Reformed Theological Seminary - Charlotte
Christian Spirituality (DME 875)
July 13–17, 2015
Professor Tom Schwanda, Ph.D.
tom.schwanda@wheaton.edu
Course Description
This course provides an overview to the history of the major leaders and movements of Christian
spirituality. Beginning with the early church we will examine some of the primary writings that
are representative of Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant spirituality. Our concern will be
how these earlier voices might speak to our contemporary church. The three questions that will
guide our reading and discussion are: What spiritual disciplines did these earlier Christians use
to cultivate their relationship with God? If this person was your spiritual guide how might they
have mentored you? What insights and resources could be retrieved from these Christians to
strengthen and encourage your ministry?
Required Texts
Benedict, RB 1980, Rule of St. Benedict in English, ed. Timothy Fry. Collegeville, MN:
Liturgical Press, 1982
John Chrysostom, Six Books of the Priesthood. Crestwood NY: St. Vladimir’s Press, 1964.
Dupre, Louis and James A. Wiseman. eds. Light from Light: An Anthology of Christian
Mysticism. 2d. ed. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2001.
Holt, Bradley P. Thirsty for God: A Brief History of Christian Spirituality, 2d ed. Minneapolis:
Fortress Press, 2005.
Schwanda, Tom. Soul Recreation: The Contemplative–Mystical Piety of Puritanism. Eugene,
OR: Pickwick, 2012.
Spener, Philip Jacob, Pia Desideria, trans. Theodore G. Tappert. nl: Fortress Press, 1964.
The Holy Bible (whichever translation you typically use in your devotions or preaching or
teaching)
Cross Reader
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Course Outline and Topics
Please read all of the selections below before coming to class so we can discuss them.
Bradley Holt, Thirsty for God is for background and will not be discussed but provides a helpful
context for our class.
Monday morning: Foundations and Introduction to Christian Christianity
Read: Schwanda, Soul Recreation
Monday afternoon: Desert and Patristic Spirituality
Read: Sayings of the Desert Tradition (reader), Augustine (Light from Light) and Rule of
St. Benedict
Tuesday morning: Monastic and Orthodox Spirituality
Read: Bernard (Light from Light) and John Chrysostom, St. Theophan (reader) and
Tuesday afternoon: Medieval Spirituality
Read: Julian of Norwich and Catherine of Siena (Light from Light) and Hus (Reader)
Wednesday morning: Protestant Reformation
Read: Luther (reader) and Calvin, Institutes 3.20 (“On Prayer” use your own copy. I will
be using the McNeill edition, pp. 850–920)
Wednesday afternoon: Roman Catholic Reformation
Read: Ignatius of Loyola, Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross (Light from Light)
Thursday morning: Puritanism and Pietism
Read: Ambrose (Reader) and Spener
Thursday afternoon: Evangelical Spirituality
Read: Wesley and Evangelical Spirituality (Marked “CWS” in Reader)
Friday morning: Contemporary Spirituality and Devotional Classic Summaries
Read: Merton, Thérèse of Lisieux and Evelyn Underhill (Light from Light) and Celtic
Spirituality (Reader)
Devotional Classics Research Assignment
Each student will select and read a devotional classic that is approved by the professor. See the
suggestive list of suggested persons below. This 10–page (minimum) paper will consist of three
sections that must be clearly marked: (1) Background and context of your person. Provide an
adequate background to situate your person within his or her setting noting what social, cultural,
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political issues might have shaped their writing. (2) Summary of the themes of your devotional
classic. Provide a clear overview of the major themes of your devotional text and comment on at
least three of them in greater detail. (3) Contemporary application. How does your classic speak
to and challenge you and how might it guide and encourage your ministry setting? You should
use at least 3–4 quality research sources for the first section of your paper. Please write the paper
in 12-point font, double-spaced with footnotes and bibliography.
Students will present a brief 3–5 minute presentation on the last day of class of
whom they have selected and why that individual interests them.
Integration Paper
Students will write a 10-15 page paper in which you will select three of your favorite authors
from this class. Clearly mark the following themes in your paper (1) Reason for your selection.
Briefly explain your motivation for selecting your chosen authors. What is it about their writing
that you find attractive? (2) Summary of their main themes. Highlight at least 2-3 specific
themes or quotes for each of your authors and expand on the significance of them for you. Also
include how their writings challenge or encourage you in your ministry. (3) A specific question
you would like to ask each of your writers. This could be about something that you didn’t
understand or an area in which you would like further clarification. The paper is due October 30
in the DMin office.
Reading Report
A reading report is attached to this syllabus. Students should indicate the percentage of reading
that has been completed by the end of the course. This one-page report is due October 30 in the
DMin office.
Grading
Class participation - 20%
Reading Report - 20%
Devotional Classics Research Paper - 30%
Integration Paper – 30%
Devotional Classic Paper Suggestions
Evagrius
Gregory of Nyssa
Gregory of Nazianzus
Augustine
John Climacus
John Cassian
Basil
Gregory of Palamas
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Dionysius the Aeropagite
Jerome
St. Patrick
Gregory the Great
Clare of Assisi
Johannes Eckhart
Benedict
William of St. Thierry
Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain
Jean Gerson
Hugh of St. Victor
Walter Hilton
Hildegard of Bingen
Julian of Norwich
Anselm
Wyclif
Martin Luther
Martin Bucer
Ignatius of Loyola
Teresa of Avila
Count Zinzendorf
George Herbert
Jeremy Taylor
John Buynan
Richard Sibbes
Willem Teellinck
George Fox
Brother Lawrence
Sarah Jones
John Henry Newman
Matthew Henry
Charles Wesley
Anne Bradstreet
George Whitefield
Charles Simeon
Anne Dutton
William Williams
Andrew Murray
Charles Spurgeon
Rufus Jones
Susanna Anthony
Origen
St. Francis
Columba of Iona
Bonaventure
Thomas Aquinas
Jan van Ruysbroek
Bernard of Clairvaux
Symeon the New Theologian
Athanasius
Jan van Ruysbroeck
Richard Rolle
Mechthild of Magdeburg
Dominic Guzman
Catherine of Siena
John Hus
Menno Simons
John Calvin
Menno Simons
John of the Cross
Philip Jacob Spener
Francis de Sales
Richard Baxter
Madame J. Guyon
John Owen
Isaac Ambrose
Jodocus Lodenstein
John Woolman
Joseph Hart
Cotton Mather
Johann Arndt
William Law
John Wesley
William Wilberforce
John Newton
Hannah More
Anne Steele
William Cowper
Abraham Kuyper
Alexander Whyte
Baron Friedrich von Hugel
Amy Carmichael
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Course Objectives Related to DMin* Student Learning Outcomes
DMin* Student Learning Outcomes
In order to measure the success of the DMin curriculum, RTS has defined
the following as the intended outcomes of the student learning process.
Each course contributes to these overall outcomes. This rubric shows the
contribution of this course to the DMin outcomes.
Rubric




Mini-Justification
Strong
Moderate
Minimal
None
Biblical/
Theological
Foundations:
Significant knowledge of biblical and
theological foundations for pastoral ministry.
(This includes interaction with Biblical texts,
as well as awareness of Reformed Theology.)
Moderate
Historical/
Contemporary
Practices:
Significant knowledge of historical and
contemporary practices of pastoral ministry.
Strong
Integration:
Ability to reflect upon and integrate theology
and practice, as well as implementation in a
contemporary pastoral setting.
Strong
Sanctification:
Demonstrates a love for the Triune God that
aids in the student’s sanctification.
Strong
Course is historical and spiritual in focus,
and will deal with theological issues as
each period of Christian spirituality is
explored. Sensitivity to the role of
Scripture will be highlighted throughout
the class.
This course will examine how Christians
over the centuries have sought to deepen
their life in Jesus Christ. Significant
attention will be given to the question of
contemporary application of spiritual
practices from the past.
The issue of intentional integration of
spiritual theology and devotional
practices will be highlighted throughout
the course.
The course will address issues of
Christian spirituality from the first
century to the present.
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Christian Spirituality
Reading Report
Please state the percentage of the Required Reading that you have completed.
Benedict, Rule of St. Benedict
________%
Calvin, Institutes, 3.20
________%
John Chrysostom, Six Books of the Priesthood
________%
Dupre and Wiseman, Light from Light
________%
Holt, Thirsty for God
________%
Schwanda, Soul Recreation
________%
Spener, Pia Desideria
________%
Course Reader
________%
___________________________________________
Name
________________________
Date
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