Cultural Dimensions of Christian Spirituality CDCS

Post-graduate specialization course: The CDCS will help to improve the understanding of historical and modern cultural challenges for Christian spirituality with regards to single persons and in the context of Christian communities.

CDCS has the following module structure in each year:

1. Culture and biblical spirituality;
2. Early Christian spirituality as "inculturation";
3. The 21st century as a challange for spirituality;
4. Ritual dimensions of spirituality;
5. Comparative perspectives on spirituality;
6. Seminar: Anthropological methods applied;
7. Seminar: Studying biblical and historical source texts.

Questions of this sort will be addressed in an academic programme offered at the Monastic Institute (Pontifical Benedictine University Sant’Anselmo, Rome), in cooperation with members of the following institutions: Faculty of Philosophy, Theology & Religious Studies of Radboud University Nijmegen (NL), Liturgical Institute of the Catholic University Leuven and Titus Brandsma Instituut (NL).

Course leader

Prof. Matthias Skeb OSB

Target group

The programme is aimed at professionals in religious or social areas, students, scholars, clergy (ministers), members of religious communities, ect.

Course aim

In all the modules the different dimensions of Christian spirituality, and in particular Benedictine spirituality, will be examined in relation to their cultural context and other cultures. This implies an interdisciplinary and hermeneutical study of traditional resources (historical) and contemporary forms of spiritual life (anthropological).

The two year programme will help to improve the understanding of historical and modern cultural challenges for Christian spirituality with regards to single persons and in the context of monastic and non-monastic communities.

The programme has an ecumenical orientation. Members of all Christian denominations are welcome.

Credits info

20 EC
The whole programme consists of 16 academic modules each worth 3 European Credits (ECTS). Total: 48 ECTS for two years. For each module 3 sessions (90 minutes each) are organized. Additionally, students study literature and write a paper on each module. At the end of the two-year Programme a thesis (30 pages) will be written by the students who want to gain a Master (University Master, First Level) accredited by the University of Sant'Anselmo (Monastic Institute) according to European university law ("Bologna Process"). A combination with other educational programmes is possible with personal advice from the coordinators.

Fee info

EUR 600: Annual charges for two weeks enrolment for the Master Programme
EUR 550: Annual charges for two weeks full board and lodging in the Benedictine College of Sant'Anselmo

Scholarships

If you want to apply for a scholarship for board and lodging we also need as PDF files a covering letter an application essay: "Why do I want to study 'Cultural Dimensions of Christian Spirituality'" (1000 words) your curriculum vitae in tabulated form