This project seeks to advance our understanding of, and develop sources for, how people develop meaningful lives and pursue spiritual flourishing in a rapidly changing world. It does so by looking particularly at the changed spiritual, societal and cultural realities regarding the salient attribute of hope, specifically seeking to develop increased spiritual capital in a world where hope has turned into despair simultaneous to the decline in organized religion in the West. Spiritual capital relates to the development of models of human authenticity that enrich society and the organizations and communities of that society. Spiritual capital is one way of living out virtues in public life.
This project will conduct five targeted sub-theme interdisciplinary theological investigations into areas in which hope is needed: (1) Technology; (2) Civics; (3) Youth; (4) Health; (5) Entrepreneurship.
These will be investigated alongside a synoptic inquiry into hope. The project will bring together CTI staff, 2 senior fellows and five cohorts of 6 fellows for an inter-disciplinary investigation in which philosophers and theologians will engage: (1) a 16-week virtual inquiry into inter-disciplinary material led by an inter-disciplinary consultant, including a curriculum of readings, lectures and workshops, and culminating in a mutually transformative inter-disciplinary discourse on hope; (2) a 16 week residential phase focused on writing and development of work in progress; and (3) a 16 week public inquiry focused on avenues to impact.
Concrete deliverables include: 34 monographs; five edited collections; 30 open access Conversaziones; over 32 podcasts; eight public events; 15 global webinars; 6 magazines; and the launch of an open access platform. The impact of the project will be to increase hope as a salient virtue in measurable ways globally.
