Historical Theology of Formation

Description: This course introduces the development of central theological themes in spiritual formation, from the Gospel of John into the present, including knowledge of God, the image and likeness of God, theosis, the active and contemplative lives, and the role of Scripture.

Outcomes: Having fully engaged with this class, students will be able to (1) describe the project of the Christian mystical tradition, (2) connect the developments of theosis, divine union and thresholds of formation in historical Christian theology, (3) relate historical contemplative practice to its relevance today.

Format: A self-paced “eight-week” class consisting of twenty-one 10- to 20-minute instructional videos, each paired with an integrative-reflective writing assignment.

Supplementary reading: Thomas Merton, A Course in Christian Mysticism, Liturgical Press, 2013, $19.95 ($11.99 Kindle), 180 pp. assigned.