Annie Dillard, in her book The Writing Life, reflects on the discovery and illumination that happens when we write "lines of words" on a page. In this course, we will explore how imagination, revealed in words and lines of words, can deepen faith and spiritual experience.
Writing as a practice encourages creativity while, paradoxically, also engenders particular procedures or disciplines that writers use. We will read - and write - poetry, song/hymn lyrics, retablos, memoirs, and short stories, as well as posts and tweets, that can contribute to the dailiness of spiritual formation. Writings from a variety of time periods, genres, and faith traditions, including works by Rumi, Rilke, Thich Nhat Hanh, Alice Walker, Mary Oliver, T.S. Eliot, Langston Hughes, U2, and Tracy Chapman will guide our weekly exploration of practice for individual growth and spiritual formation in communities.
MDiv Goals Relevant to this Course:
To develop a life-long commitment to individual and communal spiritual practices, rooted in faith, hope, love, and justice.
To cultivate a willingness to lead, sustained via ongoing vocational discernment, self-awareness, and accountability with partners in ministry.
MDiv Outcomes Relevant to this Course:
Students are able to articulate their deepening self-understanding as a person and as a leader.
How the Course Contributes to Specific Related Goals
Course invites students to explore the addition or deepening of writing as a spiritual practice. In addition, the final assignment involves the general preparation of a communal experience in writing as a spiritual practice, addressing that goal. The process of writing, using collective and individual prompts over five week, is designed to aid students in an ongoing discernment and self-awareness that one can develop through writing in this manner. As Forster writes, How do I know what I think until I see what I say?” (as cited in Schneider, p. 77). See rubrics for course assignments.
Writing as a practice encourages creativity while, paradoxically, also engenders particular procedures or disciplines that writers use. We will read - and write - poetry, song/hymn lyrics, retablos, memoirs, and short stories, as well as posts and tweets, that can contribute to the dailiness of spiritual formation. Writings from a variety of time periods, genres, and faith traditions, including works by Rumi, Rilke, Thich Nhat Hanh, Alice Walker, Mary Oliver, T.S. Eliot, Langston Hughes, U2, and Tracy Chapman will guide our weekly exploration of practice for individual growth and spiritual formation in communities.
MDiv Goals Relevant to this Course:
To develop a life-long commitment to individual and communal spiritual practices, rooted in faith, hope, love, and justice.
To cultivate a willingness to lead, sustained via ongoing vocational discernment, self-awareness, and accountability with partners in ministry.
MDiv Outcomes Relevant to this Course:
Students are able to articulate their deepening self-understanding as a person and as a leader.
How the Course Contributes to Specific Related Goals
Course invites students to explore the addition or deepening of writing as a spiritual practice. In addition, the final assignment involves the general preparation of a communal experience in writing as a spiritual practice, addressing that goal. The process of writing, using collective and individual prompts over five week, is designed to aid students in an ongoing discernment and self-awareness that one can develop through writing in this manner. As Forster writes, How do I know what I think until I see what I say?” (as cited in Schneider, p. 77). See rubrics for course assignments.