Daniel A. Helminiak
 

Course Description

Spirituality is generally thought to be a religious thing. Even for a non-religious person, spirituality is often said to concern one’s relationship to God and thus remains a theological topic. Nonetheless, a psychological approach could look at spirituality from a strictly human perspective. Then the question would be — not how better to follow one’s religion or how to be closer to God — but what are the structures, mechanisms, and processes in the human being that account for the “holiness” or “enlightenment” or “mysticism,” about which the religions speak. This course will present an answer to the psychological question about spirituality.

That answer includes two key, interlocking notions. First, it is possible to tease apart and focus the humanistic and the theological facets of human spiritual experience. In the course, a system of “four viewpoints on the human” addresses this matter. Second, within the human mind two facets can be distinguished, psyche and spirit, and attention to the human spirit provides a basis for talking about spirituality without necessarily involving God or other “metaphysical” principles and also without necessarily excluding these theological issues. The main task of the course will be to clarify these two key notions and to apply them to daily living.

To complete its task, the course will use reading, lecture, personal reflection, discussion, videos, field research, and examinations. In the process the course cannot help but become very personal, for it treats a matter that, explicit or not, is central to people’s lives: the meaning of life and the values worth living for. Accordingly, students should expect to be challenged. The course will inevitably raise religious questions about one’s beliefs, one’s reasons for living, and one’s faith or trust in life (or Life), and philosophical questions about truth and falsehood and the human capacity to kuow, and ethical questions about good and evil and the criteria for determining which is which, and psychological questions about how our up-bringing, emotions, and personality help and hinder our personal growth. The end result of the course should be a deeper inner life and an enriched personal life, and an understanding of how these relate.

. to understand how spirituality is a legitimate psychological concern
. to understand the psychological model of spirituality presented in the course
. to create- a safe- space- for sharing personal spiritual matters
. to reflect on the meanings and values that structure one’s life and be able to take a more deliberate stance regarding them
. to be more sensitive to and respectful of the spiritual dimension in the lives of family, friends, professional associates and clients, acquaintances, and fellow citizens
. to become aware of the “big questions” that underlie human living and create challenges for an emerging global society
. to develop a well-grounded personal position for critically assessing cultural, religious, and societal claims and trends
 

Course Requirements

l . Study of assigned readings and reflection on the issues. The course texts are Anne Frank, Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl (New York: Bantam Books, 1993. Original work published 1947), Daniel A. Helminiak, The Human Core of Spirituality: Mind as Psyche and Spirit (Albany: State University of New York Press, 1996), and Daniel A. Helminiak, Religion and the Human Sciences: An Approach via Spirituality (Albany: State University of New York Press, 1996). The schedule of reading assignments not included in the Course Outline below will be announced as the class progresses, and emphases within the chapters will be noted in class lectures.

2. Regular attendance and active participation in class discussion and exercises.

3. Two book reviews of Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl and four book reviews of Religion and the Human Sciences.

4. Field Research and Written Report.

5. Two exams.

Course Eyaluation

Final grades will depend on class attendance and participation (10 points), six books reviews (30 points total), field research report (20 points), and two exams (40 points total), for a total of 100 points. All evaluation areas are obligatory; that is, students must make some showing in each of these areas to pass the course. Letter grades will be assigned as follows: A=90+; B=80-89; C=70—79; D=60-69; F=<60.

Book reviews are to consist of flve pages each and are to summarize relevant material from the reading assignment and to provide some kind of personal response and assessment (about two pages). See below for due dates and details about written assignments.

The field research project report is to be a ten-page report of a spiritual assessment of some public occurrence: an event, activity, TV show, movie, ceremony, etc. The report is to include a summary of the occurrence (about four pages, 8 points) and an assessment of the occurrence (about six pages, 12 points). Criteria for assessment will be determined in the Focus Groups, and further details about this project will be clarified during class. The Field Research Project is to give the student an opportunity to apply class learning to real life situations. See below for due dates and details about written assignments.

Exams will be comprised of essay questions based on the course books and class presentations and discussions. The midterm exam will be an in-class exam, and the final, a take-home exam. See below for due dates and details about written assignments.

Extra Credit: Students may gain up to 6 extra points, two per event, added onto their final average, by attending campus-wide events relevant to the course. These will be announced. Students are encouraged to alert the class to such events.

Written Assignments (except the in-class midterm exam) are to be typed in 12-point type, double-spaced, on 8.5” x 11” paper, with 1” margins on the top, bottom, and sides of the pages, and pages are to be numbered and stapled together. Papers are to be written with correct American English spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Students are advised to use a word processor and run grammar and spell checks and to seek other help at the UWG Writing Clinic. Papers will be returned for rewriting if there is one misspelling or frequent grammar and punctuation errors. Papers are not to deviate significantly from the required lengths.