Love as a Force for Social Justice
The objectives of this course are:-To introduce participants to different concepts of love, to empower them to be conscious of the power of love and the possibility of practicing it in everyday life, and to highlight in particular the idea of love as a force for social justice.
-To communicate a sense of personal strength and empowerment by actively learning from each other and beginning to define how participants can apply their learning in service to society.
This course will explore the concept of agape love (compassion/kindness) as a force for social justice and action and as the inspiration for service and the application of knowledge to positive social change. Biological, psychological, religious, and social perspectives of love will be discussed, drawing on the expertise of people from a variety of disciplines.
During the six-week course, the following topics will be raised and discussed: kinds of love/defining love; non-violent communication; love and the biology of the brain; love as a basic concept of religious and ethical beliefs (e.g., Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Gandhian); love applied in action, and poetic expressions of love as a social force. This curriculum aims to foster a sense of the importance of love as a key phenomenon in creating community, connection, and functional societies among humans.
Course materials will draw from a variety of sources. One of the goals of the class is to provide participants with some knowledge of the literature of love, and readings for the course are listed in the outline of the course on the pages that follow.
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Syllabus
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week 1
Introduction
Words and the Meaning of Love
Week 2
Love and the Brain
Week 3
Love and Monotheistic Religions
Love and Systems of Ethical Thought
Week 4
Love in Action in One-on-One Interactions
Love in Action at Work in the Business Community
Love in Action in Non-Governmental Organizations
Week 5
Love and Social Justice
Week 6
Love as an Expression of Creativity and Meaning in Life
Love in our Future Lives
FAQ
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
What basic principles form the foundation course?
Because we believe that what we do is important but that the way we do it is more important, we attempt to teach and learn according to a set of principles that will guide the content and processes of the course. These are: compassion, mutual learning, respect, transparency, trust, and truth.
What do I need to take this course?
An interest in social justice. It will be useful to have an open mind, willingness to hear different points of view, and a commitment to positive social change.
Access to the Internet. A stable internet connection will also be useful, as we may provide links to some resources to be found online.
Is there a textbook for the class?
The primary text that we suggest for this course is “The Art and Practice of Loving,” by Frank Andrews, PhD. We will make individual chapters available online during the course.
Reviews
The world definitely needs two things - more love and a whole lot more social justice. I found this course really important to take at this point in time in history.
Wonderful course and great instructor. If everyone practiced what is taught her the world would be a wonderful place to live in general.
i learned a lot on my own time and that makes what i learned feel more valuable. it was challenging but i'm glad i pushed through because it was totally worth it.
I learned to find ways to look at how ordinary and mundane moments can be lived extraordinarily. This made me radically change my perspective on love and living life fully.
