There has been a "reconciling third" missing in the old Scripture versus Tradition argument, and it is personal experience.  It was fully operative anyway, on both sides, but not held accountable or "educated" on either side.  The methodological principle of the Living School in Albuquerque is this:  "Scripture as validated by experience, and experience as validated by Tradition, are good scales for one's spiritual world view."   Using the Judeo-Christian Scriptures as our constant touchstone, we will see how Scripture strongly represents the "perennial tradition" and can open people up to "wisdom" if it is read in a non dualistic ("contemplative") way, which is NOT the way it has been read since the Reformation and the Enlightenment.  This is the unique spiritual way of knowing (1 Cor. 2:6-16) that has been discovered by all world religions at the mature levels.  

The class will take time to describe what we mean by wisdom, by contemplation, and by this trilateral methodology.  Richard Rohr is also convinced that experience has both an inner (contemplative mind) and outer level--the outer level is the orthopraxy of lifestyle, everyday exercises, and spiritual practices.  All of these elements will be the matrix for our study week together, along with an appreciative/critical look at the "emerging church" phenomenon.  

What Others Have Thought:  

"I really appreciated how Richard Rohr shared his life experiences. He is a warm, inviting and humble person."  

"This course pushed me outside of my intellectual comfort zone and will help me to begin to think in new ways."    

Course Project:   

All students do a theological reflection project that summarizes key insights from the course and readings. They will present some examples of practices or lifestyle changes that they hope to integrate into their life.   

Sample Readings From This Course May Include:   

Bourgeault, Cynthia. The Wisdom Way of Knowing. Cowley Publications, 2004.  

Cousins, Ewert. Christ of the 21st Century. Element, 1992.   

Hart, Tobin. From Information to Transformation. Peter Lang, 2011.   

Huxley, Aldous. The Perennial Philosophy. Harper, 1941.  

Rohr, Richard. Falling Upward: The Two Halves of Life. Jossey-Bass, 2011.   

Rohr, Richard. The Naked Now. Crossroad, 2009.      

Watts, Alan. Behold the Spirit: A Study in the Necessity of Mystical Religion. Vintage, 1947.   

Wilber, Ken. Integral Spirituality. Shambhala, 2007.
 

If you would like more information about this course please email the DMin office at dmin@fuller.edu 

For a sample course description please click here.  NOTE: This is not to be used as a source for course preparation.