Anthropological Basis of Spirituality

The subject undertakes the basic issues of theological anthropology that form the basis of spiritual development as well as Christian formation. Anthropology in this regard is necessary because of the subjectivity and objectivity of man in the process of spiritual development. The basic elements are therefore the physical, mental and spiritual sphere of man.

Christian spirituality is a cooperation between a person and God. Getting to know God is at the same time discovering who a person is. It is one of important elements of the spiritual growth. The workshops deal with problems of anthropology. They are based on analysis of anthropological texts of St. Thomas Aquinas and St. John of the Cross. The first of them is a systematic theologian using precise theological language. St. John belongs to the classics of christian mysticism. Both of them suggest particular structures of human construction. A quest to understand this construction is essential in Christian spiritual growth which is based on foundations such as personality and the arrangement and interdependence of particular mental and spiritual powers.

1. Human nature.

2. A human as a person.

3. A relation between "I" and "you" as a determinant of personal nature of man.

4. A structure of a human according to St. Thomas Aquinas.

5. Sensual and spiritual powers: carnality: the intellect, the will.

6. Anthropological language of the mystics.

7. Anthropological works of John of the Cross.

8. A structure of a human according to St. John in general.

9. The body and its powers.

10.The soul, the spirit and spiritual powers.

11. Spiritual powers of the intellect.

12.Memory and its tasks.

13.The dominant role of the will.

14. The purgation of powers through mystical union.

1. A. Gerken, Theologie des Wortes. Das Verhältnis von Schöpfung und Incarnation bei Bonaventura, Düsseldorf 1962.

2. Balthasar, Hans Urs von, A Theological Anthropology, Eugene, 2010.

3. D. Kelsey, Eccentric Existence: A Theological Anthropology, (Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville) [Two volumes], 2009.

4. G.H. Mead, Mind, Self, and Society, Chicago 1934.

5. H. Sanson, El espiritu humano según San Juan de la Cruz, Madrid 1962

Human Uniqueness in Science and Theology,Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2006.

6. J. F. Kilner, Dignity and Destiny: Humanity in the Image of God, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Middleton, R, 2005.

7. Johann Baptist Metz, Poverty of Spirit, Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1998.

8. John Paul II, Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body, Pauline Books & Media; Second Printing edition, August 1, 2006.

9. John R. Sachs, The Christian Vision of Humanity: Basic Christian Anthropology (Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1991).

10. K. Rahner, God and the Victim: Traumatic Intrusions on Grace, and Freedom, Published to Oxford Scholarship Online: January 2008.

11. K. Wojtyła, Person and act, Hardcover D. Reidel; 1st edition, February 28, 1979.

12. L. F. Ladaria, Antropología teológica, Università gregoriana, 1983.

13. M. J. Adler, The Idea of Freedom. A Dialectical Examination of the Conceptionof Freedom, New York 1958.

14. Marc Cortez, Theological Anthropology: A Guide for the Perplexed (Guides for the Perplexed) Paperback – March 21, 2010.

15. Nancey Murphy, What does science say about human nature? Physics, evolutionary biology, and neuroscience. Bodies and Souls, or Spirited Bodies?, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006.

16. P. F. Sheldrake, Explorations in Spirituality, New Jersey 2010.

17. S. Thomas AQ., Summa theologiae, vol. VI-VII.

18. Santa Teresa de Avila, Works Complete, Washington, D.C., 2002.

19. St. John of the Cross, The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross (includes The Ascent of Mount Carmel, The Dark Night, The Spiritual Canticle, The Living Flame of Love, Letters, and The Minor Works), Revised edition October 1, 2010.

20. Stephen Pope, Theological Anthropology, Science, and Human Flourishing in Questioning the Human: Toward a Theological Anthropology for the Twenty-First Century, edited by Lieven Boeve, Yves De Maeseneer, and Ellen Van Stichel, New York: Fordham University Press, 2014.

21. W. Granat Personalizm chrześcijański. Teologia osoby ludzkiej, Poznań 1982.

1. The student demonstrates basic knowledge in the field of anthropology on the basis of spirituality.

2. Can make a comparative analysis of individual definitions of a person.

3. Can characterize the elements of a person.

4. Justify the erroneousness of some anthropological opinions.

5. Can outline anthropological schemes: Thomistic, Teresian and St. John of the Cross.

6. Knows basic psychological theories.

7. Has the ability to apply psychology on the basis of spirituality.

Method of verification of learning outcomes: oral final exam.

The condition for completing the course is achieving all the assumed learning outcomes.

The number of points obtained from:

- exam: satisfactory grade (3) – 50-60%, good grade (4) - 60-85%, very good - 85-100%;

- attendance at classes: satisfactory grade – from 60%, good grade - 60-95%, very good - 95-100%.