“Journey of the Universe: A Story for Our Times”
This is the first MOOC even on religion and ecology. It’s a major step forward for the ecological movement and its spiritual dimensions. The Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology is the world’s most significant center on this topic. And the cost is free! We strongly encourage all interested persons to participate. — The EcoCiv Staff
“Journey of the Universe: A Story for Our Times” Yale University Online Classes Now Open to the Public
Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim, Senior Lecturers and Research Scholars at Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies are currently offering four six-week online courses. These are featured as a specialization under the theme of “Journey of the Universe: A Story for our Times.” This specialization includes two courses on Journey of the Universe and a course on the Worldview of Thomas Berry. Each of these courses can be taken independently, followed by an Integrating Capstone course. These are MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) available on Coursera to anyone, anywhere on the planet. This is the first MOOC specialization for Yale and the first MOOCs for the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.
Learners may audit these courses FREE OF CHARGE (with the exception of the capstone course). Or learners may register for all of the courses for a small fee and, upon completion, receive a specialization certificate. The courses do not have to be completed within the six week period, rather, learners may finish at their own pace.
Courses:
- Journey of the Universe: The Unfolding of Life
- Journey Conversations: Weaving Knowledge and Action
- The Worldview of Thomas Berry: The Flourishing of the Earth Community
- Integrating Capstone: Living Cosmology (only available as part of the specialization certificate—not available to audit)
Upcoming sessions:
- January 16, 2017 – March 6, 2017 April 10, 2017 – May 29, 2017
- February 13, 2017 – April 3, 2017 May 8, 2017 –June 26, 2017
- March 13, 2017 – May 1, 2017 June 5, 2017 – July 24, 2017
For more details and to register, go to:
https://www.coursera.org/specializations/journey-of-the-universe
Praise for the Journey of the Universe: A Story for Our Times online courses (from course participants):
“While I have taken several dozen online courses, I have never before been moved to want to participate on a deeper level as I have with this series. [This course] made a deep impression on my thinking and my feelings, and I sincerely hope that I will find ways to further my understanding of [this] work as well as to develop my own independent thinking in the direction [the instructors] have pioneered. I am given fresh hope and faith in the idea of being a part of this vitally important, and vitally potent, undertaking.”
“I am a retired university lecturer from Australia, and a life-long learner. The Journey of the Universe was the first professionally presented online course that I have undertaken. I loved everything about it; the book, the film, the additional resources. Most importantly, the integrated vision of the evolution of the universe, and the principles and processes of evolution from the original flaring forth, through to the evolution of Earth, and humanity as it is now, and what it may be in the future. I am thrilled by the multi-level examples of interconnectedness, and your orientation of bringing it all back to me/us. It is just what I needed – the deepening of my understanding of ‘humanity’s roots’, in order to expand ‘horizontally’ in my perception of global events in the context of wonder and possibility for the future of earth community. I love the integration of science, humanities and the spirituality underlying world religious systems; i love the heart-felt, poetic language of your story of the journey(s).”
“I would really like to say thank you for providing this course as it is one of the most profound and momentous experiences of my life. It has given me a much greater understand of who I am and where I live. My view has been expanded exponentially. It also, importantly, gives me hope. My goal is to dedicate my life’s work to promoting a flourishing future for all life and hopefully making some sort of small difference for future generations, of all kinds.”
“It’s beautiful! I’ve never described any Coursera courses this way. This lecture guides us widen and enhanced world around us. I believe it make us becoming better beings. Thank you!”
Praise for Journey of the Universe:
“This is one of the most remarkable films I have ever seen.”
– Thomas E. Lovejoy, Ph.D., Scientist and Founder of the PBS series Nature
Professor, George Mason University
“This story of the universe has the potential to change our civilization.”
– Gus Speth, Vermont Law School, Former Director, United Nations Development Programme, Co-founder of National Resources Defense Council and World Resources Institute
“Journey of the Universe uses stunning imagery to foster an understanding of our evolutionary origins and the urgency of protecting the diversity of life and environments on our home planet.”
– Derek Briggs, Ph.D., Director, Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History
“This is the film that so many of us have been waiting for: a clear, wondrous telling of the Universe Story. The science is rigorous and engaging. The film is mind-blowing in all respects.”
– Ursula Goodenough, Ph.D., Biology Department, Washington University, Author of Sacred Depths of Nature
“A remarkable film…While science itself is rooted in rigor and dispassion, its findings can inspire wonder, even reverence. I think the film is a great experiment. It is also beautifully filmed, and, refreshingly, largely a “woe-is-me/shame-on-you”-free zone. I hope it gets wide viewing.”
– Andrew Revkin, Journalist, Author, “Dot Earth” blogger for The New York Times
