Online Zoom Forum: The Global Ethic: Spiritual, Social, Ecological, and Policy Perspectives.
Date: Wednesday 23 April 2025.
Time: 7pm-9pm (UK time).
Event Description:
Format: There will be five talks, each of 12 minutes, followed by discussion among the speakers and the chair, followed by Q & A.
Chair:
The Revd Bonnie Evans-Hills:
Bio: Bonnie Evans-Hills is a priest in the Scottish Episcopal Church and has considerable experience in inter-religious dialogue, working with organisations such as the EU Commission on Foreign Affairs & Security, the World Council of Churches, Churches Together in Britain & Ireland, the Anglican Communion, and the Anglican Mission organisation USPG (United Society for Partners in the Gospel). Bonnie has been involved in contributing to the UN Office for the Prevention of Genocide’s Global Plan of Action for Religious Leaders & Actors. She was recently awarded the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Speakers:
Dr Christopher Gohl:
Title: World Care in Dialogue: A Bio-Cultural Perspective.
Description: In my presentation, I follow Hans Küng’s suggestion to reconstruct the global ethic with the help of the empirical sciences. I argue that "ethos" pertains to place-specific, identity-defining practices of meaning. These practices involve biological and ecological dispositions and cultural forms, and they amount to modes of careful inhabitation of the world. The global ethic emerges as a core set of values that is practiced in dialogue and trained on making the world a better place.
Bio: Christopher Gohl is a researcher at the Weltethos Institute at the University of Tuebingen. As a political theorist participating in democratic practices, he has always explored how individuals can contribute to the common good. Among other stations, he led Germany’s largest infrastructure mediation at Airport Frankfurt, participated in drafting the Andorra Manifesto of the Liberal International, and served as a member of the German Bundestag.
Dr Jonathan Keir:
Title: From Global Ethic to World Ethos.
Description: In this talk, I will cover Hans Küng’s treatment of the concept of “Basic Trust in Life”, which he regarded as a common denominator among all human civilisations at their best - and as the cornerstone of a shared Weltethos. Viewing Küng’s project in this light allows us to overcome the legalistic assumptions shared by critics and fans alike of the Declaration Toward a Global Ethic.
Bio: Jonathan Keir was a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Tübingen‘s Global Ethic Institute and the Institute for Advanced Humanistic Studies at Peking University. He currently teaches International Literatures at the University of Tübingen and oversees the international project portfolio of the Karl Schlecht Foundation.
Kaleb Nyquist:
Title: Cultivating a Better World Order from the Local on Up.
Description: The 1993 Global Ethic was drafted in the aftermath of the Cold War. A globalized, united world seemed both possible and desirable – but also precarious if not outright dangerous if it were to come into being without a moral basis. As the first principle of the Global Ethic declares, "No New Global Order Without a New Global Ethic!" Decades later, insurgent authoritarianism and the under-addressed threat of climate change has soured many against the world order as it now exists. Against those who may wish to argue that these trends prove the inefficacy of the Global Ethic to inject morality into international affairs, I instead contend that this new moment of crisis clarifies a durable contribution of the Global Ethic. In particular, I contend the Global Ethic provides us with a "cultivating a better world order" framework that is more appropriate for our present moment than past rhetoric of "building a new world order." We can lean into this cultivation mindset by using the Global Ethic to direct our attention to entanglements of moral resonance across the world, and re-understanding local religious communities as assemblages from which we can cultivate a better world order. These remarks end with suggestions of future research-actions for scholar-practitioners.
Bio: Kaleb is a data-driven strategist and nonprofit leader for challenges related to sustainability, spirituality, and democratic virtues. He currently serves as trustee and chair of the Climate Action Task Force for the Parliament of the World's Religions. From 2012-19 he oversaw the growth of Young Evangelicals for Climate Action as steering committee member and civic engagement chair. He has done research on faith-based refugee resettlement in Sweden, congregational responses to ecological despair in the United States, and the intersection of big data and democratic dysfunction. Kaleb has a B.A. in Global Studies and Conflict Transformation from North Park University, and a Master of Divinity and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago.
Prof Mary Doak:
Title: The Global Ethic in an Interconnected World.
Description: The Global Ethic is grounded in the understanding that we humans are part of a deeply interconnected, inter-relational reality. This view rejects the common assumption of possessive individualism that is contrary to the wisdom of Eastern and Western religions as well as many non-religious viewpoints. The Global Ethic challenges all to consider that we develop our unique selves only in and through our relationships with our communities and with the whole of reality, human and non-human. Building upon this fundamentally interrelational approach, the Global Ethic’s five directives can be more fully appreciated as a profound resource for healing the neglected and damaged relationships that plague our broken world, our suffering communities, and our hurting selves.
Bio: Mary Doak, PhD, teaches courses in Christian theology at the University of San Diego. Her specializations include liberation and political theologies, theologies of democracy and religious freedom, eschatology, and theologies of the church. She has served as president of the College Theology Society and of the American Theological Society (Midwest) and is currently honored to be a trustee of the Parliament of the World’s Religions, where she is chairing the Global Ethics committee.
Scholarly Work: Doak’s research has focused on the intersection of Christianity and politics. Her most recent books include Divine Harmony: Seeking Community in a Broken World (2017) and A Prophetic Public Church: Witness to Hope Amid the Global Crises of the 21st Century (2020). She has published articles on religious freedom, public theology, and eschatology in various journals and collections. Her current research focuses on theologies of democracy and on contemporary forms of antisemitism and religious hate.
Lena Zoller:
Title: Global Ethic in Action: Practical Examples of a Lived Global Ethos.
Description: The idea of a global ethic is not just a theological and philosophical concept but a guiding framework for action in our world. At the Global Ethic Foundation in Tübingen, Germany, we are committed to ensuring that ethical principles are not only discussed but actively lived—through educational projects, interreligious dialogue, and corporate responsibility. In my talk, I will present projects from our work and provide insights into the questions we are currently exploring as we further develop the Global Ethic idea.
Bio: Lena Zoller has been the Managing Director of the Global Ethic Foundation since December 2024. As a peace and conflict researcher (M.A.), she is a dedicated thought leader in promoting respectful and peaceful coexistence among all people. With over a decade of professional experience in intercultural and interreligious dialogue, sustainable development, and international cooperation, she has successfully led projects that foster global responsibility and harmonious coexistence in diverse societies.
An archive recording will be made for the EICSP archive.
NB: There will be no refund if you cancel your booking.
Cost: By Donation:
Contact: Neill Walker, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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