Instructors: Father Lawrence, Dr. Faulk

T Th 9:30 a.m. room 314

Father Lawrence Stasyszen, OSB

Office: AD 011, (In the Center for Spiritual Development)

Web-Page: http://intranet.sgc.edu/people/faculty/frlawrence

Email: frlawrence@sgc.edu

Office Hours: Except for when I am in class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I am generally in my office from 9:30-11:50 a.m., and from 1:00-4:00 p.m. I am, however, often in meetings or off campus for various business. You can check my calendar on my web-site. If you need to reach me, please leave a message with Trish Koehler in the CSD or on my answering machine. Spontaneity is good, but appointments are often necessary.

Dr. Ron Faulk

Office: Room 310

Web-Page:  http://intranet.sgc.edu/people/faculty/rhfaulk

Email: rhfaulk@sgc.edu

Office hours: T, Th 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

And by appointment

Course Description: This course presents a theoretical and practical examination of the spiritual nature of 'person-hood' as it relates to health and wellness. Following critical reflection upon the distinct nature of the spiritual component of the individual, the latter is examined in relationship to all aspects of being (physical, emotional, cognitive, personality, etc.). Special emphasis is given to recognition and treatment of pathologies related to spiritual issues and the role spirituality plays in achieving full actualization as a person.

Counseling methods that address spiritual issues will be examined, such as the twelve-step program, various pastoral counseling methods, and "alternative" therapies. Figures who have contributed to an understanding of our spiritual nature from the social sciences perspective will also be discussed, such as Jung and Maslow.

By the end of the course each student will:

• Have a working definition of "spirituality" from both a psychological and theological perspective;
• Have a beginning understanding of the relationship between spiritual well-being and health;
• Have developed a personal model of the functional components of "self";
• Understand Jung's concept of spirituality and approach to therapy;
• Recognize certain spiritual pathologies and have developed models for treating them;
• Have developed a model for achieving wellness and peak states of being through spiritual growth.

Required Texts:

The Best of the Review III/ The Christian Ministry of Spiritual Direction. Ed. Fleming, David. Review for Relligious: St. Louis, MO. 1996

Jung, C.G. Memories, Dreams, Reflections. Vintage: NY. 1989.

Funk, Margaret. Thoughts Matter: The Practice of the Spiritual Life. Continuum: NY. 1998.

Holy Bible.

Walker, Richmond. The Seven Points of Alcoholics Anonymous. Glen Abbey Books: Seattle, WA. 1989.

Au, Wilkie and Cannon, Noreen. Urgings of the Heart: A Spirituality of Integration. Paulist Press: NY. 1995.

Brammer, Lawrence and MacDonald, Ginger. The Helping Relationship/ Process and Skills. Seventh Ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. 1999.

Conn, Walter. The Desiring Self/ Rooting Pastoral Counseling in Spiritual Direction in Self Transcendance. NY: Paulist Press. 1998.

Erikson, Erik. Identity and the Life Cycle. W.W. Norton: NY. 1980.

Hafen, Brent, et al. Mind/Body Health/ The Effects of Attitudes, Emotions, and Relationships. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. 1996.

Human Development/ The Jesuit Educational Center for Human Development. Silver Spring, MD.

Paloutzian, Raymond. Invitation to the Psychology of Religion Second Ed. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. 1996.

Seaward, Brian Luke. Managing Stress: Principles and Strategies for Health and Wellbeing. Second Ed. Jones and Bartlett: Sudbury, MA. 1997.

Shelley, Judith; John, Sandra, et al. Spiritual Dimensions of Mental Health. InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, IL. 1983.

Course Format: limited lecture by the two co-facilitators, small group presentations, outside student research and reports.

Grades:

Oral presentations 20%

Short essays or assignments 20%

Two essays (min 1,000 words each) 40% (20% each, may be revised)

Reflection Journal 10%

Vocabulary words (8 per week) 10%

Notes:

1. The reflection journal should contain a reflection on each article or test read in the class. We also suggest you keep a record and description of your dreams during the period of the class, as parts of the class will examine dreams as a manifestation of the unconscious with possible spiritual connotations.
2. Vocabulary words should be kept in a journal or notebook; work definitions should include the roots and their derivations (Latin, Greek, Old English, etc.).
3. Late papers will have a letter grade dropped. Late papers will not be accepted later than one week past the due date.

Attendance Policy: Attendance and participation are required. After three unexcused absences students will be dropped a letter grade.

Weekly Syllabus (subject to modification):

PART I.: Introduction. The concept of "spirituality" in the behavioral sciences today; review of the components of "self" according to various psychological and theological perspectives; working definitions of "self," ego, etc.; working definitions of spirituality.

Week 1 (Jan. 13): Introduction. "Spirituality" and behavioral health today. For a continuing discussion of "spirituality" and behavioral health today, have read Wicker, Christine. (1999). Psychology and Spirit. Special to Dallas Morning News. 11/13/99, and Brammer and MacDonald "The Need for Revolution in Mental Health Care" pp.16-18.

Week 2: Short essay due defining your concept of "spirituality." For a beginning theological definition of "spirituality" have read, from the Holy Bible, Genesis Chapters 1-3. What is Christian anthropology? What is sin and how is it related to health? Have read in Christian Ministry of Spiritual Direction Angelo Caligiuri "Spirituality and Ordinary Human Experience" (pp.12-18), and Edward Kinerk, "Toward a Method for the Study of Spirituality" (p.19-35). Also have read Urgings of the Heart, "Epilogue: To Have, To Hold, And To Hand Over," for a discussion of the relationship between wholeness and spirituality.

Week 3: Review and definitions of the components of "self" from both a psychological and theological perspective. Have read Erikson, "Ego Strength and Social Pathology." Have read Conn Ch.3 "Understanding the Self" and Ch.4 "The Self In Post-Freudian Psychoanalytic Theory". Discussion of Maslow's theory of self-actualization. Begin reading Jung, Memories, Dreams, Reflections.

PART II.: Jung on spirituality, pathology and health.

Week 4: Have read Jung, Memories, Dreams, Reflections through p.145. Discussion of Jung's basic concepts (animus and anima, consciousness and unconscious, archetypes, collective unconscious). Is spirituality related to consciousness? Self-awareness?

Week 5 (Feb. 8, 10): Have finished reading Jung. Have read Urgings of the Heart Ch.2. "The Abandoned Self: The Shadow and Wholeness."

PART III.: The interaction of spiritual direction and psychology.

Week 6: Have read Christian Ministry of Spiritual Direction Part III pp.123-236, "Spiritual Direction: Its Interaction With Psychology."

Week 7: Continuing discussion of Christian Ministry of Spiritual Direction.

PART IV.: A practical examination of the relationship between "thoughts" and spiritual health.

Week 8: Have read Thoughts Matter. Discussion of the relationships between thought disorders, thought control, spirituality, and health.

Week 9: Continuing analysis of Thoughts Matter.

Week 10 (March 13-17): SPRING BREAK

PART V.: The 12-Step Program and other spiritual based therapies.

Week 11: Have read The Seven Points of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Week 12: For a behavioral science perspective on spirituality and treatment/healing, have read Hafen et all, Ch.17 "The Healing Power of Spirituality," Ch.18 "Altruism and Health," Ch.19 "The Healing Power of Faith". For a discussion of the relationship between religiosity, spirituality, and healing have read Paloutzian Ch.9, "Religion, Health and Well-Being".

PART VI.: The power of love, the necessity of intimacy, the drive of wholeness from, Jesus as a healer.

Week 13 (April 4, 6): For a discussion of the roles of wholeness and self-transcendence in health and healing, have read Urgings of the Heart, Ch.1., "Holistic Spirituality, Our Hunger for Wholeness."

Week 14: Have read Conn, Ch.5, "Self-Transcendence, the True Self, and Self-Love."

Week 15 (April 18, Thursday is Passover): Have read Urgings of the Heart, Ch.7, "Intimacy: A Crucible to Wholeness."

Week 16: McDonald, Patrick, MSW. (1999). The Power of Compassionate Love. Human Development, vol.19, no.1, 21-24. English, Leona. (1999). Steps Toward Completing Life. Human Development. Vol.20, No.2. 5-9.

Week 17 (May 2, 4): Kenel, Mary, Ph.D. (1999). Steps Towards Completing Life. Human Development, Vol. 19, No.1. 25-28. Thursday, short essay on your definition of "spirituality."

Week 18 (May 8-12): FINAL EXAM WEEK.

Saturday May 13: Commencement.

Appendix

Questions to consider:

1. What is the relationship between ethics and spirituality? Does making money off the sick injure the spirit of the practitioner? Impair his/her ability to effectively treat? Can a counselor with an injured spirit heal?
2. What is the relationship between emotional injury and spiritual pathology?
3. Can pharmaceuticals be used in spiritual treatment?
4. How is spiritual development/health related to socialization? Can groups help heal?
5. What is the relationship between religiosity, spirituality, and health/healing?
6. Does healing of the spirit involved the "laying on" of hands?
7. What is the difference between spiritual illness and spiritual health/actualization?
8. How is spirituality related to self-awareness/consciousness?
9. What is a "spiritual" lifestyle?

end