Spirituality of Thomas Merton

Instructor: Dr. Randy Jessen

Greetings and Welcome!  It is a joy to be with you for this course on the Spirituality of Thomas Merton.  He is my all time favorite Trappist monk!   I serve at the Senior Pastor of the Parker United Methodist Church in Parker, Colorado.  I have been deeply connected to the life and teachings of Thomas Merton since my first retreat to the Abbey of Gethsemani in December of 1983.  I have taught Merton's life and his lasting spiritual impact in several settings.  This will be the first time I have offered the material online.  Be patient with me!  Thanks!

My wife Sue and I are the founders of a mission agency called Global Hope (www.globalhope.org).  The focus is on children who have been abandoned, orphaned, at risk or impacted by HIV/AIDS around the world.  The organization has grown over the last 20 years to now provide Christian community for children in Romania, India, and Kenya.

Our current personal project is the restoration of a 1912 hotel / boarding house in a small town (130 people) in Eastern Colorado.  It is a labor of love that keeps us smiling and dreaming.

We live in Parker, Colorado with our adult adopted daughter Ana.  You can read about Ana's journey from a Romanian orphanage (where she was infected with HIV) to a joyful 27 year old young woman in Ana's Voice : When God Speaks Through a Silent Child.

You can contact me at rjessen@iliff.edu or call / text me at 719-244-2222.

Course Synopsis: The Spirituality of Thomas Merton ~ Fall 2016

A close look at the life, theology, and lasting spiritual impact of America’s most significant Trappist monk. Students will enter through the window of his life journey to capture a view of his lasting impact on contemporary conversations about spiritual formation, social ministry, and contemplative prayer.

The course will explore the life, teachings, and practices of Thomas Merton as a way of discovering his lasting spiritual impact.  We will look at his early spiritual autobiography ( The Seven Storey Mountain ), catch a glimpse of his broader personal background ( Living With Wisdom) , review his writings and life summary ( Introduction ), and explore the development of his thinking through his reflections ( New Seeds of Contemplation ).

Required Course Reading / Schedule / Grading

We will read and process the materials in the sequence that is listed below.

Reading Schedule Snapshot:

Note: Each week also includes participation in the classroom discussion

Week One Reading: September 12-16 ~  William Shannon - Thomas Merton: An Introduction Due by September 23               Video – Introduction to Merton

Week Two Reading :   September 19-23 ~ Thomas Merton - The Seven Storey Mountain (Part One)                                              Due by October 7

Week Three Reading : September 26-30 ~ Thomas Merton – The Seven Storey Mountai n (Part Two)                                    Due by October 14                           Videos –  1. Garden and grave tour            2.  Monks Pond

Week Four Reading: October 3-7 ~ Thomas Merton - The Seven Storey Mountain ( Part Three)                                              Due by October 7                           Video – The Early Life of Thomas Merton

Week Five Reading: October 10-14 ~ Jim Forrest – Living with Wisdom Due October 14                                Video – Merton’s Theology of Desire

Week Six Reading: October 17-21 ~ New Seeds of Contemplation (Chapters 1-18)                                                                Due by October 21                          Video – New Seeds of Contemplation

Week Seven Reading : October 24-28 ~ New Seeds of Contemplation (Chapters 19-39)                                                        Due by October 28                          Video – True Self vs False Self

Written Assignments:

Assignment #1:                 Due October 26, 2016 An eight to ten page reflection on the journey of Thomas Merton that connects his spiritual awakening and commitment to the life of the student.  This is due following the reading of The Seven Storey Mountain.   Choose a sequence or specific experience from the life of Merton that you can connect to your own life and faith.  Reflect on the significance of the experience and share how you were moved closer to your faith in Christ.

Note: Please select Option 1 or Option 2 for your second writing assignment.

Assignment #2 Option 1   Due November 18, 2016 A ten to twelve page document that is focused on a lasting impact from the writings and teaching of Thomas Merton.   Reflect on this feature from a Biblical, theological and social justice point of view.  Connect Merton’s experience in his day to current events and the ongoing process of spiritual formation

Assignment #2 Option 2   Due November 18, 2016 Develop a personal Rule of Life that is individualized to your needs and circumstances.  Base your document on a practical re-reading of the Rule of St Benedict.   Look at your life needs from the perspective of a multifaceted precious stone.  You may want to consider your investment in prayer, scripture, family, exercise, spiritual reading, service, personal finances, etc.  Provide a one page summary of the items from your Rule as the closing page of your document.

Grading:

The total student grade for the course will be based on three key factors.

1. 40% of the grade will come out of your participation in the course discussions
2. 20% of the grade will be developed from you mid-term written reflective document.
3. 40% of the grade will come from your final writing assignment for the course.

Degree Learning Goals: Please take some time to look over the Professional Degree Learning Goals (MDiv, MASC, MAPSC) and the Academic Degree Learning Goals (MTS, MA).

Incompletes:  If incompletes are allowed in this course, see the Master's Student Handbook for Policies and Procedures.

Pass/Fail:  Masters students wishing to take the class pass/fail should discuss this with the instructor by the second class session.

Academic Integrity and Community Covenant:  All students are expected to abide by Iliff’s statement on Academic Integrity, as published in the Masters Student Handbook, or the Joint PhD Statement on Academic Honesty, as published in the Joint PhD Student Handbook, as appropriate.  All participants in this class are expected to be familiar with Iliff’s Community Covenant.

Accommodations:  Iliff engages in a collaborative effort with students with disabilities to reasonably accommodate student needs.   Students are encouraged to contact their assigned advisor to initiate the process of requesting accommodations.  The advising center can be contacted at advising@iliff.edu or by phone at 303-765-1146. 

Writing Lab:  Grammar and organization are important for all written assignments.  Additional help is available from the Iliff Writing Lab, which is available for students of any level who need help beginning an assignment, organizing thoughts, or reviewing a final draft. 

Inclusive Language:  It is expected that all course participants will use inclusive language in speaking and writing, and will use terms that do not create barriers to classroom community.