2007-09 Colloquy on “Prayer”
Institute for Reformed Theology
Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education

Course Topics and Readings: 

Session 1—September 13-15, 2007:  Prayer in the Bible

• Sam Balentine, Prayer in the Hebrew Bible:  The Drama of Divine-Human Dialogue (Minneapolis:  Fortress Press, 1993).
• David Crump, Knocking on Heaven’s Door:  A New Testament Theology of Petitionary Prayer (Grand Rapids, MI:  Baker Academic Press, 2006). 

Session 2—January 28-30, 2008:  Early Christian Thinking on Prayer

• Origen, “Treatise on Prayer” from Alexandrian Christianity: Selected Translations of Clement and Origen with Introductions and Notes, ed. by John Ernest Leonard and Henry Chadwick, Library of Christian Classics, vol. 2 (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1954), pp. 238-387.
• Evagrius Ponticus, “Chapters on Prayer” from The Praktikos: Chapters on Prayer, translated, with introduction and notes by John Eudes Bamberger (Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1981). pp. 45-80.
• Gregory of Nyssa, “Sermons on the Lord’s Prayer” from The Lord’s Prayer, The Beatitudes, translated and annotated by Hilda C. Graef, Ancient Christian Writers (Westminster, MD: The Newman Press, 1954), pp. 21-84.
• Augustine, “Sermons 56-59 on the Lord’s Prayer” from The Works of St. Augustine: A Translation for the 21^st Century, Sermons III (51-94) on the New Testament, translated and notes by Edmund Hill, O.P. (Brooklyn, NY, New City Press, 1991), pp. 95-131.
• Augustine, “Letter 130 to Proba” from The Works of St. Augustine: A Translation for the 21^st Century, Letters 100-155, translated by Roland Teske, S.J. (Hyde Park, NY: New City Press, 2003), pp. 183-199. 

Session 3—April 7-9, 2008:  Women Mystics on Prayer

• Teresa of Avila, The Interior Castle, translated by Kieran Kavanaugh, OCD, and Otillo Rodriguez, OCD (New York, NY: Paulist Press, 1979).
• Catherine of Sienna: Passion for the Truth, Compassion for Humanity, Selected Spiritual Writings, edited by Mary O’Driscoll, O.P. (New Rochelle, NY: New City Press, 1993).
• Gertrud the Great of Helfta: Spiritual Exercises, translated and introduction by Gertrud Jaron Lewis and Jack Lewis (Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1989) 

Session 4—September 22-24, 2008:  Models of Prayer

• Steven Chase, The Tree of Life:  Models of Christian Prayer (Grand Rapids, MI:  Baker Academic Press, 2005).
• Martin Luther, “An Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer for Simple Laymen” (1519) from Luther’s Works, Volume 42: Devotional Writings I, edited by Martin O. Dietrich (Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press, 1969), pp. 17-81.
• Martin Luther, “Ten Sermons on the Catechism” (1528) from Luther’s Works, Volume 51, Sermons I, edited and translated by John W. Doberstein (Philadelphia, PA: Muhlenberg Press, 1959), pp. 169-182.   
• Martin Luther, “A Simple Way to Pray” (1535) from Luther’s Works, Volume 43: Devotional Writings II, edited by Gustav K. Wiencke (Philadelphia, PA: fortress Press, 1968), pp. 189-211.
• John Bunyan, “I will pray with the Spirit, and I will pray with the Understanding also or, a Discourse Touching Prayer from I Cor. 14.15” from The Doctrine of the Law and Grace unfolded and I will pray with the Spirit, edited by Richard L. Greaves (Oxford, UK: The Clarendon Press, 1976), pp 235-285, 302-3. 

Session 5—January 29-31, 2009: Modern Theology and the Problem of Prayer’s Efficacy

• Friedrich Schleiermacher, “Prayer in the Name of Christ” from The Christian Faith, edited by H. R. MacKintosh and J. S. Stewart (Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press, 1928), pp. 668-675.
• Friedrich Schleiermacher, “On Prayer in Jesus’ Name” (Sermon on Jn. 16:23) from Servant of the Word: Selected Sermons of Friedrich Schleiermacher, translated and introduction by Dawn DeVries (Philadelphia, PA, Fortress Press, 1987), pp. 169-180.
• Friedrich Schleiermacher, “The Power of Prayer in Relation to Outward Circumstances” (Sermon on Matt. 26.36-46) from Selected Sermons of Schleiermacher, translated by Mary F. Wilson (New York, NY: Funk & Wagnalls, 1890), pp. 38-51.
• Karl Rahner, The Need and the Blessing of Prayer, translated by Bruce W. Gillete, introduction by Harvey D. Egan, S.J. (Collegeville, MN:  The Liturgical Press, 1997).
• Immanuel Kant, “General Observation” from Religion Within the Limits of Reason Alone, translated with introduction and notes by Theodore M. Greene and Hoyt H. Hudson (New York, NY: Harper Torchbooks, 1960), pp.179-190.
• Ludwig Feuerbach, “The Omnipotence of Feeling, or the Mystery of Prayer” from The Essence of Christianity, translated by George Eliot (New York, NY: Harper Torchbooks, 1957), pp. 120-125.
• Ludwig Feuerbach, “The Twenty-second Lecture” from Lectures on the Essence of Religion, translated by Ralph Manheim (New York, NY: Harper & Row, 1967), pp. 199-206.
• Sigmund Freud, The Future of an Illusion (New York, NY: W.W. Norton, 1961). 

Session 6—April 20-22, 2009: Calvin’s 500^th Birthday/Prayer as Resignation to God’s Will or Prayer as God’s Necessary Tool

• John Calvin, “Prayer, Which is the Chief Exercise of Faith, and by Which We Daily Receive God’s Benefits” from Institutes of the Christian Religion, III.20.1-52, edited by John T. McNeill and translated by Ford Lewis Battles (Philadephia, PA: The Westminster Press, 1960), pp. 850-920.
• Marjorie Hewitt Suchocki, In God’s Presence:  Theological Reflections on Prayer (St. Louis, MO:  Chalice Press, 1996).