File 2146 - Handout originals for 1984 lecture course

1.2 cm of textual records

File consists of original copies of student handouts for Nouwen's lecture course. This gathering of documents includes original typed summary lecture notes, newspaper clippings, pasted excerpts etc. that were most likely part of a 'master file' for use by Nouwen or his teaching assistants. Documents within this file are slightly different than the material found in the 1984 bound volume (file 2174), particularly in the ordering of handouts 17- 21. Included in this file is a World Peacemakers' pamphlet by Nouwen titled "Christ of the Americas: Dying and Rising and Coming Again". This pamphlet was not included in the bound volume.

Title based on contents of the file.

Introduction to the Spiritual Life (course code 2543), offered during the spring semester of 1984, was the first full course Nouwen taught at Harvard Divinity School. The course was held Tuesdays and Thursdays between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. The Gospel of Luke was the basis for the course. The course was divided up into 5 sections: Waiting in Expectation, Compassion and Hiddenness, Healing and Confrontation, Death and Resurrection, and The Holy Spirit in Worldwide Mission. Each student was required to write a personal spiritual commentary on the Gospel of Luke as well as a spiritual diary that had to be read by at least three other people, one of whom had to be a member of the class. Students were also required to attend small group discussions of six to eight people, and instructed to seek out a 'spiritual friend'. No grades were given for the course. Teaching Assistants included Jeff Coppage, Pat McCallum, Michael O’Laughlin, Jim Smith, and Peter Weiskel.

Revised by L Joson, 14 November 2018