TTSF1: Spirituality, Social Concern & Gender
Short Title:
Full Title:
Spirituality, Social Concern & Gender
Spirituality, Social Concern & Gender
Module Code:
Valid From:
Administrator:
Module Coordinator:
Description:
TTSF1
NFQ Level:
(October 2009) November 2012
9
ECTS Credits:
Dr Michael O’Sullivan
Module Aims
1. To explore the meaning of authentic Christian spirituality in the
context of social concern
2. To evaluate disempowering elements of received understanding
and practice of spirituality
3. To examine Marx’s critique of the relationship between
Christianity and society
4. To make connections between social concern and the doctrines of
grace, revelation, and salvation
5. To explore the liberation spirituality of Gustavo Gutiérrez, Jon
Sobrino, Segundo Galilea, Peter McVerry, Dorothy Soelle
6. To review feminist implications for the understanding of sin,
salvation, and soteriology
7. To review ecological implications for the understanding of sin,
salvation, and soteriology
8. To review post-colonial implications for the understanding of sin,
salvation, and soteriology
Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to
TTSF1-MO1: Recognise the historical perspective of the problematic of
spirituality and social concern from within a Christian commitment
TTSF1-MO2: Create an understanding of liberation spirituality as a normative
social spirituality in the light of Christian authenticity
TTSF1-MO3: Integrate a capacity to function transformatively in the context of
social concern through the methodological appropriation of an anthropological and
Christian foundation and horizon of authenticity
PO1
PO2
PO8
15
TTSF1: Spirituality, Social Concern & Gender
TTSF1-MO4: Discriminate in contemporary authors between spiritualities of
empowerment and spiritualities of disempowerment
TTSF1-MO5: Illustrate from literature the interactive dynamics of spirituality,
social concern and gender
TTSF1-MO6: Relate the literature of the history of spirituality to areas of
contemporary social concern
PO4
PO5
PO6
Pre-requisite Learning
Module Recommendations
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not
enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section
None
Requirements
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not
enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section
None
Indicative Context
1. Foundations for authentic Christian spirituality in human subjectivity with special reference to
the work of Bernard Lonergan and Daniel Helminiak
2. Disempowering elements in received Christian spirituality related to faith based social
commitment with special reference to the conquest of the Americas
3. The Marxist critique of Christianity in relation to social commitment and the rise of the notion
of diverse capitals, especially spiritual capital
4. The rise of liberation spirituality with special reference to the works of Gustavo Gutiérrez,
Segundo Galilea and Peter McVerry,
5. Liberation spirituality in the context of authentic Christian spirituality and social commitment
with particular reference to Jon Sobrino and Dorothy Soelle
6. A feminist/ecological perspective on the option for the economically poor with particular
reference to Linda Hogan and Kwok Pui-Lan
7. A feminist/post-colonial perspective on narratives of gender-related exploitation with
particular reference to Teresa Okure and Marcella Althaus-Reid
8. A liberation-feminist reading of key Christian doctrines with particular reference to the
doctrines of grace, revelation, and salvation
TTSF1: Spirituality, Social Concern & Gender
Assessment Breakdown
8,000 – 9,000 words (cumulative) relating the literature of the history of spirituality to areas of
contemporary social concern
%
1. Book Review: 2,000-3,000 words
40%
2. Essay: 4,000-6,000 words
60%
Linked to Module Outcome(s) TTSF1-MO6 / TTSF1-MO3
Coursework Breakdown
Type
Description
Workload
Type
Lecture
Independent Learning
Library
Assignment
One-to-Mentor
Seminar Group
Book Club
Online / Moodle Learning
Outcome
addressed
% of
Total
Assessment Date
Full-Time Hours per semester
Description
Lecturing input
Self-directed reading and revision
Self and tutor-directed reading of course material
Researching, structuring information, writing up
Hours
24
275
Total Workload
4
12
12
48
375
Resources
Essential Book Resources
Gutiérrez, G. We Drink From Our Own Wells. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1984.
O’Sullivan, M. “The Human Spirit and the Option for the Economically Poor.” In With Wisdom Seeking
God: The Academic Study of Spirituality, edited by Una Agnew, Bernadette Flanagan, and Greg
Heylin, 223-33. Leuven: Peeters, 2008.
Sobrino, J. “Monseñor Romero, a Salvadoran and a Christian.” In Minding the Spirit: The Study of
Christian Spirituality, ed. E. A. Dreyer and M.S. Burrows, 229-4o. Baltimore and London: The
Johns Hopkins University Press, 2005.
Wiseman, J.A. Spirituality and Mysticism: A Global View. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2006.
Essential Article/Paper Resources
TTSF1: Spirituality, Social Concern & Gender
Other Resources
Casaldaliga, P., and J. M. Vigil. The Spirituality of Liberation. Kent: Burns and Oates, 1994, orig.
Spanish, 1993.
Dahill, Lisa. “Reading from the Underside of Selfhood: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Spiritual Formation.” In
Minding the Spirit: The Study of Christian Spirituality, ed. E. A. Dreyer and M.S. Burrows, 24966. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2005.
DeYoung, C.P. Living Faith: How Faith Inspires Social Justice. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2007.
Dorr, D. Spirituality and Justice. Dublin: Gill and Macmillan, 1984.
Flanagan, B. Spirituality and the City. Dublin: Veritas, 1999.
Mananzan, M.J., Woman, Religion & Spirituality in Asia. Manila: Anvil & Inst. of Women's Studies,
2004.
Nolan, A. Jesus Today: A Spirituality of Radical Freedom. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2008.
O’Sullivan, Michael. “Women, Poverty and Christianity in Relation to Africa.” Milltown Studies, no. 44
(1999): 103-29.
_______ . “Sin and Salvation in Relation to Male Violence against Women: A Perspective from
Liberation and Feminist Theologies.” In Faithful Witness: Glimpses of the Kingdom, ed. J. Egan
and B. McConvery, 24-39. Dublin: Kimmage Mission Institute at Milltown Institute of Theology
and Philosophy, 2005.
________. “Authentic Christian Spirituality and a Journey with Incest.” London: Continuum, 2010.
________. How Roman Catholic Theology Can Transform Male Violence Against Women. Lewiston, NY:
Edwin Mellen Press, 2010.
Pixley, J., and C. Boff. The Bible, the Church and the Poor. Kent: Burns and Oates, 1987.
Rakoczy, S. Great Mystics and Social Justice: Walking on the Two Feet of Love. New York/Mahwah, N.J:
Paulist Press, 2006.
Ruffing, J.K. Mysticism and Social Transformation. New York: Syracuse University Press, 2001.
Sobrino, J. “Spirituality and the Following of Jesus.” In Systematic Theology: Perspectives from
Liberation, ed. J. Sobrino and I. Ellacuría, 233-56. London: SCM Press, 1996.
Supplementary: Texts and Themes Pathway
Donaldson, L. and K. Pui-lan, eds, Post-colonialism, Feminism and Religious Discourse. New York:
Routledge, 2002.
McVerry, P. The Meaning is in the Shadows. Dublin: Veritas, 2003.
________. Jesus: Social Revolutionary? Dublin: Veritas, 2008.
Nolan, A., Hope in an Age of Despair. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2009.
Parsons, C. The Cambridge Companion to Feminist Theology. New York: Cambridge University Press,
2002.
Pui-lan, K. Introducing Asian Feminist Theology. Ohio: The Pilgrim Press, 2000.
Sölle, D. The Silent Cry: Mysticism and Resistance. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2001.
TTSF1: Spirituality, Social Concern & Gender
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