Title: The role of the spiritual senses in contemporary mission, with particular reference to John Wesley's employment of the spiritual senses : a revised correlational approach
Abstract: ABSTRACT
The University of Manchester
Jacqueline Hanover
Doctor of Philosophy
The Role of the Spiritual Senses in Contemporary Mission with Particular Reference to
John Wesley's Employment of the Spiritual Senses:
A Revised Correlational Approach.
11th September 2017.
This thesis explores the potential role of the spiritual senses in contemporary mission.
Responding to the development of a new type of non-religious spirituality known as
contemporary spirituality, which has emerged in response to cultural change in the West, this
thesis enters into a conversation between contemporary spirituality, contemporary Christianity
and John Wesley's theme of the spiritual senses. The theme of the spiritual senses has a rich
history and this thesis aims to discover if a revisit of Wesley's particular employment of the
spiritual senses has the potential to offer a meaningful contribution to Christian mission in the
twenty-first century.
Using Gordon Lynch's application of Don Browning's revised correlation, seven key motifs
within contemporary spirituality are identified as foundational and used to develop the
conversation. The thesis proceeds to use these motifs namely, creation spirituality,
individualism freedom and choice, innate spiritual perception, the physical senses and
spirituality, the sacred within, a call to community, and religious pluralism, to embark on a
conversation between contemporary spirituality and contemporary Christianity. In all of the
key areas points of convergence are noted, along with some differences, and suggestions are
made concerning further engagement. It is argued that, whilst the findings of this conversation,
and the practical applications that flow from them, can be used to engage with contemporary
spiritual seekers, nevertheless all would benefit from a renewed framework that responds more
particularly to the foundational motifs of contemporary spirituality and that Wesley's
application of the spiritual senses might offer this framework.
Following this, an investigation of Wesley's employment of the spiritual senses, in his own
terms, is embarked upon, where his key tenets are discovered. This section confirms the unity
between the spiritual senses and the restoration of the life and image of God, moving from
complete cognitive unawareness of God or the spiritual world, through prevenient grace to
awakening and the new birth including faith, assurance and sanctification. These basic tenets
are then developed showing the spiritual senses to be drawn from the creative moment,
personal and yet inclusive, accessible, experiential, centered on both healing and forgiveness,
based on the value of the individual, freedom, and choice, based on restored, intimate, and
ongoing relationship with the creator, facilitating transformation, communal, and working in
harmony with reason. Given the similarities to the key motifs of contemporary spirituality, it is
affirmed that Wesley's theme of the spiritual senses has potential to make a significant
contribution to the conversation between contemporary spirituality and contemporary
Christianity.
Finally the conversation between all three parties is developed. Here the information gathered
in the previous conversation is correlated and synthesised to specifically identify the
contribution that the spiritual senses might offer to contemporary mission. Based on the
findings of the conversation, a reconstructed gospel message is presented that, it is argued,
both correlates with the aspirations of contemporary spirituality and yet is grounded in the
Christian tradition, thus affirming the significance of the role of the spiritual senses to
contemporary mission.
Publication Year: 2018
Publication Date: 2018-01-01
Language: en
Type: dissertation
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