Course Summary

A consideration of spirituality

Laid out as a journey, the course explores that inquisitive spirit that causes one to look beyond the physical universe and claim the blessing that spirituality makes available. Beginning with the reasonableness of spirituality, the journey considers the connection of spirituality with the sacred and its actualization. The course is organized in five modules: (1) The Concept of Spirituality, (2) A Sense of the Sacred, (3) Spirituality Actualized, (4) A Spiritual Community, and (5) The Spiritual Life. A Spiritual Inventory is required before beginning the course. 3 semester hours of undergraduate credit.

Objectives

•  Explain spirituality in terms of faith, reason, and emotion.

•  Analyze the life of the spiritual person within the spiritual community.

•  Evaluate how a spiritual person applies ethical principles to all aspects of his/her life.

Credit. Credit for the course requires a score of 70 percent or greater on each of three multiple-choice examinations, a notebook containing all reflections, and one 2,000 word essay. Each of the five graded elements is valued at 20%. A sample exam problem is given below:

From a biblical point of view, to believe that God is a Spirit, and then use an image in worship (A) is acceptable, if the image is considered a "representation" of God and not God himself, (B) helps the worshiper focus on the true God, (C) is inconsistent with biblical teaching.

Resources

All required reading is online and without cost.  Details on hardcopy equivalents are noted below.