Eros and Spirituality

In the twentieth century, theologians such as Anders Nygren and C.S. Lewis separated eros from agape, diminishing the role of a powerful form of divine and human love in the Christian life. As in earlier periods, the contemporary retrieval of eros in Christian theology has created spaces for diverse bodies and their desires. The first part of the course surveys the historical inheritance with particular emphasis on Neo-Platonist spirituality and women contemplatives of the medieval period. The second part of the course considers contemporary implications of eros for spiritual care, systematic theology, decolonial and ecological spirituality, and spiritual practice. The course aims for critical appreciation of this lineage of spiritual thought and practice, which can inform professional paths in ministry, spiritual care, and further academic study.