What is Spiritual Formation?

[Gregory Matthews]

Another thread has generated spirited discussion as to what Spiritual Formation actually is.

I intend to post here a variety of sources as to what it is. They will likely differ. I will not be posting them because I agree with them. I will simply post here because I think that they have something to contribute.

An Adventist source:

http://wquercus.com/faith/spiritual_formation.htm

http://sda2rc.blogspot.com/2010/07/spiritual-formation.html

http://amazingdiscoveries.org/S-deception_Spiritual_Formation_movement_Oakland

http://billcork.wordpress.com/2010/02/17/spirituality-and-spiritual-formation/

A historical perspective:

http://www.svchapel.org/resources/articles/133-spiritual-formation-movement/753-spiritual-formation

http://herescope.blogspot.com/2006/01/how-spiritual-formation-became.html

http://christianresearchnetwork.org/topic/spiritual-formation/

An Evangelical view:

http://www.georgefox.edu/seminary/about/formation.html

hhttp://books.google.com/books?id=Dj3pLgCT5r8C&pg=PA31&lpg=PA31&dq=roman+catholics+%26+Spiritual+formation&source=bl&ots=SJpHm1uePW&sig=uCFeP9m7ifbXVwfExlmYotaxTrY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=laxgUcGkPM23qAHTk4HIAg&ved=0CEQQ6AEwBDgK#v=onepage&q=roman%20catholics%20%26%20Spiritual%20formation&f=falsettp://www.ecswisdom.org/index.php/beliefs/definition_of_spiritual_formation

A Biblical perspective:

http://bible.org/seriespage/towards-biblical-definition-spiritual-formation-romans-121-2

http://cicministry.org/commentary/issue91.htm

Roman Catholics & Spiritual Formation:

http://www.understandthetimes.org/commentary/c65.shtml

http://www.catholicspiritualdirection.org/

The above is not a comprehensive selection. It is lacking, in my mind, in some areas. But, it may be of interest to some of you.

[Gerr]

I would certainly want to hear from someone who actually first-hand experience with SF by having gone to an SF seminar.

[M. T. Cross]

Could someone shorten the one url (maybe a hyperlink or something) so that this post does not eat up about 3 monitors worth of width?

[phkrause]