Gain broader literacy and deeper knowledge of the world’s religions and their ecological perspectives. Experience the vitality of religious environmental action and the longstanding contributions of Indigenous peoples for ecological flourishing.

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51 ratings

Mary Evelyn Tucker +1 more instructor

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Religions and Ecology: Restoring the Earth Community SpecializationYale University

What you will learn

Religious communities:
What ecojustice actions are taking place on in my own religion?
What can I learn from examples of faith-based action?
Environmentalists:
What voices might I learn from in pursuing ecological conservation?
How is ecojustice contributing to solutions social problems?
Policy:
Religions can be active partners in finding eco-solutions. The partnership joins the moral force of faith into eco and climate emergencies.
Religious:
What environmental activities are going on in my own religious tradition? What opportunities are there for interreligious engagement?

Skills you will gain

About this Specialization

Why do religions matter when we talk about environmental problems and solutions? The environmental crisis is not simply a political, economic, or technological problem; it is a moral and spiritual call to long-term change. Religious narratives resonate with large numbers of people —85% of the world’s population belong to religious communities. Religions have educational institutions around the world that can inspire people for an ecologically just future. Religious structures and sacred spaces provide a symbolic and practical context for aligning humans with nature. Religions have financial assets that can be used for transformative change, such as divestment and reinvestment. To whom will these courses appeal? Lifelong learners curious to know more about world religions and ecology Environmental professionals eager to deepen the discourse of environmental protection and conservation Those working with non-profit organizations and NGOs on issues of ecological justice, especially where minority communities are adversely affected Those involved in education -- College and high school students looking for a broader view of religion and spirituality, teachers developing curriculum, Those involved in the world’s religions -- Religious leaders and laity who want to know how they can contribute to interreligious dialogue on environmental issues; Religious communities interested in building engaging projects, such as the restoration of local bioregions.

Applied Learning Project

1. Introduction to Religions and Ecology

Broad introduction to the study of religion and history of ecology

Highlights moral force of religions and ecology

Prepares learners for the other courses

2. Indigenous Religions and Ecology

Africa, Asia, Americas, Pacific Regions

3. South Asian Religions and Ecology

Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Baha’i Faith

4. East Asian Religions and Ecology

Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, Shinto, Korean Shamanism

5. Western Religions and Ecology

Judaism, Christianity, Islam

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online courses

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Flexible Schedule

Set and maintain flexible deadlines.

Beginner Level

Approximately 12 months to complete

Suggested pace of 2 hours/week

English

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online courses

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Flexible Schedule

Set and maintain flexible deadlines.

Beginner Level

Approximately 12 months to complete

Suggested pace of 2 hours/week

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

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How the Specialization Works

Take Courses

A Coursera Specialization is a series of courses that helps you master a skill. To begin, enroll in the Specialization directly, or review its courses and choose the one you'd like to start with. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. It’s okay to complete just one course — you can pause your learning or end your subscription at any time. Visit your learner dashboard to track your course enrollments and your progress.

Hands-on Project

Every Specialization includes a hands-on project. You'll need to successfully finish the project(s) to complete the Specialization and earn your certificate. If the Specialization includes a separate course for the hands-on project, you'll need to finish each of the other courses before you can start it.

Earn a Certificate

When you finish every course and complete the hands-on project, you'll earn a Certificate that you can share with prospective employers and your professional network.

There are 5 Courses in this Specialization

Course1

Course 1

Introduction to Religions & Ecology

4.9

stars

38 ratings

At first glance the fields of religion and ecology may seem and unlikely pairing, but a deeper consideration reveals the two have a great deal to contribute to one another and are indeed inextricably linked. Religions recognize the unity and interdependence of humans with nature. Ecological sciences affirm this deep interconnection with the natural world. This partnership can inspire work for the wellbeing of the Earth community 

There is a need for broader literacy and deeper knowledge of the world’s religions and their ecological contributions. This specialization, starting with this course, contributes such a perspective. Each course celebrates the vitality of religiously-informed action for the Earth and recognizes the longstanding contributions of Indigenous peoples in offering visions and practices for ecological flourishing. This course is part one of the "Religions and Ecology: Restoring the Earth Community" series of classes that focuses on the ecological dimensions of religious traditions throughout the world. The course you are about to begin is designed as a gateway to the other classes. It describes the nature of religion as well as the emergence of the field of ecology. In addition, it highlights concerns for forestry issues, the climate emergency, global ethics, and environmental justice. This course is for lifelong learners curious to know more about world religions and ecology, environmental professionals eager to deepen the discourse of environmental protection and conservation, those working with non-profit organizations and NGOs on issues of ecological justice, and religion leaders and laity who wish to know how they can contribute to interreligious dialogue on environmental projects.

Course2

Course 2

Indigenous Religions & Ecology

4.7

stars

15 ratings

There is a need for broader literacy and deeper knowledge of the world’s religions and their ecological contributions. This specialization, "Religions and Ecology: Restoring the Earth Community", contributes such a perspective. Each course celebrates the vitality of religiously-informed action for the Earth and recognizes the longstanding contributions of Indigenous peoples in offering visions and practices for ecological flourishing. This is course 2 of 5 in the "Religions and Ecology: Restoring the Earth Community" specialization that focuses on the ecological dimensions of religious traditions throughout the world. The course is designed as a gateway to the significant contributions of Indigenous peoples of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Pacific Regions for environmental understanding. The diversity of Indigenous communities around the planet makes selective coverage necessary, but shared patterns of resilience manifest themselves worldwide. So much has emerged in the last several decades in understanding traditional environmental knowledge, as you will see. This course is for lifelong learners curious to know more about world religions and ecology, environmental professionals eager to deepen the discourse of environmental protection and conservation, those working with non-profit organizations and NGOs on issues of ecological justice, and religion leaders and laity who wish to know how they can contribute to interreligious dialogue on environmental projects.

Course3

Course 3

South Asian Religions & Ecology

There is a need for broader literacy and deeper knowledge of the world’s religions and their ecological contributions. This specialization, "Religions and Ecology: Restoring the Earth Community", contributes such a perspective. Each course celebrates the vitality of religiously-informed action for the Earth and recognizes the longstanding contributions of Indigenous peoples in offering visions and practices for ecological flourishing. This course is part 3 of 5 of the "Religions and Ecology: Restoring the Earth Community" specialization that focuses on the ecological dimensions of religious traditions throughout the world. The course you are about to begin is designed as a gateway to these aspects of the South Asian religions, philosophies, and practices of Hinduism, Jainism, Yoga, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Baha’i Faith. So much has emerged in the last several decades in this area, as you will see. While we have taught this course at Yale, we have adapted it for learners from a wide range of backgrounds. This course is for lifelong learners curious to know more about world religions and ecology, environmental professionals eager to deepen the discourse of environmental protection and conservation, those working with non-profit organizations and NGOs on issues of ecological justice, and religion leaders and laity who wish to know how they can contribute to interreligious dialogue on environmental projects.

Course4

Course 4

East Asian Religions & Ecology

There is a need for broader literacy and deeper knowledge of the world’s religions and their ecological contributions. This specialization, "Religions and Ecology: Restoring the Earth Community", contributes such a perspective. Each course celebrates the vitality of religiously-informed action for the Earth and recognizes the longstanding contributions of Indigenous peoples in offering visions and practices for ecological flourishing. This course is part 4 of 5 of the "Religions and Ecology: Restoring the Earth Community" specialization that focuses on the ecological dimensions of religious traditions throughout the world. The course you are about to begin is designed as a gateway to these aspects of the East Asian religions, philosophies, and practices of Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, Shinto, and Shamanism. So much has emerged in the last several decades in this area, as you will see. While we have taught this course at Yale, we have adapted it for learners from a wide range of backgrounds. This course is for lifelong learners curious to know more about world religions and ecology, environmental professionals eager to deepen the discourse of environmental protection and conservation, those working with non-profit organizations and NGOs on issues of ecological justice, and religion leaders and laity who wish to know how they can contribute to interreligious dialogue on environmental projects.

Instructors

Mary Evelyn Tucker

Senior Lecturer and Senior Research Scholar

Yale School of the Environment

35,776 Learners

13 Courses

John Grim

Senior Lecturer and Senior Research Scholar

Yale School of the Environment

35,776 Learners

13 Courses

Offered by

Yale University

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the refund policy?
If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.
Can I just enroll in a single course?
Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate, or you can audit it to view the course materials for free. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
Can I take the course for free?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free. If you cannot afford the fee, you can apply for financial aid.
Is this course really 100% online? Do I need to attend any classes in person?
This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.
How long does it take to complete the Specialization?
If you follow the recommended temporal framework, it should take you just under 3 months. Working 2-3 hours per week. But we recommend you take your time. The joy is in the journey. What is learned in this series will enrich you as a person more than impact your career, so don't rush.
What background knowledge is necessary?
No prerequisite knowledge is necessary.
Do I need to take the courses in a specific order?
No! But we recommend that you at least start with the Introduction to Religions and Ecology course first before jumping around.
Will I earn university credit for completing the Specialization?
No.
What will I be able to do upon completing the Specialization?
For Religious communities
What environmental and ecojustice activities are already going on in my own religious tradition?
What can I learn from other examples of faith-based action on behalf of the Earth?
What opportunities are there for interreligious engagement?
For Environmental actors/researchers
What other voices or ways of knowing might I learn from in pursuing ecological conservation and restoration?
How is ecojustice contributing to long range solutions to environmental and social problems?
For Policymakers
As we seek answers to complex environmental problems, religions can be active participants in finding solutions along with scientists, economists, and policymakers. This partnership integrates the moral force of religions in responding to environmental problems and climate emergencies.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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Religions and Ecology: Restoring the Earth Community Specialization

What you will learn

Skills you will gain

About this Specialization