Department of Religion Mary Suydam
Department of Religion
Mary Suydam
Religious Studies 329: Christian Mysticism
Prof. Suydam Ascension 11 PBX 5607 Office Hours T-TH 1-:230 and MW 2:10- 3:00 PM and by appointment |
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I. Course Aims: This course explores the evolution and development of the Christian spiritual mystical traditions and prayer practices from the origins of Christianity to the present day. How does mysticism differ from Christian spirituality? It analyzes mysticism’s origins in philosophical traditions based upon neoplatonic theories as well as the ecstatic practices of early Christians. One goal of the course is to problematize the term "mysticism" and trace its linguistic and philosophical development through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Questions we will be asking include: Is mysticism a solitary or a communal experience? Do mystics who engage in somatic practices (such as copious weeping, bleeding, or fasting) represent a "less pure" variant of mysticism than those who prefer solitary contemplation? Do mystical practices change to reflect new societal values, such as the Protestant Reformation and the Pentecostal movements of today? Is mystical spirituality different for men and women? We will also explore the influence of mystical traditions in "mainstream" Christian spirituality.
II Texts
Required:
Jantzen, Grace. Power, Gender, and Christian Mysticism. Cambridge University Press: 1995
Julian of Norwich: Showings . Paulist Press: 1978
Chadwick, Henry, trans., St. Augustine: Confessions. Oxford World Classics: 2008
Zum Brunn, E., and Épiney-Burgard, G., Women Mystics in Europe. Paragon House: 1988
--Other texts as noted on E-Res and Web Links
Recommended: full text available on Course Reserve and excerpts available on E-Res:
Bernard of Clairvaux: Selected Writings (trans. By G.R. Evans). Paulist Press: 1987
The Cloud of Unknowing and Other Works. Penguin: 1978
The Shakers, ed. Robley Whitson (Paulist Press, 1983)
Jacob Boehme, The Way to Christ , translated by Peter Erb (Paulist Press, 1978)
Pietists: Selected Writings , edited by Peter Erb (Paulist Press, 1983)
Happold, F.C., Mysticism: A Study and an Anthology
Meister Eckhart, The Essential Sermons, trans. Edmund Colledge and Bernard McGinn
Origen: An Exhortation to Martyrdom, etc., trans. Rowan Greer
III Course Requirements
Because critical reading of the primary texts is so important, there will be weekly writing assignments of about 2 typed pages based upon the reading for that week. In the Christian mystical tradition (stemming from monastic practice), reading is viewed as a meditative activity that leads to deeper understanding. These papers will serve as the basis for discussions. Active participation in discussions is a critical component of this class. That being said, you should not come to class if you are sick, especially if you are coughing or sneezing. In that case please email your weekly paper along with questions and comments you would ask in the discussion. Weekly papers cannot be turned in late.
Midterm and final exam questions will be given in advance. Both exams will be take-home and will be due as noted in the syllabus. Both exams must be typed and double-spaced.
The term paper is an opportunity for you to pursue a topic in greater detail than class time allows. It will give you the chance to read, analyze, and write clearly about a particular mystic or topic that interests you. Each student is expected to choose a particular aspect of Christian mysticism that they would like to learn more about. You are not expected to do outside research, but to read and analyze more of a particular mystic's writings in greater depth than class time allows. Topics are due March 23 (10 points). The preliminary draft is due April 16 (40 points). Final draft is due April 27 (50 points). All deadlines are final.
IV Topics
PART I: ORIGINS
Week 1: January 16 and 18: Introduction: What is mysticism? Ways of Knowing
Example: Hildegard of Bingen, Meister Eckhart
Handout: The Roman Empire, 1- 300 C.E.
Reading: Happold, Mysticism, introduction (E-Res), pages 18-34
January 20: Judaism, mystery religions, Christianity; Ways of Knowings
Reading: Jantzen, Power, Gender, and Christian Mysticism, pages 1-18
Week 2: January 23 nd 25: Greek Intellectual Thought: Plato and Plotinus
Reading: Plotinus excerpts:
Fourth Ennead, Tractate 1: On the Essence of the Soul
Fifth Ennead, Second Tractate: the Origin and Order of the Beings
Fifth Ennead, Fifth Tractate: On the Nature of the Good
Second Ennead, Fourth Tractate: Matter : Through #10
Sixth Ennead, Fourth Tractate: On the Integral Omnipresence of the Authentic Existent : through fifth tractate, #5
Jantzen, Power, Gender, and Christian Mysticism, pages 26-58
January 27 : Origen
Reading: Origen, Introduction to The Song of Songs (E-Res)
Jantzen, Power, Gender, and Christian Mysticism, 59-85
Second Century: Christians in Conflict
Origen and the Mystical Tradition
Week 3: January 30 and Feb. 1: Gnosticism and Roman Christianity
Reading: "Hymn of the Robe of Glory": poem version, prose version
Jantzen, Power, Gender, and Christian Mysticism, 85-95
Features of the Proto-Orthodox Churches
February 3 : Orthodoxy takes shape: Constantine and monasticism; Augustine
Reading: Pusey, The Confessions of St. Augustine, book 1
Week 4: February 6,8,10: Augustine and the Pseudo-Dionysius
Augustine
Reading: Pusey, The Confessions of St. Augustine, books 7-10, 12
The Pseudo-Dionysius
Readings: Pseudo-Dionysius, The Mystical Theology
The Heavenly Hierarchy, chapter 1
Jantzen, Power, Gender, and Christian Mysticism, 95-109
PART II: MEDIEVAL MYSTICISM: MYSTICISM OF THE HEART
Week 5: February 13, 15, 17: Twelfth-Century Stabilization
Feb. 13 and 15 : The Twelfth Century Stabilization; Hildegard of Bingen and Bernard of Clairvaux
Reading: Women Mystics, "Hildegard of Bingen"
Jantzen, Power, Gender, and Christian Mysticism,157-185
Bernard of Clairvaux, On Loving God
February 17 : Bernard of Clairvaux and Beatrice of Nazareth
Reading: Bernard of Clairvaux, On Loving God, and Sermons (E-Res)
Reading: Jantzen, Power, Gender, and Christian Mysticism, 123-133
Reading: Women Mystics, "Beatrice of Nazareth"
Class insights about Hildegard
Week 6: February 20, 22, 24: New Kinds of Piety
Feb. 20 : Waldensians, Cathari, Franciscans
Feb. 22 : Hadewijch of Antwerp and the Beguines
Reading: Women Mystics, "Hadewijch of Antwerp"
Feb. 24: Marguerite Porete
Reading: Women Mystics, "Marguerite Porete"
MIDTERM HANDED OUT IN CLASS
PART III: MEDIEVAL MYSTICISM: INTERIOR MYSTICISMS
Week 7: Feb. 27, 29, March 2: Meister Eckhart
Feb. 27 and 29 : Meister Eckhart
Reading: Meister Eckhart, selections (E-Res)
March 2: Eckhart, Hadewijch, and Porete
Common Vocabulary in Eckhart, Hadewijch and Beatrijs
Midterm due March 2
-------------------------------SPRING BREAK---------------------------------
Week 8: March 19, 21, 23: English mystics
March 19: the Cloud of Unknowing
March 21 and 23: Julian of Norwich
Reading: Julian, Revelations of Divine Love
PAPER TOPICS DUE IN CLASS.
PART IV: MYSTICISM AND THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION
Week 9: March 26, 28, 30: The Protestant Reformation
March 26 , 28, 30: Anabaptists and Pietists
Reading: Jantzen, chapter 8 and 146-159
Early Anabaptist Spirituality (E-Res): Hans Hut, Essence of True Baptism, 77-81; Leonard Schiemer, Three Kinds of Grace, 83-97; Peter Walpot, True Yieldedness, 167-171
The Pietists: Selected Writings (E-Res)August Francke, Foretaste of Eternal Life, 149-158;
The Pietists: Selected Writings (E-Res)August Francke, Foretaste of Eternal Life, 149-158; Philip Spener, Pia Desideria, 31-37; Gottfried Arnold, Mystery of the Divine Sophia, 219-226; Count von Zinzendorf, Thoughts for the Learned, 291-295, and Concerning Saving Faith, 304-324
Week 10: March April 2, 4, 6: Teresa of Avila; Greek Orthodox Mysticism
Chapters: The First Mansion, chapter 1; The Second Mansion; The Seventh Mansion, chapters 1-3Chapters 18 and20
Week 11: April 9, 11, 13: Jacob Boehme
Readings: Jacob Boehme, The Way to Christ (E-Res): A Little Prayer, 56-62; The Fifth Treatise, 163-170; The Seventh Treatise, 194-226
Jacob Boehme, The Way to Christ:
Book 3, "Of Regeneration", chapters 2, 3 and 4
Book 4, "Of the Supersensual Life", Dialogues 1 and 2
Week 12: April 16, 18, 20: New kinds of spirituality, 18th and 19th centuries: Shakers, Quakers, and Pentecostalists
Readings:
"Let Your Words Be Few" (E-Res)
George Fox, Autobiography
The Shakers (E-Res)
PRELIMINARY PAPER DRAFT DUE APRIL 16 IN CLASS.
Week 13: April 23,25, 27: Pentecostalism continued and Christian Nature Mysticism
April 23: Film: Raise the Dead
PAPER DUE APRIL 27 in class.
April 25, 27: Christian Nature Mysticism
Richard Jefferies, The Story of My Heart
Thomas Traherne, Centuries of Meditation
BRING READINGS/VIDEO/WEBSITES FOR NEXT WEEK.
Week 14: April 30, May 2 and 4 : Re-Thinking Mystic Ways Today
Reading: Jantzen, chapter 9
Mama Lola (E-Res)
FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS WILL BE HANDED OUT MAY 4.
FINAL EXAM IS DUE MONDAY, MAY 10 BY 9 A.M. HAND IN AT MY OFFICE (ASCENSION 11).
