File 2177 - Handout originals for 1985 lecture courses

0.5 cm of textual records

File consists of typed, handwritten, annotated and photocopied handouts. These handouts are copies that appear to be a master file of Nouwen's handouts for the course. Some of these handouts have been annotated by Nouwen for the purpose of his summer 1985 course at Boston College. There are also several notes between Nouwen and his assistant Peter Weiskel. File also contains a religious icon post card.

Related files include 2176, 2146, 2224.

Title based on contents of the file.

Introduction to the Spiritual Life (course code 2543), offered during the spring semester of 1985, was the last course Nouwen taught at Harvard Divinity School. It was held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9:30 am - 11:00 pm. The course was based on the previous year's course but with the Gospel of John replacing the Gospel of Luke as the core text. The course emphasized the relationship between The Word and spiritual life and the second term used a thematic approach to discuss intimacy, fecundity and ecstasy. Students were asked to keep a journal of reflections on John, class presentations, group debates, and lecture topics. They were also required to attend small group discussions of six to eight people and write a mid-course response. Unlike the 1984 course, students were only required to have two people read their journal and write a response. No grades were given for the course. In March, Nouwen organized a trip to Haiti for four students to assist the L'Arche community there. Teaching Assistants included David LeBlanc, Stephen Pavy, Peter Weiskel, Barbara Ernst, Michael O'Laughlin and Jim Smith.
Introduction to the Spiritual Life was an intensive lecture course offered between July 8 and 19, 1985 at Boston College, following Nouwen's resignation from Harvard. The course was held Monday to Friday, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm. The material of the course was drawn almost verbatim from the lecture courses offered by Nouwen in 1984 and 1985, with the typed lecture summary notes only being slightly modified. Nouwen's teaching assistants for this course were Jeff and Ann Dixon Coppage, David LeBlanc, Priscilla Pano, Ruby Hugh, Barbara Ernst, and Peter Weiskel.

Revised by L Joson, 15 November 2018