The Franciscan Way: Beyond the Bird Bath offers a unique window into Franciscan thought and practice with Franciscan Richard Rohr. Step outside your comfortable ideas and habits. Move into new experiences of God, self, and others. Dive into the ocean of God’s love that knows no boundaries or limitations.
Course Objectives:
- Cultivate Franciscan wisdom in your daily life through reflection and engagement with Fr. Richard’s teaching.
- Expand your awareness of the themes and founders of the Franciscan way, including the Alternative Orthodoxy, Univocity of Being, and the Great Chain of Being.
- Develop contemplative practice(s) to support freedom from the dominant ego self.
- Connect and learn with others on the journey toward unitive consciousness.
Week One: Course Overview & Pre-Course Work
- Franciscan Way Course Overview
- Helpful Course Information
- Pre-Course Work Overview
- (1) Teaching by Fr. Richard
- (2) Contemplative Practices
- (3) Discussions
- (4) Assignments
Week Two: Themes of the Franciscan Way
- Overview
- (1) First Theme
- (1a) A Contemplative Practice
- (2) Second Theme
- (3) Introduction to the Univocity of Being and the Franciscan Alternative Orthodoxy
- (3a) Univocity of Being
- (3b) Beginnings of the Franciscan Alternative Orthodoxy
- (4) Mirroring
- (5) Bridging Action and Contemplation
- (6) Assignments/Discussion
Week Three: Lessons from St. Bonaventure and John Duns Scotus
- Overview
- (1) The Seer and Seen
- (2) St. Bonaventure
- (3) The Great Chain of Being
- (4) The Three Transcendentals
- (5) Scotus: Loving Seer and Seen
- (5a) Loving Things in Themselves
- (5b) A Contemplative Practice
- (6) A Loving God and an Exclusionary System
- (7) Assignments/Discussion
Week Four: Image of God
- Overview
- (1) Introduction to the Image of God
- (1a) A Contemplative Practice
- (2) On the Side of Powerlessness
- (3) St. Francis on the Side of Powerlessness
- (4) Interview with Fr. Richard
- (5) Assignments/Discussion
Week Five: Starting Points of the Franciscan Alternative Orthodoxy
- Overview
- (1) First Starting Point - Incarnation Instead of Redemption
- (2) Second Starting Point - Cosmos Instead of Churchiness.
- (3) Third Starting Point - Poverty Instead of Perfection
- (4) Fourth Starting Point - Start with the Bottom Instead of the Top
- (5) Fifth Starting Point - The Humanity of Jesus Instead of His Divinity
- (6) Sixth Starting Point - The Humility of God
- (6a) A Contemplative Practice
- (7) Franciscan Alternative Orthodoxy Conclusion: Dualism and the Six Big Issues
- (8) Living the Gospel
- (9) Assignments/Discussion
Week Six: Mystery of Participation and the Four Splits
- Overview
- (1) Mystery of Participation
- (2) The Four Splits -- Introduction
- (4) The Second Split
- (5) The Third Split
- (6) The Fourth Split
- (7) St. Francis and the Four Splits
- (7a) A Contemplative Practice
- (8) The Four Splits Conclusion
- (9) Assignments/Discussion
Week Seven: Connecting the Franciscan Way to the World's Questions
- Overview
- (1) What is the Franciscan Approach to Atonement?
- (2) What is the Relationship Between Law and Gospel?
- (3) What Role Does a Pure Heart Play in the Franciscan Way?
- (4) What are the Implications of Splitting the Mind and the Body?
- (5) Further Thoughts from Fr. Richard
- (5a) A Contemplative Practice
- (6) Interview with Fr. Richard.
- (7) Assignments/Discussion
- Bonus - View a recording of Fr. Richard' s webcast on his book "Eager to Love"
Required and Supplemental Readings
- Suggested Resources for The Franciscan Way
- Creation as the Body of God by Richard Rohr, OFM
- Franciscan Mysticism
- Franciscan Worldview
- The Great Chain of Being
- John Duns Scotus’ Introduction to Franciscan Mysticism
- Interview Questions
- Opening the Door
- Nature and the Soul
- Second Interview Questions
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