THL434 Spiritual Direction in the Christian Tradition (8)

CSU Discipline Area: Theology (THEOL)

Duration: One session

Abstract:

This subject introduces the nature and practice of spiritual direction. It examines the tradition of spiritual direction as a way of listening, discernment, and responding to God and others. It provides historical background, and an overview of different approaches to spirituality in the Christian tradition. It considers techniques of prayer and meditation and the process of spiritual direction. Personal qualities of a good director are discussed and practised, and the spiritual dimension in pastoral counselling is explored.

+ Subject Availability Modes and Locations

Session 2
Distance *	Canberra

*This subject offering contains a residential school. Please view following information for further details.

Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: THL434

Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:

be able to outline and discuss the ministry of spiritual direction and the place it holds within contemporary Christian churches;
be able to reflect critically on their own experience of the spiritual life;
be able to examine and discuss a variety of historical models of spiritual direction from the Christian tradition;
be able to outline and evaluate the spiritual dimension in pastoral counselling;
be able to outline and evaluate their own understanding of the ministry of spiritual direction in various contexts, eg. suffering;
be able to discuss various techniques of prayer and meditation in the Christian tradition; and
be able to demonstrate research, writing and communication skills.

Syllabus:

The subject will cover the following topics:

- major spiritual writers and schools of spirituality in the Christian tradition - techniques of prayer which may include: scriptural models, journalling, labyrinth, liturgy, images, dreams, art, and meditation - the ministry of spiritual direction in the Christian tradition, its practice, principles, theology, discernment, retreat leading and qualities required for a good director - practical issues of supervision, ethics, record keeping and physical surroundings

Residential School

This subject contains a compulsory 3 day residential school.

The purpose of the residential school is: - to provide opportunity for discussion about the meaning of the spiritual life both personal and contemporary as well as historical examples. This will consolidate knowledge gained from the readings. Activities include: - students present a short paper on a person of prayer - various ways of praying - the development of practical listening skills in triads

Back