University invites you to the public lecture series “Flourishing”

Not far from the city of Magdeburg, in the middle of forests and fields, a place was founded 125 years ago that has "blossomed" over time into what we see today: a modern university campus with distinctive facilities such as a retirement home, campsite, kindergarten, fire brigade and shop-café – to name but a few.

The Schools of Theology and Social Sciences at Friedensau Adventist University have created an interdisciplinary lecture series with renowned academics to put this flourishing into academic terms, approaching it from different perspectives. The series comprises five public lectures that will take place in November and December 2024. They are aimed not only at students and lecturers, but also at all interested listeners:

13 November 2024 | 7 pm | Aula | Live via video screen (in German)

Prof. Dr. Friedemann Schulz von Thun (Hamburg)

 A fulfilled life – How looking at your own life path contributes to it

Friedemann Schulz von Thun's late work is called "A Fulfilled Life". In it, the experienced communication psychologist uses references to his own biography to create a kind of coordinate system for a successful life. In his lecture, we will find out what role our desires, meaningful tasks, attitude towards important things and the way we live our lives play.

20 November 2024 | 7 pm | Aula | Live on site (in English)

Dr. phil. Jill Philine Blau (Friedensau Adventist University)

Commoning – Does sharing more lead to a better life?

What do Wikipedia, an alpine meadow and a swimming lake have in common? They are so-called commons: things that people produce, use or manage together. Particularly in the face of increasing privatisation, science and politics are focusing more and more on this special form of shared management. Ecological sustainability and use for the common good are more important here than where the focus is on short-term profit maximisation. Viewing resources as common goods/commons and commoning as the collective action around them entails a holistic view of people and the environment. The lecture explores the question of what opportunities arise from this and how these are related to the "good life" and flourishing.

27 November 2024 | 7 pm | Aula | Live on site (in German)

Prof. Dr. Philipp Altmann (Universidad Central del Ecuador)

Buen vivir – What we can learn about the good life from indigenous Latin American traditions

Does the economy always have to grow? Does good development always mean having and achieving more? The social and ecological challenges of the present day are prompting scientists and activists to question the dominance of the growth dogma. The concept of Buen Vivir ("good life" or "living well") plays a special role in these debates, as it was developed in the context of indigenous movements in Latin America. The lecture shows how this concept is taken up and worked on in the networks and positions of German growth critics in order to develop ideas of a good life.

4 December 2024 | 7 pm | Aula | Live on site (in German)

Prof. Stefan Höschele (Friedensau Adventist University)

Flourishing – What do our images of the good life say about our morals?

Concepts of a successful life change - and yet they are similar: in changing metaphors they express ideals that allow people to look beyond the ordinary. Such concepts of redemption can be found in abundance in religions, but also in personal goals, cultural core values and political formulae. Every ethics lives from a series of such ideas, each of which inspires us as an ensemble to describe our constant self-transformation, to shape the world and to work with others on corresponding projects. Within this framework, this lecture presents a discussion of the strengths and limitations of the idea of flourishing from a Christian perspective.

11 December 2024 | 7 pm Aula | Live via video screen (in English)

Prof. Dr. theol. Miroslav Volf (Yale University)

Self-transcendence – How does the spiritual dimension contribute to flourishing?

Prof. Miroslav Volf sees human life as being guided at the lowest level by habits (autopilot mode), at the next level by efficiency (strategic mode), followed by a personal vision (self-conscious mode) and finally, at the highest level, by the truth outside oneself (self-transcendence mode). Taking these perspectives into account, personal well-being and a flourishing life require a level of existentiality to produce tangible good life experiences and enable a recognition of the spiritual dimensions of the human experience.

All lectures will take place in the auditorium of Friedensau Adventist University, An der Ihle 2. We cordially invite you to attend.

Participation via Zoom is also possible (always in German). Pre-registration is required at https://www.thh-friedensau.de/125. The Zoom links will be sent out the day before the event.