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Sweeping Changes in Humanity's Relationship with the Natural World

This course critically examines theoretical underpinnings, spiritual and material frameworks, and local and global applications of sustainability.

Academic Calendar
Duration
16 weeks
Weekly Study
8.5 HOURS
Dates
Aug 19-Dec 8
Clock Hours
135

This course critically examines theoretical underpinnings, spiritual and material frameworks, and local and global applications of sustainability. We take a critical look at a variety of vital topics through the interplay between the spiritual and material dimensions of sustainability: systems approaches; science and religion as coherent knowledge sources; reciprocity and restorative justice for the land; profit motive and consumer culture; climate; equity and the human face of sustainability; food, agriculture, and animal welfare; and the “green” future. This course hones in on two discourses around sustainability and development: 1) The United Nations 2030 Agenda, a "blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all" through the 17 Sustainable Development Goals; 2) Bahá’í-inspired conceptual framework for action that fosters human prosperity holistically with various actors on local, national and international levels as protagonists of their own development. Participants will acquire the capacity to apply their knowledge to their lives and community and contribute to public discourse. This interactive course will utilize a combination of assessment methods with varying requirements for graduate and undergraduate students.

Who is the course for?
Who is the course for?

Applicants should either have a prior bachelor’s degree, or be a student in an undergraduate program at junior or senior level. The Wilmette Institute will provide support for students who wish to petition their institution of higher education to obtain credit. Space is limited to 25 students per course.

What will you achieve?
You will learn
Follow the interplay between the materialist development enterprise aimed at sustainability with a Baha’i inspired spiritual-material framework.
Visualize the past and future trajectory of the 20th century materialist sustainable development enterprise.
Address the root causes of current social, economic, administrative and environmental challenges to empower populations to bring unity of thought-action.
Understand the issues of economic development, wealth and poverty, social development, and the environment in an integrated systems perspective.
Gain capacity to contribute to spiritual-material sustainability (prosperity) in students’ local communities by understanding the prerequisites for a shared global prosperity.
Envision a positive future through an understanding of forces of social integration and disintegration as an evolving characteristic of an emerging global civilization.
Participate effectively in public discourse about sustainability from institutional and grassroots levels.
Meet Your Faculty
teacher
Ymasumac Marañón Davis, PhD
Educational Consultant/Writer/Intuitive Healing

My name is Ymasumac Marañón Davis, though people call me Yma! Ymasumac is a Quechua Indian name from Bolivia. My father is a Bolivian of Quechua descent, my mother is from New England, and her ancestors, of English and Irish ancestry, came around the same time as the pilgrims. We... See Faculty Bio

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