Units timetabled for 2013 and 2014 are provisional only, and details of semester and time will change. The official timetable for each year is released on 1 September of the prior year.

Archived unit descriptions for 2011 are available here.

Rhetoric and Theology in Ignatian Texts: History and Practice

Unit Code: 
CH/CT342
RTI: 
United Faculty of Theology
Unit Value: 
15 points

This unit introduces chronologically texts from the Ignatian spiritual tradition that illustrate the relationship between rhetoric, spirituality and theology. It will focus on the rhetorical styles in which Ignatian spiritual writing has been set: homiletic, poetic, discursive, polemical, contemplative, psychological. In examining the relationship between rhetoric, spirituality and theology in this tradition, it will ask students to write theologically in different rhetorical styles for different audiences.

Learning Outcomes: 

Upon successful completion of this unit, it is expected that students will be able to:

  1. Outline and discuss the procedures and concerns of classical rhetoric.
  2. Describe and evaluate the use of rhetorical stratagems in the selected theological writings of the Ignatian tradition over five centuries.
  3. Recognise the relationship between rhetoric and theological content in selected writings.
  4. Demonstrate the ability to use a variety of rhetorical styles in theological presentation.
  5. Demonstrate the ability to write persuasively for different audiences on various topics.
  6. Demonstrate the ability to translate Ignatian concepts into contemporary terms adapted to different audiences.
Lecturer/s: 
Andrew Hamilton
Timetabling
Semester: 
Semester 1
Day: 
Thursday
Time: 
2:15 - 5:15
Location: 
Centre for Theology and Ministry
Unit Frequency: 
Occasional
Years Offered: 
2012
Unit Fields
Courses: 
Graduate Diploma in Theology
Courses: 
Master of Divinity
Courses: 
Master of Theological Studies
Field: 
Field C Christian Thought and History
Disciplines: 
Church History
Disciplines: 
Systematic Theology
MDiv Field: 
Christian Thought and History
Department Name: 
Department of Christian Thought and History
Unit Level
GradDip Field: 
Elective
MDiv Type of Study: 
Specialised
Prerequisites: 

At least 30 points of Systematic Theology and at least 15 points of Church History

Corequisites: 

None

Prohibited Combinations: 

None

Mode of Teaching: 
Semester
Teaching Methods: 

Weekly seminars

Workload
Number of timetabled hours per week: 
3
Expected personal study hours per week: 
9
Total workload hours per week: 
12
Total workload hours for unit: 
144
Assessment
Assessment TypeWeightingLearning Outcomes Assessed
Assessment Type: 

10 class papers of 300 words each

Weighting: 
50%
Learning Outcomes Assessed: 
4, 5, 6
Assessment Type: 

1 essay of 3000 words

Weighting: 
50%
Learning Outcomes Assessed: 
1, 2, 3
Recommended reading: 

* = set texts recommended for purchase

  • Aristotle. The Art of Rhetoric. [any translation].
  • Carlos Coupeau J. From Inspiration to Invention. Rhetoric in the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus, St Louis: Institute of Jesuit Sources, 2010.
  • Ganss. G. (ed). The Constitutions of the Society of Jesus. St Louis: Institute of Jesuit Sources, 1970
  • De Guibert J. The Jesuits: their spiritual doctrine and practice: A historical study. St. Louis: Institute of Jesuit Sources, 1964.
  • Martin, J. The Jesuit Guide to almost everything. A spirituality for real life. New York: Harper Collins, 2010.
  • Meissner, W.W. To the Greater Glory. A psychological study of Ignatian Spirituality. Milwaukee: Marquette University Press, 1999.
  • *Munitiz, J. and Endean, P. (ed). Saint Ignatius of Loyola Personal Writings. London: Penguin, 1996.
  • Perelman, S. The Realm of Rhetoric. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1982.
  • Rahner K. Spiritual Writings. Maryknoll: Orbis, 2004.
  • Segundo, J-L. The Christ of the Ignatian Exercises. New York: Orbis, 1987.
  • Stanley, D. M. A modern Scriptural approach to the Spiritual Exercises. Chicago: Institute of Jesuit Sources, 1967.

(Further reading and primary sources to be studied will be indicated in class.)

© United Faculty of Theology, 2008-2012.