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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: Ibn Al'Arabi. (1980) The bezels of wisdom. Trans. R. W. J. Austin. Paulist Press, Mahwah, New Jersey. John of the Cross. (1990) Dark night of the soul. Trans. E. Allison Peers. Doubleday: New York. Moses de Leon. (1983) Zohar: The book of enlightenment. Trans. Daniel C. Matt. Paulist Press: Ramsey, New Jersey. Teresa of Avila. (1983) The interior castle. Trans. Kieran Kavanaugh and Otilio Rodriguez. Paulist Press: Ramsey, New Jersey. Recommended Literature: Haglof, Anthony. (1980) "Buddhism and the nada of St. John of the Cross." Carmelite Studies 1: 183 203. Idel, Moshe & Bernard McGinn. (1996) Mystical union in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Continuum: New York. King, Ursula. (1998) Christian Mystics. Simon & Schuster: 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 explore not only the rich and diverse history of the Christian mystical tradition but also that of the Jewish and Muslim traditions in the context of religious coexistence in the Iberian Peninsula. The purpose of this course is to introduce the life, the works, and the teachings of some of the major figures of the world's religious traditions in an effort to discern the variety of mystical experiences and their transformative power in regard to the person and the society. Our inquiry will focus on the contribution of the mystics to the human condition and to the state of the world so that we can gain a humanistic appreciation of those contemplative mystics who responded prophetically to the social and religious issues of their time. The course will highlight the mystical teachings of Ibn Arabi, Moses de León (author of the Zohar), St. Teresa of Ávila, and St. John of the Cross. In our academic inquiry we will consider the interdisciplinary character of the comparative study of mysticism by entering into such fields of knowledge as fine arts, psychology, business, law, ethics, literature, history, philosophy, theology, and religious studies. Living more or less in a postmodernist age we will examine important issues such as gender, ecology, power, and interfaith/interreligious dialogue.
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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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