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The Role of the Public Intellectual in a Just Society

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About Course

Sr. Joan Chittister issues a call to all of us to become public intellectuals.

Sr. Joan’s lessons on The Public Intellectual open up a new awareness that illuminates a blind spot that can develop for progressive thinkers. Traditional liberals have typically focused on critical thinking about biblical exploration and constructive theology. The unintended consequence of such an academic focus has been to overlook the reformative power of what can happen when this debate is held not behind closed doors, but in the public square.

Joan tells us that the role of the “public intellectual” is to publicly and relentlessly challenge systemic injustices that infect and contaminate the political, civic and religious institutions across our society.

“The Role of the Public Intellectual in a Just Society” will inspire church groups and individual learners to push in their everyday lives—as Jesus did—for transformative change that lifts up those who are left out of our society.

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What Will You Learn?

  • “The Role of the Public Intellectual in a Just Society” will inspire church groups and individual learners to push in their everyday lives—as Jesus did—for transformative change that lifts up those who are left out of our society.

Course Content

The Freedom of the Public Intellectual

  • Introduction
  • Video: The Freedom of the Public Intellectual
    18:59
  • Reflection Questions

The Job of the Public Intellectual
Sr. Joan describes in this lesson the job of the public intellectual – to keep an awareness of tradition, but to never let that tradition become stale or to suppress fresh ideas. Ideas have the power to stir the pot, which is good. Intellectuals can present fresh, outsider ideas but must do so within the public sphere, finding ways to involve all voices.

The Public Intellectual as Relentless Challenger
Sr. Joan lays out clear ways that the public intellectual can strengthen democracy for everyone. She also calls the public intellectuals in the audience, and those in your small group, to take up the torch as well.

The Public Intellectual and the Next Generation
Joan Chittister is recruiting a wave of thinking, caring, well-versed citizens who will relentlessly and publicly address the key issues of our democratic life — distributive justice, income inequality, climate change, equal rights under the law, voting rights, immigration and public education — in short, an active, continuing concern for The Common Good.

Participation
Discuss your reflection question responses, and especially share best practices about how you're taking on the role of a public intellectual within your communities.

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