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Lecturer(s)
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Serrán-Pagán Cristóbal, prof. Dr.
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Course content
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Basic Literature: Articles from Special Issue on Mysticism and Social Justice in Religions Recommended Literature: The Dalai Lama. Ethics for the new millennium. New York: Riverhead Books, 1999. Gandhi, Mohandas. (2003) Mohandas Gandhi: Essential writings. Orbis Books: Maryknoll, New York. King, Martin Luther, Jr. (1991) A Testament of hope: The essential writings and speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. Ed. James M. Washington. HarperSanFrancisco: San Francisco. Merton, Thomas. (2006) Passion for peace: Reflections on war and nonviolence. The Crossroad Publishing Company: New York. McGinn, Bernard. (1994) The Foundations of Mysticism. Crossroad: New York. Rakoczy, Susan. (2006) Great mystics and social Justice: Walking on the Two Feet of Love. Paulist Press: New York.
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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unspecified
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Learning outcomes
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This course will examine the link between mysticism and social justice through selected writings of Western and some Eastern mystical thinkers. The course will draw on the life and teachings of Laozi, Zhuangzi, Thomas Merton, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mohandas Gandhi, Abraham Joshua Heschel, Raimon Panikkar among others as case studies of mystical thinkers who addressed social justice issues. We will explore their historical and social contexts which gave rise to such mystical theologies, their critiques about the world and the religious institutions, and their personal and social commitment to integrate the contemplative life and the active life. We will explore the following key themes in their writings: religious pluralism and interfaith dialogue; war, peace and nonviolence; prayer and meditation; faith, politics and violence; religion, race, and gender; poverty, unemployment, and ecological crisis; religion and healing.
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Prerequisites
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unspecified
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Assessment methods and criteria
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unspecified
Students are expected to do the following if they want to get a good grade at the end of the semester: Attend classes (10%): Students are expected to attend classes and sign up on the sheet of paper at the beginning of the class. My policy of attendance is that students may miss up to 2 out of the 13 classes without any penalties. But once the student misses one more class the overall grade will drop one letter grade from A to B to C to D to F unless the student brings me proof of documentation from a doctor in case of illness. The student may fail the class if he or she misses a total of 6 classes which is almost half of the semester. Then, the student will need to repeat the class. Active participation in class (10%): Students are required to read all the material before coming to class. Be ready to actively participate in class discussions by sharing their thoughts with the professor and their classmates. How so? By asking good questions and sharing your opinions based on the reading material and your own research on the given topics. 4 short papers (15% each paper=60%): Students are required to submit 4 short papers (2 pages minimum and 3 pages maximum) based on the assigned readings. Which weakness and which strength did you find in each philosophical argument mentioned in the required chapters (see syllabus in Moodle)? Deadlines are important. Students will drop a letter grade each day it is delayed and is not submitted at the beginning of class. Oral Presentation (20%): Students will present orally one approved topic for research during the Exam week. It is mandatory to present on the chosen day. This counts 20% plus 10% from attendance and active participation. NOTE: In this seminar class there are no exams or quizzes but there are plenty of activities to learn from on how to improve your written and oral skills in English and to advance in your academic knowledge of the subject.
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Recommended literature
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