What you'll learn
How religion has shaped responses to past injustices
How to relate the impact of COVID-19 on you personally
How to create new ways to respond to the injustices revealed by the pandemic
Course description
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to change our lives and livelihoods in ways both small and profound. Now, as vaccines are distributed and we slowly start to reopen, we should ask ourselves: what have we learned? What have we lost? What will life look like on the other side of the pandemic?
Together we will explore religious resources to make meaning of the many injustices the pandemic has revealed. We will also turn our attention to the interlocking and ongoing issues of climate change and global inequality and explore ways to personally integrate and respond to these challenges.
We start with a short introductory session on Sunday evening. Monday through Thursday will consist of half-day sessions where some of Harvard’s leading scholars will lead you through an exploration of the ways the spiritual, moral, and historical lessons of the world’s religions can help us both to understand our global predicament and to create new ways of responding to it.
The lectures will be followed by small facilitated breakout sessions where students discuss what they heard and reflect on what it means to them personally. Optional spiritual practices will be offered before we start the day. These practices may range from Buddhist meditation, contemplative prayer, and yoga.