I’ve been having a great time finishing my syllabus for a course exploring the Theology of Spiritual Formation which I will be guiding this summer. This is not a course in the practice or practices of formation but is a theology. What do we believe about the formation? Can spirituality be taught? If so how? “Formation” suggests a process . . . when/how does this process begin? Can anything stop the process? What’s the goal or hope of spiritual formation? etc.
Here is a selected list of some of the contemporary texts I’ve been revisiting . . . what text or texts would you recommend for a theology of spiritual formation:
A Monk of the Eastern Church. Orthodox Spirituality, Second Edition. London, UK: William Clowes & Sons Limited, 1978.
Alexander, Donald L. Christian Spirituality: Five Views of Sanctification. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988.
Allen, Diogenes. Spiritual Theology: The Theology of Yesterday for Spiritual Help Today. Cowley Publications, 1997.
Astley, Jeff et al. Theological Perspectives on Christian Formation. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans 1996.
________. Christian Perspective on Faith Development. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992.
Barth, Karl. “The Christian Life” in Church Dogmatics IV/4. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1981.
Berry, Wendall. What are People For? San Francisco: CA: North Point Press, 1990.
Blazer, Doria. Faith Development in Early Childhood. Kansas: Sheed & Ward, 1989.
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich Life Together. San Francisco: Harper and Row Publishers. 1954.
Chan, Simon. Spiritual Theology: A Systematic Study of the Christian Life. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1998.
Charry, Ellen T. By the Renewing of Your Minds: The Pastoral Function of Christian Doctrine. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 1997.
Coles, Robert. The Spiritual Life of Children. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin
Conde-Frazier, Elizabeth, S. Steve Kang, and Gary A. Parrett. A Many Colored Kingdom: Multicultural Dynamics for Spiritual Formation. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2004.
Dupre, Louis. The Deeper Life: An Introduction to Christian Mysticism. New York, NY: Crossroad, 1981.
Fischer, Kathleen. Women at the Well. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1988.
Foley, Kathleen, and Peggy O’Leary, editors. Focus on Theology: An Adult Faith-Formation Discussion Program. Liturgical Press, 1999.
Foster, Richard J. Streams of Living Water: Celebrating the Great Traditions of Christian Faith. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco, 2001.
________. Celebration of Discipline. San Francisco, CA: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1978.
Halverson, Richard C. Christian Maturity. Los Angeles, CA: Cowman Publications, 1956.
Hollyday, Joyce. Then Shall Your Light Rise: Spiritual Formation and Social Witness. Upper Room Books, 1997.
Johnson, Ben Campbell, and Andrew Dreitcer. Beyond the Ordinary: Spirituality for Church Leaders. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2001.
Johnson, Susanne. Christian Spiritual Formation in the Classroom. Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 1989.
Lawrenz. Mel. The Dynamics of Spiritual Formation. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000.
Lefevre, Perry D., editor. Prayers of Kierkegaard. Chicago IL: University of Chicago Press, 1996.
Loder, James E. The Transformational Moment: Colorado Springs, CO: Helmers & Howard, 1992.
Loder, James E., and W. Jim Neidhardt. The Knight’s Move: The Relational Logic of the Spirit in Theology and Science. Colorado Springs, CO: Helmers & Howard, 1992.
Lovelace, Richard J. Dynamics of Spiritual Life. Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1979.
Lugenbell, Barbara Derrick. Your Spiritual Growth. Wilson: Morehouse Barlow, 1985.
Maloney, H. Newton. Wholeness and Holiness. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1983
Moberg, David O. Wholistic Christianity. Elgin: Brethren Press, 1985.
Mulholland, M. Robert Jr. Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarisity Press, 1993.
Nouwen, Henri J. M. Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life. New York: Doubleday, 1975. ISBN: 0-385-23682-4
Pagitt, Doug. Reimagining Spiritual Formation: A Week in the Life of an Experimental Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2004.
Palmer, Parker J. To Know as We Are Known: A Spirituality of Education. San Francisco, CA: Harper & Row, 1983.
Patterson, Richard. Growing Toward Spiritual Maturity. Wheaton, IL: ETTA, 1988.
Peck, M. Scott. The Road Less Traveled. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster, 1978.
Peterson, Eugene H. Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places: A Conversation in Spiritual Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2005.
________. Eat this Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2006.
Powell, Samuel M. Embodied Holiness: Toward a Corporate Theology of Spiritual Growth. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999.
Rice, Howard The Pastor as Spiritual Guide. Nashville: Upper Room Books, 1998.
Richards, Larry A Practical Theology of Spirituality. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1987.
Roberts, Robert C. Spirituality and Human Emotion. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1982.
Rolheiser, Ronald. The Holy Longing: The Search for a Christian Spirituality. New York, NY: Doubleday, 1999.
Sinetar, Marsha. Ordinary People as Monks and Mystics: Lifestyles for Self-Discovery. New York, NY: Paulist Press, 1986.
Steele, Les L. On the Way: A Practical Theology of Christian Formation. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1990.
Von Balthasar, Hans Urs. Prayer. San Francisco, CA: Ignatius Press, 1963.
Webster, Douglas D. Soulcraft: How God Shapes Us Through Relationships. Downers Grove, IL: InterVaristy Press, 1999.
Willard, Dallas. The Divine Conspiracy: Discovering our Hidden Life in God. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco, 1998.
________. Spirit of the Disciplines. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco, 1998.
Williams, Rowan. Christian Spirituality. Atlanta, GA: John Knox Press, 1979.
Peace, dwight
Dwight,
Seeing this list is making me rethink what classes I’m thinking of taking. 🙂
I love the Willard stuff. Have you considred Renovation of the Heart? It’s honestly the one I haven’t read, but from what I understand it is primarily about spiritual formation.
How about the end of The Named God and the Question of Being? God’s intention to share the divine name with humans definitely seems to have a lot to say about a theology of spiritual formation. It’s definitely one of the richest reflections on our vocation as Christ followers that I have ever heard.
thanks for the list Nice to see Simon Chan’s name there!
Hey Dwight,
Charry’s book has been grace for me this last year. I return to it again and again. I have been playing with her emphasis on Sapiential Wisdom and wondering how that connects with Tacit Knowledge.
She reminds us that Augustine said that life was about knowing and enjoying God. That was my New Year’s sermon and prayer for my congregation this year.
Take care my friend. I would love to sit in on your class.
Dallas
Looking forward to taking your class this summer, Dwight. Love the potential reading list. I had Don Alexander as a prof in college and his ideas about sanctification are rich and powerful. He is a wise man on the subject.
I would also add a small text by Randy Reese and Keith Anderson called “Spiritual Mentoring: A Guide for Seeking and Giving Direction”.
Oh yeah, and more Wendell Berry!!
I think Kathleen Norris has a lot to say in this realm. Two books come to mind: Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith and Cloister Walk.
Yeah, I may have to take this course, too–!
Dude. DUDE! :
Moltmann, “The Spirit of Life” Perichoresis and a cup of tea…
Joe Campbell, “Myths, Dreams, and Religon”
There are many more
LAter, dude
A Divine Conspiracy changed the way I think about the Christian life. It is on no level an easy read, but it’s certainly worth taking the time to digest. Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Prayer is not really about spiritual formation exactly, but I found it very helpful.