Department of Religion Mary Suydam
Department of Religion
Mary Suydam
Religious Studies 329: Christian Mysticism
Prof. Suydam Ascension 11 PBX 5607 Office Hours MWF 1- 2:30 PM and by appointment |
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I. Course Aims: This
course explores the evolution and development of the Christian mystical traditions from the origins of Christianity
to 1500, and then trace mystical movements in Christianity through the modern era. It analyzes philosophical traditions, the development of monasticism, and ecstatic mystical
practices. One goal of the course is to problematize the term "mysticism" and trace its linguistic and
philosophical development through the 19th and 20th 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 preferred
solitary contemplation? Questions of gender are also pertinent, as women's access to the philosophical traditions
were more limited than men's. We will also explore the role of mystical traditions upon "mainstream"
Christianity then and now.
II Texts
Required:
Jantzen, Grace. Power, Gender, and Christian Mysticism. Cambridge University Press: 1995
Julian of Norwich: Showings . Paulist Press: 1978
Pusey, E.B., trans., the Confessions of St. Augustine. Collier: 1961
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. Missing more than two classes or two weekly papers will lower your final grade by one full point (B becomes C, for example). 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 on the day of the scheduled final exam. The final exam 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 October 20. The final draft is due November 19. All deadlines are final.
IV Topics
PART I: ORIGINS
Week 1: September 1: Introduction: What is mysticism? Ways of Knowing
Example: Hildegard of Bingen, Meister Eckhart
Handout: The Roman Empire, 1- 300 C.E.
Definitions of Mysticism
Sept. 3: Judaism, mystery religions, Christianity; Ways of Knowings
Reading: Happold, Mysticism, introduction (E-Res), pages 18-34
Jantzen, Power, Gender, and Christian Mysticism, pages 1-18
Week 2: September 8: 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
Jantzen, Power, Gender, and Christian Mysticism, pages 26-58
September 10: 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: September 15 and 17: Gnosticism and Roman Christianity
September 15: Gnosticism and its challenge to "Orthodoxy"
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
September 17: Orthodoxy takes shape: Constantine and monasticism; Augustine
Reading: Pusey, The Confessions of St. Augustine, book 1
Week 4: September 22, 24: Augustine and the Pseudo-Dionysius
September 22: Augustine
Reading: Pusey, The Confessions of St. Augustine, books 7-10, 12
September 24: The Pseudo-Dionysius
Readings: Pseudo-Dionysius, The Mystical Theology
Jantzen, Power, Gender, and Christian Mysticism, 95-109
PART II: MEDIEVAL MYSTICISM: MYSTICISM OF THE HEART
Week 5: September 29, Oct. 1: Twelfth-Century Stabilization
September 29 : 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
October 1: 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: October 6-8: New Kinds of Piety
October 6: Waldensians, Cathari, Franciscans; Beatrice of Nazareth
Women Mystics, "Hadewijch of Antwerp"
October 8: Hadewijch of Antwerp and the Beguines; Marguerite Porete
Reading: Women Mystics, "Hadewijch of Antwerp", "Marguerite Porete"
MIDTERM HANDED OUT IN CLASS
------------------OCTOBER 12 - 13 READING DAYS -----------------------
PART III: MEDIEVAL MYSTICISM: INTERIOR MYSTICISMS
Week 7: October 15: Meister Eckhart and Marguerite Porete
Midterm due October 15
October 15: Meister Eckhart
Reading: Meister Eckhart, selections (E-Res)
Common Vocabulary in Eckhart, Hadewijch and Beatrijs
Week 8: October 20 and 22: English mystics
October 20: Julian of Norwich and the Cloud of Unknowing
Reading: Julian, Revelations of Divine Love
Week 9: October 27 and 29: The Protestant Reformation
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
Chapters: The First Mansion, chapter 1; The Second Mansion; The Seventh Mansion, chapters 1-3Chapters 18 and 20
PART IV: MYSTICISM AND THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION
Week 10: November 3 and 5: 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 11: November 10 and 12: New kinds of spirituality: Shakers and Quakers
Readings:
"Let Your Words Be Few" (E-Res)
George Fox, Autobiography
The Shakers (E-Res)
Week 12: November 17 and 19: the Pentecostal Tradition
Readings:
PAPER DUE NOVEMBER 19 by 4 pm. Hand in to Pam Sheasby, Ascension Secretary (basement of Ascension)
-----------------------------------------------------NOVEMBER 21 - 28------------------Thanksgiving Break -----------------------------
Week 13: December 1 and 3: Christian Nature Mysticism
Richard Jefferies, The Story of My Heart
Thomas Traherne, Centuries of Meditation
Week 14: December 8 , 10 and 15: Re-Thinking Mystic Ways
Reading: Jantzen, chapter 9
Mama Lola (E-Res)
FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS WILL BE HANDED OUT DECEMBER 15.
FINAL EXAM IS DUE MONDAY, DECEMBER 21 BY 9 A.M. ( TO PAM SHEASBY, ASCENSION SECRETARY)
