Love as a Force for Social Justice from Coursera

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.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction

Course introduction

Words and the Meaning of Love

Love and the Brain

Love and Monotheistic Religions

Love and Systems of Ethical Thought

Love in Action in One-on-One Interactions

Love in Action at Work in the Business Community

Love in Action in Non-Governmental Organizations

Love and Social Justice

Love as an Expression of Creativity and Meaning in Life

Love in our Future Lives

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Focuses on the application of the concept of love as a force for social justice and action, empowering learners to practice love in their daily lives and apply their learning in service to society

Emphasizes the significance of love as a key phenomenon in fostering community, connection, and functional societies

Provides a comprehensive understanding of love from various perspectives, including biological, psychological, religious, and social

Taught by Anne Firth Murray, who specializes in social justice, ethics, and human rights

May require learners to actively participate in discussions and apply their learning in real-world situations

While the course aims to empower learners, it may not provide specific technical skills or job-specific knowledge

Reviews summary

Love as a path to social transformation

Students who took this course raved about its ability to promote empathy, highlight different expressions and dimensions of love, and inspire them to pursue social justice. Many students noted that Professor Firth Murray was a remarkable instructor, and that the course was well-designed. Discussions were also praised for being engaging, while the course's theme of nonviolent resistance was described inspiring

Students enjoyed the peer grading system, stating that it added an extra layer of value to the course. They appreciated the feedback they received on their work and found it helpful for their own growth.

"I enjoyed the course. Was pleased that it covered different dimensions and expressions of love."

"The homework was truly amazing. I didn't expect these practices to be so powerful but some works from other students were useless and it was a waste of time (while some of these opened new things about love for me)."

Touching on topics such as compassion and loving-kindness, students emphasize that this course helped them feel more in tune with both themselves and the world around them.

"It's given me a new meaning to love. I speak consciously, walk consciously and act with love."

"This course made me look at violence from a very different perspective."

"I learned the word agape love and got to understand it at a much deeper love in all areas of life."

The weekly assignments, readings, and discussions were highly praised by students. They commented that they appreciated the structure of the course and felt that it promoted engagement.

"Great course. The mix of readings, videos and weekly writings kept the course interesting and doable."

"I liked reading about the different love and hear people speak about their resurge, experiences and participating in the discussions."

"The course is marvelous, outstanding. The teacher Anne Firth Murray is stunning and extremely clever."

Many students commented that this course opened their eyes to the wide range of ways that love manifests in the world, challenging narrow interpretations they may have held before taking the course.

"I've learned so much more about the different types of love and how love fits into everything from relating to strangers and business to religion and romance."

"I now see that I need to be aware to be able to make the decision to make an act of love."

Professor Anne Firth Murray consistently receives high praise for her teaching ability. Students describe her as engaging, knowledgeable, and passionate about the subject matter.

"Anne Firth Murray was a wonderful professor."

"Thoughtful of Anne Firth Murray and her team to provide this course on course-era."

"The Professor and all the speakers had were all amazing."

Students felt moved and inspired to take action after completing this course. Many commented that they felt deeply inspired by the course's focus on social justice and its call to action.

"I absolutely loved the course, it landed in my mailbox at the perfect time and aligned with the inner work and self development I have been working. I learned the word agape love and got to understand it at a much deeper love in all areas of life. Thank you for this course, I am so grateful."

"This was an incredibly empowering and timely class especially during such this tumultuous epoch in world history. I thoroughly enjoyed the talks, readings, and writing assignments, and I urge anyone with an interest in the broadest and deepest forms of love to enroll."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Love as a Force for Social Justice with these activities:

Re-familiarize Yourself with Key Concepts of Love

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Reinforce your understanding of love in a romantic context.

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Review readings or notes on different theories of love.

Read The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm

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Gain insights into the complexities and challenges of love from a renowned philosopher.

View The Art of Listening on Amazon

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Read and reflect on key chapters exploring the nature of love.
Summarize the author's perspectives on the different types of love.

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Career center

Learners who complete Love as a Force for Social Justice will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Social Worker

Social Workers may use this course to develop a stronger theoretical foundation for carrying out their daily duties. The coursework covers communications, psychology, sociology, biology, and religion. There is significant overlap between these subjects and the work of a Social Worker. What's more, this course will help a Social Worker empathize with and support those they serve.

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Minister

Ministers may use this course to further develop their understanding of religion. They may also use this course to consider how ethics and love work in practice. Ministers already support their communities, and the coursework of this class will help them clarify these processes. The class also covers communications and biology.

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Psychologist

Psychologists may be able to apply the concepts of this course to better understand and support their clients. The course covers topics such as communication, biology, and religion. These are quite relevant to psychology in both theoretical and practical applications.

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Sociologist

Sociologists may find this course helpful in developing a deeper understanding of the social forces that shape human behavior. This is particularly relevant to their work studying societies and cultures. The course covers relevant subjects like psychology, religion, biology, sociology itself, and the ethics of different systems of thought.

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Professor

Professors may find this course helpful in enriching their curricula. The course covers topics like communication, biology, religion, and ethics. These are all valuable to teaching a wide range of subjects. The course may also help professors better serve the students who pass through their classrooms.

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Physician

Physicians may find this course helpful for developing a more holistic approach to patient care. The course covers psychology, sociology, biology, and religion. These subjects will help Physicians better serve their patients by gaining a better understanding of their beliefs, customs, and behaviors.

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Lawyer

Lawyers often draw on ethics and psychology to perform their jobs. They must also communicate effectively and understand the social forces that shape the legal system. This course may be helpful to lawyers in developing these skills, as it covers all of the aforementioned subjects.

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Philosopher

Philosophers may find this course helpful as it covers ethics, religion, and the social forces that shape human behavior. While the course does not directly teach philosophy, it does cover subjects that are relevant to philosophical inquiry.

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Teacher

Teachers may use this course to develop a stronger foundation in the subjects they teach as well as learning new teaching strategies. The course covers religion, psychology, and communications. These are valuable subjects for any teacher.

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Nonprofit Executive Director

Nonprofit Executive Directors may find this course helpful in gaining a better understanding of the social justice issues that their organizations address. The course covers ethics, religion, sociology, and the social forces that shape human behavior. These subjects are quite relevant to leading a successful nonprofit.

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Counselor

Counselors may find this course helpful in developing a deeper understanding of how to support their clients. This is particularly relevant to their work helping people overcome personal and interpersonal challenges. The course also covers biology and religion.

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Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers will benefit from the communication skills and discussions on ethical thought in this course. Empathy and strong communication skills are vital to this role, as is the ability to approach challenges from a number of directions. Most work performed by Human Resource Managers involves working with people, and this course may help people in this position to do just that.

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Journalist

Journalists can benefit from the strong focus on communications and ethical thought in this course. The course will help to foster a deeper understanding of how to apply ethics to their work and communicate their insights to others. Investigative journalists may find the course particularly useful.

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Politician

Politicians may find the course helpful in their work with constituents and in developing policy. The course can help politicians to better understand the needs of their constituents and will teach them how to better communicate with them. The insights gained from the coursework may provide the foundation to form effective policy.

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Community Organizer

Community Organizers may use this course to enhance their service to their communities. The course will teach them how to be more effective in their work and will also help them to better understand ethical thought. The course will also sharpen their communication skills, which can be vital to building and fostering relationships and community.

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Reading list

We've selected eight books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Love as a Force for Social Justice.

From Outrage to Courage

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Collection of essays by Anne Firth Murray on the topic of love as a force for social justice.

From Outrage to Courage: The Unjust and Unhealthy...

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From Outrage to Courage: Women Taking Action for...

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Meaning and Method

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Explores 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.

Meaning and Method: Prolegomena to a Scientific...

Paperback