Dr. Elizabeth Dreyer
This course examines the Holy Spirit in the Christian tradition. Beginning with our experience of Spirit today, we will also explore the ideas, language, images and metaphors for the Spirit in the Bible, medieval authors, art, contemporary theology, and current movements such as Pentecostalism. The so-called neglect of the Holy Spirit is rapidly begin corrected as scholars integrate the tradition on the Spirit with new perspectives on the third person of the Christian Trinity.
Required Texts
Bible
Dreyer, Elizabeth A. Holy Power, Holy Presence: Rediscovering Medieval Metaphors for
the Holy Spirit (Paulist, 2007).
Kärkkäinen, Veli-Matti, Pneumatology: The Holy Spirit in Ecumenical, International,
and Contextual Perspective (Baker Academic, 2002).
Requirements
--Weekly attendance at class, careful preparation of assignments and quality participation. 20%
--Short writing assignments/quizzes /leading class discussion 20%
--Book Review 20%
--Final paper. 40%
I. The Holy Spirit in the Bible
September 4
Introductions
Who/What is the Holy Spirit?
The Trinity: Two Guys and a Bird? -- “Winged Migration”
Veni Creator Spiritus (below)
Syllabus.
September 8 Images of the Spirit. “Facing.” The Spirit at the Cross. Trinity
Read: Kärkkäinen, Chapter 1.
Slides
September 11 The Holy Spirit as a person.
Read: Mary Ann Fatula, pp. 21-32.
Slides
September 15 The Holy Spirit and the Hebrew Scriptures: The Spirit as “breath”
Read: Kärkkäinen, pp. 23-28
Genesis 1 Isaiah
September 18 The Holy Spirit in Paul and Acts: The Holy Spirit as “power” and “fire”:
the Spirit at Pentecost
Read: Kärkkäinen, pp. 28-36.
Gal. 3.1-5; 4.6. 1 Cor 1.4-9; 2.4-16; 6. 9-19. 2 Cor 3.17. 1 Thess 1.5-9; 2.13.
2 Thess 2.13. Eph1.13. Titus 3.5-7. Rom 5.5; 8.2-15. Acts, Chapters 1-3.
September 22 The Holy Spirit in the Gospels
Read: Luke 1. 26-38; Mt 3.13-17; Mark 1.9-11; Lk 3.21-22; John 20. 19-23.
Slides of Annunciation and Baptism
September 25 The Holy Spirit as “bond of love” and “life”
Read: Moltmann, The Source of Life: The Holy Spirit and the Theology of Life
Pp. 26-37; 70-88; 125-45.
September 29: Open Discussion
II. The Holy Spirit in the Middle Ages
October 2 Holy Spirit in the Tradition
Read: Kärkkäinen, Chapter 3, pp. 37-65.
October 6
Read: Dreyer, Chapter 1.
October 9 Augustine of Hippo
Read: Dreyer, Chapter 2.
October 14 Hildegard of Bingen
Read: Dreyer, Chapter 3.
October 16 Bernard of Clairvaux
Read: Dreyer, Chapter 4.
October 20 Bonaventure of Bagnoregio
Read: Dreyer, Chapter 5.
October 23 Catherine of Siena
Read: Dreyer, Chapter 6.
October 27 Julian of Norwich
Read: Dreyer, Chapter 7
October 30 Open Discussion
III. The Holy Spirit: Past and Present
November 3
Read: Kärkkäinen, Chapter 4
November 6
Pentecostalism: Film
November 10
Read: Kärkkäinen, Chapter 5
November 13 Prophecy
Read: Kärkkäinen, Chapter 6
November 17
Read: Dreyer, Chapter 8.
November 20 The Holy Spirit today: social and pastoral implications: Baptism, Confirmation,
Prayer, healing, women.
Read: Kärkkäinen, Epilogue
November 24 No class. American Academy of Religion
December 1 The Holy Spirit and Ecology
Read: Mark I. Wallace, Finding God in the Singing River (Minneapolis, Fortress Press,
2005), pp. ix-xii; 1-25.
December 4 Discernment
Read: New Dictionary of Catholic Spirituality: “Discernment” by Michael Buckley
(In Library reference room).
David Lonsdale, Eyes to See, Ears to Hear: An Introduction to Ignatian
Spirituality (Orbis, 2000), Chapter 4, “Discernment of Spirits.”
December 8 Final class
Slides: Pentecost
Wrap-up
Evaluations
Select Bibliography
Badcock, Gary D. Light of Truth and Fire of Love: A Theology of the Holy Spirit. Grand
Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997.
Bracken, Joseph and Marjorie Hewitt Suchocki, eds. Trinity in Process: A Relational
Theology of God. Continuum, 1997.
Burns, J. Patout and Gerald M. Fagin. The Holy Spirit. Wilmington, Del: Michael
Glazier, 1984.
Cantalamessa, R. The Holy Spirit in the Life of Jesus. [BT35 C3613 1994.]
Chinnici, Joseph P., ed. Devotion to the Holy Spirit in American Catholicism. Paulist,
1985.
Coffey, David. Grace: The Gift of the Holy Spirit. Catholic Institute of Sydney, 1979.
Cooke, Bernard, Power and the Spirit of God: Toward an Experience-Based
Pneumatology. Oxford, 2004.
Comblin, Jose. The Holy Spirit and Liberation. Trans. Paul Burns. Maryknoll NY: Orbis
Books, 1989.
Congar, Yves. I Believe in the Holy Spirit. Trans. Geoffrey Chapman, 3 vols. New
York: Seabury, 1979-83.
Davis, Stephen et al., eds. The Trinity. Oxford, 1999.
Del Colle, Ralph. Christ and the Spirit: Spirit-Christology in Trinitarian Perspective.
NY: Oxford, 1994.
Dunn, James. The Christ and the Spirit 2: Pneumatology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.
_____. Jesus and the Spirit: a Study of the Religious and Charismatic Experience of
Jesus and the First Christians as Reflected in the New Testament. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1997 [1975].
Edwards, Denis. Breath of Life: A Theology of the Creator Spirit. Maryknoll: Orbis,
2004.
Fatula, Mary Ann. The Holy Spirit: Unbounded by Joy. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical
Press, 1998.
Gelpi, Donald. The Divine Mother: A Trinitarian Theology of the Holy Spirit.
Washington, D.C.: University Press of America, 1984.
Goergen, Donald J. Fire of Love: Encountering the Holy Spirit. Paulist, 2006.
Gonzalez, Justo L. Acts: The Gospel of the Spirit. Maryknoll: Orbis, 2001.
Groppe, Elizabeth, Yves Congar’s Theology of the Holy Spirit. Oxford, 2004.
Hill, William J. The Three-Personed God: The Trinity as a Mystery of Salvation.
Washington, D.C.: Catholic University Press, 1982.
Hinson, Glenn. Fire in my Bones: Transcendence and the Holy Spirit in African
American Gospel. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2000.
Hinze, Bradford, ed. The Spirit in the Church and the World. Maryknoll: Orbis, 2004.
Hinze, Bradfor E and D. Lyle Dabney, eds.. Advents of the Spirit. Milwaukee, Wis.:
Marquette University Press, 2001.
Humphrey, Edith M. Ecstasy and Intimacy: When the Holy Spirit Meets the Human
Spirit. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2006.
Hunt, Anne. The Trinity and the Paschal Mystery: A Development in Recent Catholic
Theology. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1997.
_____. The Trinity? Paulist, 1998.
John Paul II. The Spirit, Giver of Life and Love: A Catechesis on the Creed.
_____. Celebrate 2000!: Reflections on the Holy Spirit: Weekly Readings for 1998.
Ann Arbor, Mich.: Servant Publications, 1997.
Johnson, Luke Timothy. Religious Experience in Earliest Christianity: A Missing
Dimension in New Testament Studies. Mpls: Augsburg Fortress, 1998.
Kennedy, D. Robert. The Politics of the Spirit: Understanding the Holy Spirit in the
Community Called Church.
Kizhalleparampil, Isaac. The Invocation of the Holy Spirit as Constitutive of the
Sacraments According To Cardinal Yves Congar. Chicago: Loyola Press, 1995.
Küng, Hans and Jurgen Moltmann, eds. Conflicts About the Holy Spirit. New York:
Seabury, 1979.
Loder, James E. The Logic of the Spirit: Human Development in Theological
Perspective. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1998.
Marsh, Thomas. The Triune God: A Biblical, Historical, and Theological Study.
Mystic, Conn.: Twenty-Third Publications, 1994.
McDonnell, Kilian, ed., The Holy Spirit and Power. Garden City: Doubleday, 1975.
_____. The Other Hand of God: The Holy Spirit as the Universal Touch and Goal.
Collegeville, Minn: Liturgical Press, 2003.
McGregor, Bede and Thomas Norris, eds. The Beauty of Christ: An Introduction to the
Theology of Hans Urs von Balthsar. Edinburgh and Washington, D.C.: T & T
Clark.
McIntyre, John. The Shape of Pneumatology: Studies in the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit.
T & T Clark, 1997.
Moltmann, Jurgen. The Spirit of Life: A Universal Affirmation. Mpls: Fortress, 1992.
_____. The Source of Life: The Holy Spirit and the Theology of Life. Philadelphia:
Fortress Press, 1997.
_____.A New Theology of Creation and the Spirit of God. Trans Margaret Kohl. San
Francisco: Harper & Row, 1985.
_____. The Church in the Power of the Spirit. London: SCM, 1977.
Montague, George T. The Holy Spirit: Growth of a Biblical Tradition. New York:
Paulist, 1976.
______. Holy Spirit, Make Your Home in Me: Biblical Meditations on
Receiving the Gift of the Spirit. Word Among Us Press, 2008.
Moule, C.F.D. The Holy Spirit. Oxford: Mobray, 1976.
Muller-Fahrenholz, Geiko, God’s Spirit: Transforming a World in Crisis. Trans. John
Cumming. NY:Continuum, 1995.
Newman, Paul W. A Spirit Christology: Recovering the Biblical Paradigm of Christian
Faith. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 1987.
_____. Humanity and Spirit: An Anatomy of Hope. Toronto: Image, 1983.
Pinnock, Clark H. Flame of Love: A Theology of the Holy Spirit. Intervarsity Press,
1996.
Prichard, Rebecca Button, Sensing the Spirit: The Holy Spirit in Feminist Perspective
St. Louis: Chalice Press, 1999.
Reynolds, Blair. Toward A Process Pneumatology. Selingsgrove: Susquehanna
University Press,1990. Riches, John, ed. The Analogy of Beauty: The Theology
of Hans Urs von Balthasar. Edinburgh and Washington, D.C.: T&T Clark.
Schaupp, Joan P. Woman: Image of the Holy Spirit. Bethesda, Md.: Catholic Scholars
Press Book, 1996.
Small, Joseph D. Fire & Wind: The Holy Spirit in the Church Today. Louisville: Geneva
Press, 2002.
Snook, Lee E. What in the World Is God Doing?: Re-Imagining Spirit and Power.
Fortress, 1999.
Stephens, Bruce, M. The Holy Spirit in American Protestant Thought.
Stephenson, Sheldon B. Meditations on the Holy Spirit of God: Searching for the Beyond
Within. NY: Paulist, 1998.
Tshibangu, T. “The Task and Method of Theology in Africa.” In A Reader in African
Theology, ed. John Parratt. London: SPCK, 1987.
Toynbee, Philip. Toward the Holy Spirit London: SCM Press, 1982.
Wallace, Mark I. Fragments of the Spirit New York: Continuum, 1996.
_____. Finding God in the Singing River: Christianity, Spirit, Nature. Minneapolis:
Fortress Press, 2005.
Welker, Michael. God the Spirit. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1994.
Wiersbe, Warren W. Classic Sermons on the Holy Spirit.
Walvoord, John F. Holy Spirit: A Comprehensive Study of the Person and Work of
The Holy Spirit. 1991.
Pentecostal/Charismatics/Africa/Hispanic
Blumhofer, Edith L. and R. P. Spittler, Grant A. Wacker, eds. Pentecostal Currents in
American Pentecostalism. Champaign: University of Illinois Press, 1999.
Bridges-Johns, Cheryl. Pentecostal Formation: A Pedagogy among the Oppressed.
Cox, Harvey. Fire From Heaven: The Rise of Pentecostal Spirituality and the Reshaping
of Religion in the Twenty-first Century. NY: Addison-Wesley Publishing
Company, 1995.
Faupel, D. William. The Everlasting Gospel: The Significance of Eschatology in the
Development of Pentecostal Thought.
Gelpi, Donald. Pentecostalism: A Theological Viewpoint. New York: Paulist, 1971.
_____. Pentecostal Piety. New York: Paulist, 1972.
Land, Steven J. Pentecostal Spirituality: A Passion for the Kingdom.
Ma, Wonsuk and Robert P. Menzies, eds. Pentecostalism in Context: Essays in Honor of
William W. Menzies.
Martin, David. Forbidden Revolutions: Pentecostalism in Latin American, Catholicism in
Eastern Europe. SPCK, 1996.
McDonnell, Kilian. The Holy Spirit and Power: The Catholic Charismatic Renewal.
NY:Doubleday, 1975.
_____. The Charismatic Renewal and Ecumenism. NY: Paulist, 1978.
Parker, Stephen E. Led by the Spirit: Toward A Practical Theology of Pentecostal
Discernment and Decision Making.
Robewck, Cecil M. ed., Charismatic Experiences in History. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson,
1985.
Smith, Brian H. Religious Politics in Latin American: Pentecost vs. Catholic. Notre
Dame, 1998.
Spittler, Russell P. ed. Perspectives on the New Pentecostalism. Grand Rapids: Baker
Book House, 1976.
Suenens, Leon Joseph. A New Pentecost? Trans Francis Martin. New York: Crossroad,
1974.
Synan, Vinson. Century Of The Holy Spirit 100 Years Of Pentecostal And Charismatic
Renewal, 1901-2001.
Villafañe, Eldin. The Liberating Spirit: Toward an Hispanic American Pentecostal Social
Ethic. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993.
Suggestions for Final Paper
1. Read and analyze any primary text on the Holy Spirit from the Christian Tradition. An example would be St. Basil’s De Spiritu Sanctu (On the Holy Spirit), written in 374-75, C.E. [Key chapters include: I, V, IX, X, XI, XIX, XXII, XXIII, XXIV, XXVIII, XXX.]
http://www.myriobiblos.gr/texts/english/basil_spiritu.html
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf208.pdf
2. Choose a classic text from the Christian tradition and analyze how the author does or does not
treat the Holy Spirit.
3. Discuss ways in which the Holy Spirit has been silent or absent in the tradition.
4. Discuss/analyze some aspect of imagery related to the Holy Spirit.
5. Pentecostalism (history, specific groups, recent developments, global aspects, tension with
mainline Christian denominations).
6. Pneumatology and feminism.
7. Pneumatology and ecology.
8. The Holy Spirit and Prayer/Liturgy.
9. Pneumatology and Psychology.
10. Pneumatology and the Laity.
11. Pneumatology and Latino spirituality.
12. The Holy Spirit and the Trinity.
13. The Holy Spirit and Liberation Theology
14. Pneumatology and Justice.
15. The Holy Spirit and Ecclesiology
16. The Holy Spirit and Scripture.
17. The Holy Spirit and Scripture.
18. The Holy Spirit in early church councils.
19. The Holy Spirit and Eschatology.
20. Pentecost.
21. The functions of the Holy Spirit in the church.
Veni Creator Spiritus
Come, Creator Spirit,
visit the minds of those who are yours;
fill with heavenly grace
the hearts that you have made.
You who are named Paraclete,
gift of God most high,
living fountain, fire, love
and anointing for the soul
You are sevenfold in your gifts,
you are finger of God’s right hand,
you , the Father’s solemn promise
putting words upon our lips.
Kindle a light in our senses,
pour love into our hearts,
infirmities of this body of ours
overcoming with strength secure.
The enemy drive from us away,
peace then give without delay;
with you as guide to lead the way
we avoid all cause of harm.
Grant we may know the Father
through you,
and come to know the Son as well,
and may we always cling in faith
to you, the Spirit of them both.
Amen.
Veni Creator Spiritus,
mentes tuorum visita,
imple superna gratia
quae tu creasti pectora.
Qui Paracletus diceris,
donum Dei altissimi,
fons vivus, ignis, caritas
et spiritalis unctio.
Tu septiformis munere,
dexterae Dei tu digitus,
tu rite promissum Patris
sermone ditans guttura.
Accende lumen sensibus,
infunde amorem cordibus,
infirma nostri corporis
virtute firmans perpeti.
Hostem repellas longius,
pacemque dones protinus,
ductore sic te praevio
vitemus omne noxium.
Perte sciamus da Patrem,
noscamus atque Filium,
te utriusque Spiritum
credamus omni tempore.
Amen
Come, Creator Spirit: Meditations on the Veni Creator by Raniero Cantalamessa, trans. Denis and Marlene Barrett (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2003)