart” (miscellaneous philokalic authors). The unit suggests ways of integrating techniques of scriptural and natural contemplation into the contemporary quest for serenity, against the backdrop of Eastern and Oriental Christian spiritual traditions.
Curriculum Objectives
This graduate course unit examines patristic witnesses of Christian wisdom traditions, with aview to identifying spiritual exercises applicable to contemporary challenges related to stress, the quest for serenity, and personal progress. It enables students to appreciate the usefulness of patristic spiritual practices for the restoration and enrichment of life.
Learning Outcomes & Threshold Concepts
At the end of this course unit, students should be able to:
1. Understand patristic spiritual exercises within their historical context
2. Display a solid grasp of the relevant literature, primary and secondary
3. Evaluate the place of spiritual exercises within the broader patristic tradition
4. Critically analyse the relevant primary sources within the framework of scholarship
5. Assess the relevance of patristic spiritual exercises to contemporary Christian experience.
During this course unit, students may acquire the following threshold concept. This concept is fundamental to a proper understanding of the unit or course. It is essential for further progress in the discipline. It is often troublesome for students.
Spiritual practices were central to the early Christian and the medieval patristic traditions. They can prove to be effective within our circumstances, alleviating stress, fostering serenity, and contributing to personal progress.
Content and Learning Activities
1. The stresses of contemporary life
2. Ancient spiritual exercises and patristic spiritual practices
3. Introducing the relevant literature
4. Traditional spiritual practices
5. Measuring spiritual progress
6. Spiritual practices in an age of stress and anxiety
