Spirit/s & Pneumatology

Catalog description

Taught by GTU. This course explores the Christian understanding of the Holy Spirit within a pluralistic global context. Among the major topics covered will be the history of the development of doctrines related to this branch of theology, along with an examination of how these have been imagined, encoded, and deployed across time and place. Other relevant exploratory areas include the felt presence of the Spirit at work in the world and Church as well as the relationship between body and spirit. Finally, in light of contemporary contextual theologies, how do African, Asian, Latin American and feminist theologies of the Spirit engage these questions? How might we make sense of Spirit and spirits in the experience of indigenous Amerindian religious contexts and compare and contrast them to Christian elaborations of divine Spirit as a cosmic, creative, invigorating and animating force? The course will conclude with discussion of Spirit/s in other religious traditions. Some readings will be in Spanish, although Spanish is not required and is being taught by a Ph.D doctoral student in systematic theology in conjunction with a missiologist. This course is taught by PhD student Cecilia Titizano with a Newhall Award, under the supervision of Eduardo Fernandez.(Lecture/Seminar format. Papers and Presentation. Open to various levels with an opportunity for upgrading)