Trinity College Faculty of Divinity in the Toronto School of Theology

Transcription

1 Trinity College Faculty of Divinity in the Toronto School of Theology THE CONTENT OF THIS DESCRIPTION IS NOT A LEARNING CONTRACT AND THE INSTRUCTO IS NOT BOUND TO IT. IT IS OFFERED IN GOOD FAITH AND INTENDED AS A HELPFUL GUIDE T THE STUDENT. =============================================================== ================ TITLE: TERM: Summer Celtic Christianity (ONLINE) YEAR: 2009 PROFESSOR: Schedule: Thomas Power 11 May-19 June REGISTRATION: LIMITED TO 25 UNLIMITED AUDITORS PERMITTED: YES x NO IF YES, HOW MANY COURSE DESCRIPTION: The contemporary revival of interest in the Celtic world is a feature of our age. Heightened interest has led to the appropriation of the Celtic tradition for different purposes by different interest groups. The result at a popular level has been that the historical reality of Celtic Christianity is increasingly elusive as claims made about it become exaggerated. The purpose of this course is to situate the Celtic Christian experience of the spiritual in the context of its development in Ireland between the 5th and the 12th centuries. Topics addressed include the transition from pagan to Christian, monasticism, creativity and art, prayer, scripture, and evangelism. Attention is also given to the pattern of revivals over the centuries and connections between postmodernism and the Celtic tradition. Discussion forums, short papers. COURSE OUTCOMES: 1. That the student will understand the different phases of development of the Church in Ireland from the advent of Christianity (c.400 AD) to the 12th century. 2. To appreciate the cultural and artistic achievements of the Church in that period. 3. To gain experience in the identification and use of a selection of key primary documents in translation dating to the period. PREREQUISITES:

2 No Prerequisites. BIBLIOGRAPHY: 1. Bibliographic Guides Hughes, K. Early Christian Ireland: Introduction to the Sources (Cambridge, 1972). Kenney, J.F. The Sources for the Early History of Ireland: Ecclesiastical (NY, 1929; reprint Shannon, 1968). Lapidge, M. & R. Sharpe, A Bibliogrpahy of Celtic-Latin Literature (Dublin, 1985). 2. Introductory Summary Surveys Leclerq, J., F. Vandenbroucke, & L. Bouyer, A History of Christian Spirituality, ii: The Spirituality of the Middle Ages (New York, 1968). (Ch. II: The Irish Invasion). Macquarrie, J. "Celtic Spirituality" in G.S. Wakefield (ed.), The Westminster Dictionary of Christian Spirituality (Philadelphia, 1983). O'Laoghaire, D. "Irish Spirituality" in Wakefield, op.cit. Idem., "Insular Traditions: Celtic Spirituality" in C. Jones, G. Wainwright, & E. Yarnold (ed.), The Study of Spirituality (New York, 1986). Riché, P. "Spirituality in Celtic and Germanic Society" in B. McGinn & J. Meyendorff (ed.), Christian Spirituality I (New York, 1987). 3. General Works Bradley, Ian. The Celtic Way (London, 1993). Chadwick, N. The Celts (London, 1971). Chadwick, N. The Age of the Saints in the Early Celtic Church (Oxford, 1961). Culling, E. What is Celtic Christianity? (Cambridge, 1993). Cunliffe, B. The Celtic World (London, 1979). De Waal, E. Every Earthly Blessing: Rediscovering the Celtic Tradition (Harrisburg, PA, 1999). Green, M. The Celtic World (London, 1995). Hardinge, L. The Celtic Church in Britain (London, 1972). Hughes, K. The Church in Early Irish Society (London, 1966). Hughes, K. The Modern Traveller to the Early Irish Church (London, 1977). Joyce, T.J. Celtic Christianity: A Sacred Tradition, A Vision of Hope (Maryknoll, NY, (1998). Maher, M. (ed.)irish Spirituality (Dublin, 1981). Mackey, J.P. An Introduction to Celtic Christianity (Edinburgh, 1989). Mitton, M. Restoring the Woven Cord: Studies of Celtic Christianity for the Church Today (London, 1995). O'Donoghue, N.D. The Mountain Behind the Mountain (Edinburgh, 1993). O'Loughlin, T. The Scriptures and Early Medieval Ireland (Turnhout, 1996). Simpson, Ray. Exploring Celtic Spirituality: Historic Roots for Our Future (London, 1995).

3 4. Anthologies and Primary Works in Translation Allchin, A.M. & E. De Waal, Threshold of Light: Prayers and Praises in the Celtic Tradition (London, 1986). Bede, Venerable. A History of the English Church and People (Markham, 1968). Davies, O. Celtic Spirituality (The Classics of Western Spirituality) (New York, 1999). Davies, O. & F. Bowie. Celtic Christian Spirituality: An Anthology of Medieval and Modern Sources (New York, 1995). De Waal, E. The Celtic Vision: Prayers and Blessings from the Outer Hebrides (London, 1988). Jackson, K.H. A Celtic Miscellany (London, 1971). Murphy, G. Early Irish Lyrics (Oxford, 1956). O'Meara, J.J. The Voyage of Saint Brendan: Journey to the Promised Land (Mountrath, 1976). 5. Art Farr, C. The Book of Kells: Its Function and Audience (Toronto, 1997) Green, M. Symbol and Image in Celtic Religious Art (London, 1989). Henderson, G. From Durrow to Kells: the Insular Gospel Books, (London, 1987). Henry, F. Irish Art During the Viking Invasions, A.D. (London, 1967). Meehan, B. The Book of Kells: An Illustrated Introduction to the Manuscript in Trinity College Dublin (London, 1994). Ryan, M. Ireland and Insular Art, AD (Dublin, 1987). 6. Specific Topics Bradley, I. Celtic Christianity: Making Myths and Chasing Dreams (Edinburgh, 1999). Carey, J. King of Mysteries: Early Irish Religious Writings (Dublin, 2000). Chisholm, F.P. The Stowe Missal: its historical, cultural, sacramental and liturgical significance in the Celtic Church (Toronto 1978). Clarke, H.B. & M. Brennan (ed.), Columbanus and Merovingian Monasticism (Oxford, 1981) De Paor, M. B. Patrick: The Pilgrim Apostle of Ireland (New Yoirk, 1998). De Waal, E. The Celtic Way of Prayer: The Recovery of the Religious Imagination (New York, 1997). Ellis, R & C.Seaton. New Celts: Following Jesus into Millennium 3 (Eastbourne, 1998). Hanson, R.P.C. Saint Patrick: his Origin and Career (Oxford, 1968) Harbison, P. Pilgrimage in Ireland: Monuments and the People (Syracuse, 1992). Herbert, M. Iona, Kells and Derry: the History and Historiography of the Monastic Familia of Columba (Oxford, 1988). Hunter, G. The Celtic Way of Evangelism: how Christianity can Reach the West Again (Nashville, 2000). Lapidge, M.(ed.) Columbanus: Studies on the Latin Writings (Woodbridge, 1997). Low, M. Celtic Christianity and Nature: Early Irish and Hebridean Traditions (Belfast, 1996). MacCana, P. Celtic Mythology (London, 1970). MacDonald, A.D.S. "Aspects of the monastery and monastic life in Adomnan's Life of

4 Columba" Peritia 3 (1984), Sharpe, R. Medieval Irish Saints Lives (Oxford, 1991). Sheldrake, P. Living Between Worlds: Place and Journey in Celtic Spirituality (London, 1995). Simpson, R. Soul Friendship: Celtic Insights into Spiritual Mentoring (London, 1999). Stevenson, J.B. The Liturgy and Ritual of the Celtic Church, 2nd ed. (Woodbridge, 1987). Whiteside, L. The Spirituality of St. Patrick (Dublin, 1996). *Supplemented by e-resources on the course site. WRITTEN & ORAL ASSIGNMENTS/TESTS: Your work in this course will be assessed in two ways: 1. Discussion Forums. 2. Short Papers. 1. Discussion Forums There will be three discussion forums. Each will run for two weeks. They will each involve working with a group of others.depending on the numbers in the class, specific topics for each forum may be assigned to different groups. Here are the topics for each unit: Discussion Forum 1 (Weeks 1 and 2) Based on Unit 1: Celtic Christianity and Postmodernism Read my paper on "Celtic Christianity and the Postmodern Spiritual Quest". Consider the following questions: # Why has there been such an interest in the Celtic world at critical junctures in the history of Western civilization? # What does the contemporary revival of interest in Celtic Christianity say about the culture within which we subsist? # Is the rediscovery of the Celtic Christian heritage legitimate in terms of the contemporary needs of the Church? # What are the dangers of appropriating the Celtic past into the present? Discussion Forum 2 (Weeks 3 and 4) Based on Unit 3: Lives of the Saints and the Confession You will be assigned to do either (a) or (b) (a) Each group will choose and read one of the lives of the saints listed on the Resource page and answer the following questions: # What key hagiographical elements (e.g. asceticism, miracles, heroic attributes, assertion of rights) are present in the life? To what purpose? # What key hagiographical elements are absent in the life? To what purpose? (b) Read Patrick's Confession and answer the following: # In what sense is Ireland, "the land of my captivity", simultaneously the arena of both Patrick's outer and inner pilgrimage?

5 # Identify examples of the motif of suffering in the Confession # The Confession is dense with biblical allusions. How would you characterize Patrick's use of Scripture? # Identify the Trinitarian elements in the Confession Discussion Forum 3 (Weeks 5 and 6) Based on Unit 6: Art and Creativity Read my two papers entitled, "Art, Creativity, and Celtic Christianity" and "The Book of Kells", and reflect on the following questions: # In what ways do you think works like the Book of Kells in the Celtic Christian context exemplify the notion of art as worship or prayer? # Do you agree that in their creativity Celtic Christians were "sacramentalist, trinitarian and reformational"? This forum runs during Weeks 5 and 6. The method for each forum is as follows: Each forum topic (with group allocations) will be available in the Discussion Forum. Work as a group discussing aspects of the topic. Assign a question to each group member if appropriate and by consent. A group leader, summarizer and reporter will be designated. Agree on a final group response to the topic and write up a report of at least 1500 words or about 4/5 pages and post it in the forum by the following Monday when the forum closes. Value of each forum: 20%. 2. Short Papers You will be required to write two short papers for the course, one due at the end of Unit 4 (6 June), the other two weeks after the course ends on 4 July. Length: about 7 pages (2,500-2,800 words) double spaced. Include a bibliography and references/footnotes. Theme: These can be on any topic deriving from material covered in the course. Pre-approval: Please pre-approve the topic with me. # For the first paper send me the title and an outline with headings or paragraph description (1 page) not later than the end of Unit 2 (23 May). # For the second paper send me the title and an outline with headings or paragraph description (1 page) not later than the end of Unit 5 (13 June). Value: 20% each. Submission: Submit them to me as an attachment (MS Word). In the subject line of your and for the file name, please use the following format: Use the abbreviation "sp" for short paper, and your initials. Thus, for example, "sptp". This facilitates the easy identification grading, and return of papers. CLASSROOM PROCEDURES: Students enage with the course materials online including the following units: * Unit 1: Revivals Ancient and Modern * Unit 2: The Celtic World: Society and Institutions

6 * Unit 3: Saints, Sanctity, and Spiritual Biography * Unit 4: Monks, Monasteries, and Meaning * Unit 5: Scripture, Art, and Worship * Unit 6: Journeys and Evangelism This is supplemented by weekly prescribed readings, weekly dicussion forums on topics (see above), and writing short papers. There is a stress on collaborative learning: student with instructor, student to student, and student with material. GRADING PROCEDURES: 1. Discussion Forums.(3 x 20% = 60%) 2. Short Papers. (2 x 20% = 40%) ATTENDANCE: My expectation is that students login daily to the course and participate in the discussion forums.