Engaging the powers in the world. Can spirituality guide and inspire people working with social and ecological justice? Insights from psychology, philosophy and advanced management will expand participants’ understanding of spirituality, learning how it underpins the wider community, inspiring effective activism.

No matter what your religious tradition, you will explore how life can be received and given, by neither burning nor selling out, but by replenishing the wellsprings of creativity, humour and joy in the face of success and failure.

Certificate of Professional Development offered through a partnership between CHE and the Dept of Geography & Sociology, University of Strathclyde.

Why Spiritual Activism?

An activist is one who actively engages the Powers in the world, often in explicit or implicit leadership or inspirational roles. By spiritual activism, we mean activism in social, environmental or religious realms where the activist has concluded both that there exists, and that they have a need to draw upon, spiritual bodies of knowledge to guide and ground their vocation. This is an advanced course, designed to address the needs of people who have already started psychological and/or spiritual work on themselves, typically because they have found themselves exercised by challenges faced in their past engagement as activists for social, ecological or spiritual change. It is not suitable for those who are in the very early stages of their unfolding, or who do not have a conviction that their vocation requires a deepening of their psychospiritual grounding.

The course is based around two intensive weekend workshops with additional private study, including systematic reading throughout the course (this will be structured by the Course Handbook). The workshops will include presentations, case studies, practical exercises, and specialist guest speakers. By working in small groups, using a participative approach, sharing experiences and knowledge, you will, by the end of the course have:

• Demonstrated competence in critically discussing and representing spirituality.
  
• Understood the relationship between spirituality and religion.
• Developed a cohesive philosophical framework linking spirituality, activism, ecology and the psychology of the Self.
• Discerned more deeply your vocation in life as it affects your activism.
• Become theoretically informed about the practical tools of both leadership and discipleship for serving it.
  
• Gained practical experience both through observing and leading small groups using at least one recognised methodological approach to discernment.
• Acquired the tools to evaluate, critically but with empathy, the claims for epistemological validity and practical effectiveness that might be made for a spiritually based approach to activism.

Course Content

Epistemology of spirituality and activism: Activism as an aspect of human ecology - the study of human community in relationship with the Earth, in relationship with one another, and, arguably, in relationship with the divine.
 

Structure and dynamics of the psyche: Explored mainly through Jungian and post-Jungian perspectives, addressing shamanic and prophetic dimensions of social change and viewing colonisation and globalisation as a battle for the soul as well as for resources.

Engagement with power: The dynamics of power, leadership, charisma in working for change, including the relationship between activism, the deep Self and the ego.

Dangers and discernment: Power abuses such as cultic and Messianic syndromes, and tools of discernment in testing, guiding and inspiring leadings and vocation.

Sustenance, service and self-realisation: Avoiding burnout and sellout by understanding leadership as service in furtherance of spiritual community.

Essay and Project: You will apply and explore these issues by writing an essay, and a critical review of a group discernment process.

Course Leader

Alastair McIntosh, is a Fellow of CHE and Visiting Professor at the University of Strathclyde. Author of Soil and Soul: People versus Corporate Power, described by George Monbiot as ‘one of the most important books I have ever read’. For more information about Alastair go to: www.alastairmcintosh.com

Course Details 

Award: Successful completion of the assessment leads to the award of a Certificate of Professional Development by the University of Strathclyde.

Dates: The course runs from 19 January to 7 May 2010. The two workshops are: 19 & 20 January and 16 & 17 March 2010. Attendance at both workshops is essential.

Location: The course is based at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow city centre.

Fee: The course fee is £495. This covers the cost of participation in the course, but not food or accommodation. The course handbook is available on CD for a small charge. 

How to apply: Write a brief letter, outlining your background and highlighting what you hope to gain from the course; include an email address and telephone number. Enclose a deposit of £100 (cheque made payable to University of Strathclyde). Once accepted on the course, deposits can only be refunded if you cancel at least six weeks before the course start date. Your place can not be held for you without a deposit.

Send your application to:

Spiritual Activism CPD,

Dept of Geography & Sociology,

University of Strathclyde,

Graham Hills Building,

50 Richmond Street,

Glasgow G1 1XN 

Further information: If you have specific questions about the application process, call 0141 410 1100 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it If you have questions about the content of the course, contact Alastair McIntosh on 0141 445 8750 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it