This course will explore connections between spirituality and public life with the aim of deepening spiritually grounded public leadership. Taking a practical theological approach, we will ask how leaders bring their varied faiths to the public sphere, how they are shaped by public life, and how they sustain their callings in concrete, complex contexts. We aim to gain critical perspectives on the diverse expressions and uses of spirituality in contemporary public life. We will explore relationships between spirituality, mysticism, and social transformation. Delving into practices such as prayer, Sabbath, ecological activism, and pilgrimage, we aim to deepen our own spiritualities and gain understanding of others. We also will engage with spiritualities/theologies of work and family/parenting while looking at the complexities of balancing different aspects of life as public leaders. To open up these topics in diverse ways, course materials include theological writing, spiritual autobiographies of public leaders, films, selections from spiritual classics, and contemporary news articles.

Note that this information may change at any time. Please visit the MyBU Student Portal for the most up-to-date course information.