A Journey Through the History of Human Spirituality Virtual Program

This program is free and open to the public. No preregistration required. A History of Spiritually: We often see the universe around us as a cold and lifeless place, best understood through the principles of chemistry and physics. But many believe the universe is full of spirits, or bodies, that can influence the lives of people–such as through the notions of astrology. Is it possible to reconcile such views? Is a scientific idea of the universe always superior to a more animistic one? A Journey Through the History of Human Spirituality: In this course, Professor Gosden will argue that human understanding has been based around science, religion and what he likes to refer to as “magic,” which Professor Gosden describes as “human participation in the universe.”  We’ll examine some forms of this participation and their cultural background in ancient China, the classical Mediterranean world, Europe, and the United States, and argue that it can be useful in giving us a moral relationship with the world. Certainly, that’s something that is particularly necessary now, in this period of environmental and climatic turmoil. Recommended Reading About the History of Human Spirituality: The Oxford Illustrated History of Witchcraft and Magic, by Owen Davies; The Witch: A History of Fear, from Ancient Times to to the Present, by Ronald Hutton; The Shaman’s Coat: A Native History of Siberia, by Anna Reid