File 2144 - Assessment of Spiritual Direction and Spiritual Life and Spiritual Direction courses

0.5 cm of textual records

File consists of an eleven page typed assessment by Michael Zeman regarding Nouwen's two courses Spiritual Direction and The Spiritual Life and Spiritual Direction. In this assessment, Zeman reviews the development of the courses and the progression from the small seminar of 1980 to the two sessions of 1981. Zeman discusses the use of the Gospel of Luke, the meditative phrases, and the success of various components of the course, namely lectures, meditative phrases, silent reflection, and group discussions. It is not clear to whom this assessment is addressed and for what purpose.

A copy of this document can be found in the bound volume of handouts for this course (see file 2141).

Title based on contents of the file.

Spiritual Direction (course code REL 812a) was offered during the fall semester of 1980 as a seminar and was held at the Mercy Center (Madison, CT). Meetings were held 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm. The class was limited to 13 students. Nouwen emphasized the importance of commitment and community amongst the members of this seminar. Students were required to have a spiritual director and were asked to submit regular reflection papers and a critical evaluation of the course at the end of the year. The required reading for this course included Kenneth Leech's "Soul Friend" and Thomas Merton's " Spiritual Direction and Meditation". The teaching assistant for this course was Mich Zeman.
The Spiritual Life and Spiritual Direction was a lecture course offered the following semester during the spring of 1981. The course had two sections, Wednesdays 1:30 pm - 5:30 pm and Thursdays 1:30 pm - 5:30 pm. The course had over 120 students registered and was held at the Dunbar United Church of Christ to accommodate the class size. Each class included lectures on the nature of spiritual life (historical, theological, psychological aspects) and the practice of the spiritual life (specific forms of prayer, spiritual guidance). The classes also included periods of solitude when students were expected to meditate, pray or journal, and dialogue in small group meetings of seven or eight people. Nouwen also planned to have the class practice some of the disciplines together. Students were required to have perfect attendance, commitment to the small groups, weekly readings, and to write some reflection papers. Required reading also included Kenneth Leech's "True Prayer" and Anthony de Mello's " Sadhona- A Way of God". Nouwen stipulated that the course was strictly a credit/non-credit course (no grade given), and each student would receive a written evaluation of their work from Nouwen. Teaching assistants for this course were Joseph Nunez and Mich Zeman.

Revised by L Joson, 14 November 2018