Contemplative Practice and Religious Reflection in Buddhism and Christianity  Adj. Prof. James Jones, January 7 – 11, 2008, 2-3 credits (AT 142):       With growing interest in meditation and contemplative prayer experiences and due to our increasingly pluralist society, Christians have become more and more familiar with the valuable insights and practices of Buddhism.  This course combines theory and practice of contemplation from both faith traditions. Students learn various Buddhist meditations and spiritual practices and how they could be integrated into an ongoing Christian life. Through readings, lectures, and discussions we explore how such practices are understood within Buddhism and how they might also be understood within Christian theology.

 Temple of the Spirit: the Body and Prayer  Adj. Prof. Nancy Roth, January 14 – 18, 2008, 2-3 credits (AT 144):     This class explores the integration of body and spirit as we respond to several questions: How can "spiritual exercises" drawn from the tradition of hatha yoga, tai chi, and other movement disciplines enrich our Christian faith?  How can we deepen our relationship with God by including our bodies as partners in prayer?  What does Scripture teach us about the integration of body/spirit? How does does this venture fit into Christian theology and history?  What does this understanding of unity tell us about our place in the web of creation?  The course moves between the experience of various body movement disciplines (which can be adapted for any age or level of experience and fitness), presentations, and discussion.

 Imagination of the Medieval Church: Art, Poetry and Spirituality 500 – 1500, Adj. Prof. Clair McPherson, January 21 – 25, 2008, 2-3 credits (AT 148):     This course explores the history of medieval spirituality through theology, poetry, and visual art from the age of Gregory I (7th century) to the late Middle Ages (14th-15th). Key texts include Letters of Gregory the Great; Old English and early medieval Latin poetry; the great early medieval histories; theological treatises by Anselm, Bernard of Clairvaux, and Peter Abailard; vernacular devotional lyrics; Thomas Aquinas’ Summae; Piers Plowman. Visual art includes Romanesque and Gothic art and architecture.

Classes may be taken for graduate level credit or audit.  Academic classes are $700 per credit or $450 per class for audit.  For more information visit our website: http://www.gts.edu/parttimenondegree.asp. 

 Registration deadline: 3 weeks prior to start of class.