Mystics, Sages, and Saints:

Archetypes of  Spiritual Excellence

NCTH 111 / 21347

Fall 2013

Instructor: Kenneth Rose, PhD

ktr5e@virginia.edu

Instructor Bio: Kenneth Rose is a professor of philosophy and religious studies and the director of the religious studies program at Christopher Newport University. He holds a PhD in religion from Harvard University and a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School. He is the author of Pluralism: The Future of Religion (Bloomsbury, 2013) and Knowing the Real: John Hick on the Cognitivity of Religions and Religious Pluralism (Peter Lang, 1996), in addition to many scholarly articles and reviews. 

Dates/Times: Mondays, 6:30 - 8:30pm, Sept 23-Nov 18 (no class Oct 21)

Location: UVa School of Continuing and Professional Studies, Zehmer Hall, Room B

Course Description: A mystic absorbed in contemplation, a sage perceiving the path to enlightenment, and a saint abiding in divine union are classic images of spiritual perfection. These archetypal sacred figures have much in common, since all seek the highest spiritual excellence. Yet they differ in methods for attaining that end, since sages stress insight and disciplined practice, while mystics and saints often counsel devotion and grace. This difference reflects a basic division in the spiritual life where active approaches complement passive approaches, as, for example in controversies about grace and action or whether people produce religious experiences through meditative techniques or whether they receive them as gifts. In this course, we will explore the lives and teachings of eight key figures in the unfolding of the spiritual life of humanity in order to learn how they balanced the demands of spiritual discipline with receptivity and openness to the ultimately real. Along the way, we will learn not only how people incorporate spiritual practices into their varied lives, but we will also become acquainted with the interpretive and critical perspectives of the academic study of religion.

Course Objectives/Learning Outcomes:

Acquiring familiarity with central concepts philosophy, religious studies, and comparative mysticism.

Acquiring skill in thinking critically and sympathetically about human religiosity.

Applying this knowledge and skill to the interpretation of humanity’s religious traditions.

Applying this knowledge and skill to one’s own views about philosophy, religion, and spirituality.

There are no required texts in this course, but the following book may be helpful:

Essential Spirituality, Roger Walsh (Wiley, ISBN: 0471392162)

Suggested texts, materials, helpful websites, etc.:

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/400861/mysticism

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/mysticism/

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10663b.htm

http://www.sacred-texts.com/myst/index.htm

https://www.coursera.org/course/mysticthought

http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~janzb/mysticism/

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