MSM courses A&B

Mount St Mary's - Series A Course Options

Participants can choose a total of FOUR courses to follow for the week, that is
ONE course only from each of the Series A, B, C and D.
However the long course (A2/C2) counts as two courses. So those choosing A2/C2 can also choose one other course from Series B and one from Series D.

A1 Four Psychological Views of Religious Experience
Brendan Callaghan SJ

“Perhaps we can say of experience what St Augustine is reputed to have said of time: we know what it is until we are asked to say what it is…”

Psychologists of very different schools have been fascinated by experiences which people describe as religious, and have adopted various methods to attempt to gain some understanding of what might be involved.

These classes will look at religious experience from the viewpoints of:

depth psychology (asking how Freudian & Jungian approaches to our unconscious functioning might be helpful);
developmental psychology (focussing on the experiences of children and young people);
social psychology (looking at rates of reported experience and some typical characteristics);
neuropsychology (examining what our developing capability to observe patterns of activity in the brain have to offer).

The approach will be that of a psychologist rather than that of a theologian, and will not involve any “practicals”.

Short Bibliography:

David Hay, Something There: The Biology of the Human Spirit
Kate Miriam Loewenthal, The Psychology of Religion: A Short Introduction

Brendan Callaghan

Brendan Callaghan SJ is an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, and for 30 years taught psychology of religion at Heythrop, where he founded what is still the only taught Masters degree in this subject in the world. He is currently Master of Campion Hall Oxford.

A2 How did Jesus see Himself?
Gerry J. Hughes SJ
(Note this is a course of 8 lectures and participants must also choose course C2)

The course attempts, to the extent it is possible for us in the 20^th century, to see Jesus of Nazareth through the eyes of the people to whom he preached and among whom he lived, and so to discover how he saw himself. It involves a careful look at the Gospels (please bring a New Testament if you are taking this course), as well as learning from other contemporary sources. What would it have been like to be a disciple, and then one of the first Christians?

Short Bibliography:

Gerard J. Hughes, Fidelity without Fundamentalism, Darton Longman & Todd
Gerard J Hughes, Is God to Blame? Veritas, Dublin
Raymond Brown, The Churches the Apostles Left Behind Paulist Press

Gerry Jughes

Gerry J Hughes is a Jesuit priest: he studied Classics at Oxford, and did a PhD in philosophy at the University of Michigan. He taught philosophy at Heythrop College 1970—98, was Master of Campion Hall in Oxford University 1998—2006, and, now in charge of nothing, still tutors in philosophy there. He is the author of Authority in Morals, The Nature of God, Aristotle on Ethics, Is God to Blame? and, in this last year, Fidelity without Fundamentalism: a Dialogue with Tradition.

A3 The Humean condition: Knowing God in the Western world
John Moffatt SJ

This course will look at why belief in God is difficult in our culture, exploring the scepticism of Hume and his successors. It will attempt to provide a partial response to some of the assumptions of that tradition and recover an understanding of reason that allows meaning to religious experience within a faith tradition.

Short Bibliography:

David Hume, Dialogues on Natural Religion, Miracles (from An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding)
Anthony Flew, The Presumption of Atheism, There is a God: How the world’s most notorious atheist changed his mind
Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion

John Moffatt

John Moffatt SJ has worked many years as a school chaplain and has most recently been working in university chaplaincy. He worked with the Living Theology team between 2000 and 2005. He has written a book called ‘Beyond the Catechism’ for Catholics who ask awkward questions. A revised and expanded version of the text is due to be produced by Way Publications in spring 2012 entitled ‘The Resurrection of the Word’.

Mount St Mary's - Series B Course Options

B1 Judaism and the New Testament
Jonathan Gorsky

Christianity began in the world of first century Judaism and learning about this world can profoundly enrich our understanding of the New Testament. This year we will focus on the significance of Jerusalem and the Temple for the first Christians. Jerusalem was the place where first century Jews encountered the presence of God, but it was also a place of conflict and ambivalence for the great number of pilgrims who flocked there to celebrate the pilgrim festivals of the Jewish liturgical year, of which Passover is still the best known. We will see how the Temple and its symbolism remain present in some forms of the Christian spiritual life, and how understanding of them was transformed by the first church, paying particular attention to New Testament texts and early Christian understanding of the Holy City. The Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD and we will explore the significance of this event for the development of both Christianity and early rabbinic Judaism.

Jonathan Gorsky

Jonathan Gorsky is Lecturer in Judaism and Christian Jewish Relations at Heythrop College, University of London.

B2 Ethical Issues in Ministry
Helen Costigane SHCJ

This course will explore key ethical issues arising in relation to ministry, including confidentiality, authority, power and competence, issues of abuse, sexuality and boundaries, the protection of children and vulnerable groups, and the importance of self-care for a minister. Suitable for all who have a ministry role in the Church, this course is taught by interactive teaching using case studies, with group discussion and time for individual questions. No knowledge presupposed.

Short bibliography:

Gula, R. M., Ethics in Pastoral Ministry, New York, Paulist Press, 1996
Lebacqz, K., Professional Ethics: Power and Paradox, Nashville, Abingdon Press, 1985
Lebacqz, K. and R. G. Barton, Sex in the Parish, Louisville, Westminster, 1991
Trull, J. E. and J. E. Carter, Ministerial Ethics, Nashville, Broadman & Holman, 1993
Wiest, W. E. and Elwyn A. Smith, Ethics in Ministry: A Guide for the Professional, Minneapolis, Fortress Press, 1990

Helen

Helen Costigane teaches Christian Ethics and Canon Law at Heythrop College, University of London

B3 After Jesus, What?
The Acts of the Apostles
Peter Edmonds SJ

The Acts of the Apostles is a good read. It is the most dramatic and human of the New Testament books. Its story begins in Jerusalem, the centre of Judaism and ends in Rome, the capital of the known world of the time. Its characters stand out as individuals, both in the way that they are portrayed, and in the contributions they make to the spread of the gospel. The backdrop of the book is the life of the major cities of the mighty Roman empire.

In this course we concentrate on turning points in the narrative and examine burning questions which the leading personalities had to face. These include the story of Stephen with his speech and his lynching, the career and ministry of Peter, the call and conversion of Paul, and outstanding events of his mission, such as the assembly in Jerusalem, his experience in Athens and his farewell to the elders of Ephesus. What are these events and personalities saying to the church of today?

The lecturer will presuppose only a beginner’s knowledge of the material and will welcome discussion.

Participants are recommended to read the text of the Acts of the Apostles beforehand.

Peter Edmonds

Peter Edmonds is a Jesuit priest who is a tutor in biblical studies in the University of Oxford.

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