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| Semester | spring semester 2023 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers |
Nadine Brühwiler (nadine.bruehwiler@unibas.ch)
Jens Köhrsen (jens.koehrsen@unibas.ch) Lasse Kos (lasse.kos@unibas.ch) Julius Malin (julius.malin@unibas.ch) Rebeca Roysen (rebeca.roysen@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | With all technology and knowledge humankind has accumulated, why is it so difficult to use them towards achieving a more sustainable world? The search for more sustainable futures requires not only technological innovations, but also radical transformations in lifestyles, in social norms and daily practices. Ecovillages are communities where people experiment with alternative ways of living, new ways of relating to nature and to each other, and new (and ancestral) forms of spirituality. With this course, students will reflect on how different forms of spirituality can support individuals and communities in their transformation process toward sustainability. Course Structure In this course, there will be theoretical lectures, group discussions, practices, sessions for (self-)reflexion and feedback, and a field-trip to an ecovillage. The idea is to combine theory and practice as much as possible. It is expected that students attend at least 80% of the classes and activities. |
| Learning objectives | Upon the completion of this course, you will be able to: • Critically reflect on the inter-relations between sustainability and spirituality in community-based transition experiments; • Explain the characteristics, challenges and potentials of ecovillages as incubators of new ways of living; and • Reflect on the role of spirituality in sustainable transformations. |
| Bibliography | Basic bibliography: 1. Roysen, R., & Mertens, F. (2019). New normalities in grassroots innovations: The reconfiguration and normalization of social practices in an ecovillage. Journal of Cleaner Production, 236, 8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.117647 2. White, L. (1967). The Historical Roots of our Ecological Crisis. Science, 155, 1203–1207. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203426982-39 3. Lestar, T., & Böhm, S. (2020). Ecospirituality and sustainability transitions: Agency towards degrowth. Religion, State and Society, 48(1), 56–73. https://doi.org/10.1080/09637494.2019.1702410 4. Rau, T. (n/d). On interpersonal feedback. Available at https://www.sociocracyforall.org/on-feedback/. Retrieved on: 01/09/2022. 5. Pisters, S. R., Vihinen, H., & Figueiredo, E. (2020). Inner change and sustainability initiatives: exploring the narratives from eco-villagers through a place-based transformative learning approach. Sustainability Science, 15(2), 395–409. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-019-00775-9 6. Koehrsen, J. (2017). Boundary bridging arrangements: A boundary work approach to local energy transitions. Sustainability (Switzerland), 9(3), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9030424 7. Chaves, M., Macintyre, T., Verschoor, G., & Wals, A. E. J. (2017). Towards transgressive learning through ontological politics: Answering the “call of the mountain” in a Colombian network of sustainability. Sustainability, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/su9010021 8. Macy, J. (1996). “World as Lover, World as Self” and “The Greening of the Self”. In A. Kotler (Ed.), Engaged Buddhist Reader (pp. 171–180). Parallax Press. |
| Comments | Das Seminar ersetzt die Vorlesung im RWP-Modul 'Wirtschaft und Religion'. Studierende im Master RWP können dieses Seminar anstelle einer Vorlesung für Modul 'Wirtschaft und Religion' belegen. |
| Admission requirements | This course is open for MA students and also for advanced BA students (from the 5th semester onwards). |
| Course application | Online: services.unibas.ch. Maximum of 20 students. Obs.: In case we receive more than 20 registrations, we will give preference to MA students. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Thursday | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 104 |
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 23.02.2023 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 107 |
| Thursday 02.03.2023 | 14.15-16.00 | Fasnachstferien |
| Thursday 09.03.2023 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 107 |
| Thursday 16.03.2023 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 107 |
| Thursday 23.03.2023 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 107 |
| Thursday 30.03.2023 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 107 |
| Thursday 06.04.2023 | 14.15-16.00 | Ostern |
| Thursday 13.04.2023 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 107 |
| Thursday 20.04.2023 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 107 |
| Thursday 27.04.2023 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 107 |
| Thursday 04.05.2023 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 107 |
| Thursday 11.05.2023 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 107 |
| Thursday 18.05.2023 | 14.15-16.00 | Auffahrt |
| Thursday 25.05.2023 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 107 |
| Thursday 01.06.2023 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Mehrzweckraum 035 |
| Modules |
Basismodul (Teil A) (Transfakultäre Querschnittsprogramme im freien Kreditpunkte-Bereich) Doctorate Biomedical Ethics: Recommendations (PhD subject: Biomedical Ethics) Modul: Religion, Ökonomie und Recht (Master's degree subject: Science of Religion) Modul: Theologie im Kontext des Weltchristentums (Master's Studies: Theology) Modul: Theory and General Anthropology (Master's degree subject: Anthropology) Modul: Wirtschaft und Religion (Master's Studies: Religion - Economics - Politics) Module: Resources and Sustainability (Master's degree program: Changing Societies: Migration – Conflicts – Resources) |
| Assessment format | record of achievement |
| Assessment details | At the end of the semester, you will be asked to submit two assignments, described below. Please, upload them both in PDF format to the ADAM platform by 15.06.22, 23:55. Assignment 1: Group essay (3 pages, 50% of the grade) Essay about the role of spirituality in sustainable transformations. Based on the literature discussed during the course, and on observations during the field-trip, students should work in groups and answer the following question: How do sustainability and spirituality interact in ecovillages? Groups are also free to choose a different question if wanted, but that should be discussed with the responsible teacher. Assessment Criteria – The group critically reflects on the content of the course and on the field-trip experience. – The group cite at least two of the articles/chapters from the basic bibliography of this course, connecting them to their own experiences, research and/or interests. Assignment 2: Individual report (2 pages, 50% of the grade) Students should write an individual report, in first person and in informal style (there is no need for citations or bibliography) describing their personal learning experience during the course and the field-trip. Assessment Criteria – The student reflects honestly on their perceptions, insights and challenges during their participation in the discussions and practices from the course. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: teaching staff |
| Repeat examination | one repetition, best attempt counts |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Theology, studiendekanat-theol@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Zentr. Religion, Wirtschaft und Politik |