Course Description

This course is for those who wish to discover more about the inner and spiritual teachings of Christianity as well as those who seek to make progress on their spiritual journey.

For many centuries Christianity has recognized three primary stages of spiritual development which reach their pinnacle in mysticism. Yet mysticism remains a word that is little understood. The objective of this course is to provide an outline of what Christian mysticism is and the three primary stages of development which precede this pinnacle of spiritual attainment.

As a primary step towards this an examination is made of Evelyn Underhill’s talk ‘What is Mysticism?’ in which she introduces what the nature of mysticism is and what it is not.

This is followed by an overview of what the three stages of the spiritual journey are. It speaks of there being two major conversion experiences on this path; baptism and the Mystical New Birth. This section also introduces a fourth (or what is really the first) stage of the journey, namely that of the natural human state.

By way of example this section also describes spiritual experiences had by Madame Guyon and Saint Catherine of Genoa. It also draws from what Saint Theresa of Avila and Saint Bernard of Clairveaux describe of the state of Mystical Union or Unification.

If you feel that something is missing in your Christian life, if there is something more to discover and experience, then this course is for you. It is for those who are asking questions and looking for answers.

This course is intended to provide an introduction to the deeper teachings of Christian spirituality as well as a foundation which can be built on.

There are no initial requirements for this course so students can begin right away.

Once the course is completed students will understand the three major stages in path of Christian Spiritual Ascent in general terms.

This course is for anyone who is seeking a deeper understand and experience of Christian Spirituality.

Those who do not yet want their belief to be challenged should NOT take this course.







Janet Gentles

Course curriculum