Trinity Western University
COURSE SYLLABUS
Psychology 411
"Psychology & Spirituality"
Summer Session: Retreat Course, June 1 to August 27, 2013
In Class Sessions: July 7-13.
Instructor: Chuck MacKnee, Ph.D.
(e-mail: macknee@twu.ca) (fax # 604 513 2010)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will examine the notion of spirituality in light of the psychological theories
by Jung, Frankl, Maslow, May, Fromm, contemporary Transpersonal psychologists, and
Christianity as well as some Eastern religions. Included is exploration of spiritual themes
such as suffering, surrender & relinquishment, forgiveness, love & unity, ecstasy & peak
experience, mysticism & sacredness, creativity, meaning, meditation & serenity,
authenticity & truth, and birth and death.
PURPOSES:
1. Develop deeper awareness of the human spirit (soul) and its connection to God (the
ultimate).
2. Discover and travel some of the various pathways toward divine reality.
3. Explore personal experiences through individual reflection and structured group
exercises that promote meaningful insights regarding spiritual development.
4. Examine the relationship between psychological theory and Christian perspectives.
5. Encourage spiritual potential through mentoring and nurturing the complementary
gifts of the community.
6. Experience the spirituality of creation within the Creator's natural revelation.
CLARIFICATIONS:
1. While this is an invitation for spiritual growth and development through individual
and group experience, it is not group therapy; however, norms regarding
confidentiality and group dynamics will be discussed and upheld.
2. There are six hours of more formal class time scheduled for Monday to Friday
(usually in the mornings and evenings) and three hours reserved for Sunday (July 7)
evening and Saturday (July 13) morning. Total number of class time hours is 36.
3. It is not the intent to impose a particular spirituality (e.g. Christian) on any person
attending. All participants can learn from each other, and each person may practice
his or her form of spirituality as long as it is ethical and conforms to TWU's
community standards.
4. Depending on weather or other factors, there may be some adjustments to course
planning. Adjustment is an indication of mental health and spiritual growth.
5. Because this is a one week in-class retreat course and it is not expected that all class
requirements would be completed during that time. The course readings would begin
June 1and other projects will be due later in the summer (see Course Requirements).
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Spiritual Journal 20%
Ronald Klug's How to Keep a Spiritual Journal is to be read before June 1. From
June 1 until July 15, students are required to keep a daily spiritual journal. On
July 22 a six page typed paper is due (through e-mail attachments, fax, or hard
copy) that evaluates your journalizing. Given that you are in the optimum position
to decipher your meaning from this experience, your paper should
phenomenologically analyze the themes that emerge from your journal writing.
What did you write about most? What issues did you exclude? How are the
issues related? What did you learn about yourself, God, and your spiritual values?
What do your musings mean to you? (You might use chapter 12 of Klug to help)
Grading will be based on how well the thematic issues are articulated and crafted
into a meaningful narrative (a story with a beginning, middle, and an end).
Interaction with Klug's text will also be a component of the grading criteria.
2. Class Participation 20%
Because the course is oriented around group discussion and experience, each
member is a worthy contributor and is expected to be involved. Evaluation is
based on evidence of required daily readings for discussion, involvement with
group exercises, assessment of daily individual assignments (the above evaluation
is based on the Course Pak and Peck's The Road Less Traveled), and general
contributions through word, deed, and relational edification. While class
participation is monitored somewhat subjectively, the daily assignments will be
objectively examined each day (thoroughness of completion).
3. Research/integration Paper 25%
An eight to ten page paper that demonstrates the integration of Thomas Merton's
spiritual themes discussed in Thoughts in Silence with the main character--Father
Francis Chisholm--of A. J. Cronin's The Keys of the Kingdom is due August 21.
It is recommended that students read Cronin and Merton before the retreat course
dates so that relevant issues could be informally discussed with the instructor and
classmates. Pay particular attention to Francis Chisholm's psychological and
spiritual development by identifying the forces that promoted his growth. Also
discuss the meaning(s) of his "inordinate spiritual obstinacy," the benefits and
liabilities of tolerance, his "gift of faith," the notion of "different gates to heaven,"
the implications of "the cows coming home" and fishing. Be aware of the
contrasts between Chisholm and his life-long "friend" Anselm Mealey. What
does Mealey represent?
4. Final Exam 30%
The "final exam" is a take home paper that concisely delineates how one of the
psychological theories on spirituality contextually informs your spiritual
perspective. Include how the psychological theory would view and explain two
the spiritual themes that were discussed throughout the week. Evidence of course
pack reading is important. Grading will be based on a) comprehension of basic
concepts and issues; b) analysis of the spiritual theme from the theoretical
perspective; c) application to life; d) organization and synthesis of your thesis.
More information will be given at the retreat. (July due date negotiated at retreat)
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Cronin, A. J. (1941). The Keys of the Kingdom. Boston, MA: Little, Brown, &
Company.
Klug, Ronald (1993). How to Keep a Spiritual Journal. Minneapolis, MN:
Augsburg Press.
Merton, Thomas (1983). Thoughts in Solitude. NY: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux
Peck, M. Scott (1978). The Road Less Travelled: A New Psychology of Love,
Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth. NY: Simon & Schuster.
Course Pak includes selected articles and chapters. This can be purchased just
before leaving for the retreat during the last week of June. (Read during retreat)
**There is plenty of reading to contemplate. * Begin early.
For those of you leaving from Langley, BC we can meet at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, July 7
and car pool up to Spring Lake Ranch. The Ranch is set up like a motel (log cabins)
so bedding, food, towels, etc. are provided. There is a lake for swimming and
boating, horse back riding, line dancing, hiking, and other out door activities. Bring
your personal items and a jacket. If you play a musical instrument that is
transportable, bring it along. It will be a connecting and spiritual time in God’s
creation.
Proposed Course Schedule
Sunday, July 7
Eve: Introduction of course (rules of the road)
"The Lesson"
"Shield Exercise" intro of participants
Life is difficult: introduce pain of living
Monday, July 8
Morn: Spiritual Homelessness
Examine readings on defining spirituality
Spiritual Experience
Eve: Peck's tools for the road (pp. 1-44)
Delay gratification & Accepting Responsibility
Tuesday, July 9
Morn: Jung & Frankl readings
What is meaning? Truth?
Video: Merton; Call to silence & solitude
Eve: Peck (44-78)
Dedication to reality & Balancing
Wednesday, July 10
Morn: Readings from R. May & Fromm
"Adventure of Living" & Values exercise
Video: Vaniere
Eve: Peck (81-155)
LOVE & feelings
Thursday, July 11
Morn: Readings from G. May, MacKnee
Spiritual surrender & forgiveness
Faith development "Catch 27"
Eve: Peck (185-232)
Growth & religion
Friday, July 12
Morn: Maslow, MacKnee & transcendence readings
Death, resurrection, & bliss; mystery
Video: Moyer & Campbell
Eve: Peck (233-312)
Miracles: Accepting Grace
Exercises on death
Saturday, July 13
Morn: "Spirituality and human nature"
Video: After Death experience"
Wrap-up & conclusions
& continue our spiritual journeys.
Lunch and leave for home.