SPI 501. Introduction to Christian Spiritualities and the Religious Leader's Spiritual Life. (3 h)

What is 'spirituality?' In this course, we will listen in on two thousand years of responses to this question, examine a diversity of mediums through which Christians have sought to encounter God, and consider the wide variety of spiritual practices Christians have embodied in their quests to experience and respond to God's presence. Students will be invited to reflect on their own responses to the question 'what is spirituality?' by writing spiritual autobiographies and sharing portions of them with others in the course. Students will also explore contemporary spiritual and contemplative practices.

SPI 530. Liturgical Writing as Spiritual, Theological, and Prophetic Act. (1-3 h)

Divinity students are often called upon to write or speak extemporaneously various elements for worship, such as prayers, litanies, confessions, invocations, and intercessions. This course provides students with diverse resources for worship leadership. The course encourages students to locate their own prayer styles, theologies and rhythms within the shared narratives and prayer experiences of historic and contemporary worshiping communities. The course also challenges students to explore and name what theologies they are embodying through their choices of language, images, styles, and forms in public prayers. The course is part worship literature review and reflection and part workshop. Students will learn about elements of worship and explore historic and contemporary examples. Students will also share each week in a writers’ workshop format their own liturgical writing samples. A primary aim of the course is to invite students to explore relationships between their own unique voices and theologies and their roles as public prophets, theologians, and spiritual leaders.

SPI 535. Worship as Spiritual Practice. (3 h)

A study of how worship shapes spirituality. Students explore spirituality, broadly defined, along with how congregational worship is a form of spiritual practice.

SPI 540. Music and the Church. (3 h)

This course is offered by the Music Department for Music and Divinity School Students. The course looks at the history of church music and practices of the use of church music in the contemporary church.

SPI 574. Listening for God: Poetry and Lyricism in Pastoral Care. (3 h)

Like poets, words are important for pastoral care providers. This course is designed to examine the work of contemporary poets and lyricists from a parabolic lens. We will consider the import of these resources as opportunities for spiritual growth, inspiration and renewal. This is a reading seminar in pastoral care - an introductory course in pastoral care is recommended for enrollment.

SPI 630. Womanist Theopoetics. (3 h)

This course explores the intersection of Womanist spirituality and visual and performance art, examining how art has been used as a powerful tool for expressing and shaping spiritual experiences of Black women. Through a combination of lectures, discussions, and presentations, students will gain an understanding of the historical, cultural, and social contexts that have influenced the development of Womanist spirituality and its representation in visual and performance art.

SPI 670. Classics of Christian Devotion. (3 h)

A study of the principles of the spiritual life presented in the enduring classics of devotion.

SPI 671. Spiritual Writers. (3 h)

A study of the principles of the spiritual life as presented in the works of selected spiritual writers.

SPI 672. The Mysticism of Howard Thurman. (3 h)

This course will explore the intersecting meanings of the mysticism of Howard Thurman and the religion of Jesus. Howard Thurman is increasingly recognized as one of the great spiritual exemplars of our day and time. Jesus of Nazareth is the focal and foundational figure of the Christian faith. The worlds of religious seeking and the human quest for wholeness have always been profoundly intertwined, grounded in the most intimate hopes and expansive possibilities of the human spirit. Our attention will be directed to the intricate and dynamic ways that issues of personal growth and agency in the social context are expressed in the writings and legacy of Thurman. The self-conscious participant, ever seeking to transgress against social divisions, is one expression of the broader human search for identity in common consciousness and cause. Essential to our work together this semester will be the evidence of our oneness across religious, racial, gender, sexual, class, ethnic, cultural, generational, geographic lines and more. Contemplative practices of presence and the critical excavation of course readings will serve as the framework for our community of learning in discourse and action.

SPI 680A. Readings for Holy Land Pilgrimage. (1 h)

A study of the history and practice of the spiritual discipline of Holy Land pilgrimages.

SPI 680B. Holy Land Pilgrimage. (2 h)

A study of the history and practice of the spiritual discipline of Holy Land pilgrimages.

SPI 690. Topics Courses. (1-3 h)

Examples of one hour topic courses include: Spiritual Development in Contemplative Prayer; Pentecostal Spirituality for the Whole Church; Quaker Spirituality; African American Spirituality: Representative Motifs.

SPI 690A. Topics in Spirituality. (1-3 h)

Courses in Spirituality and the Arts can be developed and offed on a one-time basis using this designation.

SPI 690B. Topics in Spirituality. (1-3 h)

SPI 690C. Topics in Spirituality. (1-3 h)

SPI 690D. Topics in Spirituality. (1-3 h)

SPI 690E. Topics in Spirituality. (1-3 h)

SPI 690F. Topics in Spirituality. (1-3 h)