MP534/634: Spiritual Transformation of Postmoderns:
the Collapse of Space/Time (4 units)
This
course deals with the need for deep spiritual transformation in the rapidly
changing realities of postmodern space and time. Universal clock time that
emerged in the modern age is becoming increasingly segmented and reversible in
the information revolution of the postmodern age. Some estimate that North
Americans have ten percent less discretionary time today than they did a
fifteen years ago. We live in a world that seems much smaller and is much
faster. These changes have been described as “the collapse of space and time”
and have resulted in widespread hurry sickness. This course is built around a
cultural exegesis of these recent spatial-temporal phenomena and addresses the
following:
• In the face of the space-time collapse, how much time and space for God is
needed and what kinds of spiritual practices are necessary for spiritual
transformation, healing and reflection of the image of Christ?
• How is this collapse related to the spiritualities emerging since 1950
especially in the postmodern generations?
• How does time and space created for God through inward contemplation
(involving listening prayer, the scriptures and other images) relate to the
outward mission of these generations?
One third of the total time/space required in this course will involve students
in the actual practice of the disciplines of intimacy with Jesus. Students will
also participate in peer mentoring with each other and do a missional exercise.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
• Increased skill in analyzing and interpreting
postmodern culture.
• Practice of spiritual
exercises enabling intimacy with God, healing, rest and compassionate mission.
• Knowledge of spiritual,
biblical and culturally sensitive patterns of leading and mentoring that create
unhurried time and space for: 1) God; 2) community; and 3) incarnational
mission among postmoderns.
COURSE FORMAT:
Class
gatherings will involve lecture, media, discussion, two required Saturday
retreats (June 24 & July 15) and six one-hour meetings in a peer-mentoring
group outside of regular class time. The class will meet nine times over five
weeks for three hours on Tuesday and Thursday evenings using cognitive,
relational, and experiential approaches.
REQUIRED READING: A minimum
of 1100 pages should be read. If
you have previously read any of the required texts, please select an alternative
text from the recommended reading list or a book approved by the instructor.
David
Bosch. 1995 Believing in the Future. Harrisburg, PA: Trinity Press
International.
Richard Flory/D. Miller. 2000 Gen X Religion. New York and London:
Routledge.
Anthony Giddens. 1990 TheConsequences of Modernity. Stanford, CA:
Stanford University Press.
Paul Jensen, et. al. 2003 Course Reader.
Pasadena, CA: Fuller Theological Seminary.
Karen Kuchan. 2005 Visio Divina. Toronto: Crossroads.
Robert Levine.
1997 A Geography of Time. New York: Basic Books.
Marjorie Thompson. 1995 Soul Feast. Louisville, KY: John Knox Press.
N. T. Wright. 1999 The Way of the
Lord. London: SPCK.
Choose one of the following:
Dorothy C. Bass. 2000 Receiving the Day.
San Francisco: Jossey Bass.
Kathleen Norris. 1996 Cloister Walk. New York: The Berkeley Publishing
Group.
Henri Nouwen. 1989 Lifesigns or
1994 The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming or 1998 The
Inner Voice of Love. New York: Image/Doubleday.
RECOMMENDED
READING:
Zygmunt
Bauman. 2000 Liquid Modernity. Malden, MA: Blackwell.
Manuel
Castells. 1996 The Networked Society,
Vol. 1. Malden, MA: Blackwell.
David Harvey. 1990 The Condition of Postmodernity. Cambridge, MA & Oxford,
UK: Blackwell.
Brad J. Kallenberg. 2002 Live to Tell.
Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press.
Gerald May. 1993 The Awakened Heart. San Francisco: Harper Collins.
Robert Wuthnow. 1998 After Heaven. Los Angeles, Berkeley, London: University of California Press.
ASSIGNMENTS: (8,500 words, approximately 33 pages)
• Spiritual Journal—2000 words or approximately 8 pages.
–1000 words describing four monthly times of extended personal communion with
God lasting six hours (EPC).
–1000 words describing your daily practice of a spiritual discipline or
exercise for four weeks of term.
• Logs–on a minimum of 1100 pages of reading. Each
log requires a critique of an idea in the reading or of the author’s
thesis. A log on a movie related to course themes and a peer-mentoring group
log are required.
• Missiological Exercise–in deed and/or word (4 hrs.) with a
group/individual (750 word journal/report due).
• Final Project—3,500 word paper (approx. 14 pages) which
critically interacts with readings/lectures and integrates what was
learned with the student’s past, present or anticipated ministry/mission
context.
PREREQUISITES: None, though
MP520 “Mission to Contemporary Culture” would be helpful.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:
Elective.
FINAL EXAM: None.