Finding Meaning & Moral Responsibility

A God-Centred Approach to Pastoral Care

A Six-Part Online Programme with Dr Mahshid Turner

Programme Overview

How do human beings come to understand meaning, moral responsibility, and their place within the created order? What resources does the Islamic intellectual and spiritual tradition offer for thinking about selfhood, suffering, care, responsibility, and human flourishing?

Finding Meaning & Moral Responsibility: A God-Centred Approach to Pastoral Care is a structured six-part programme exploring these questions through a God-centred framework grounded in Qurʾanic anthropology, prophetic models, and reflective practice.

The programme begins with the human condition through the example of Prophet Adam, considering the relationship between body, spirit, intellect, and moral agency. It then turns to the journey of Prophet Abraham as a model of existential and epistemological enquiry, before examining the nature of the human ‘I’ (ene) and its significance for existence, purpose, consciousness, and moral responsibility.

From these foundations, the programme considers the prophets as models of guidance, compassion, resilience, and ethical formation. It then introduces a Six-Step God-Centred Model for ethical and spiritual development, before considering its application to suffering, burnout, moral injury, existential distress, and contemporary practices of care.

Throughout the programme, these questions are considered in relation to chaplaincy, healthcare, counselling, education, pastoral care, community leadership, family life, and civic and social engagement.

Programme Structure

Lecture 1 | The Ontology of the Human Being: Insights from Prophet Adam
Sunday 13 September 2026 | 11.00am–12.30pm

The human condition considered through body, spirit, intellect, moral agency, vulnerability, stewardship, and service.

Lecture 2 | The Epistemology of Meaning: The Journey of Prophet Abraham
Sunday 4 October 2026 | 11.00am–12.30pm

The human search for meaning through reflection, questioning, reason, revelation, lived experience, doubt, and certainty.

Lecture 3 | The Human ‘I’ (Ene): Unlocking the Enigma of Creation
Sunday 8 November 2026 | 11.00am–12.30pm

The human ‘I’ and the signs within creation and the self as pathways to meaning, consciousness, moral awareness, and transcendence.

Lecture 4 | Prophets as Shepherds of Transcendence
Sunday 29 November 2026 | 11.00am–12.30pm

Prophetic models of guidance, compassion, resilience, moral formation, and care.

Lecture 5 | A Normative Framework for Ethical and Spiritual Development: A Six-Step God-Centred Model
Sunday 20 December 2026 | 11.00am–12.30pm

A structured God-centred framework for ethical and spiritual development, bringing together belief, consciousness, intentionality, action, reflection, and responsibility.

Lecture 6 | Applying the Six-Step Model: Case Studies and Contemporary Practice
Sunday 10 January 2027 | 11.00am–12.30pm

The application of the Six-Step Model to contemporary contexts of care, including chaplaincy, healthcare, education, family, and community life.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the programme, participants will be able to articulate a God-centred understanding of meaning, selfhood, and moral responsibility, and engage critically with Qurʾanic and prophetic models of human development.

Participants will consider how reflective spiritual practices, ethical discernment, and moral awareness may inform pastoral, professional, and personal contexts, particularly in relation to suffering, resilience, responsibility, and human wellbeing.

Engaging with the Programme

The programme will be of particular relevance to those working in chaplaincy, healthcare, counselling, education, pastoral care, community leadership, wellbeing, ethics, and social care.

It will also speak to students and researchers in Islamic thought, theology, spirituality, and related fields, as well as those wishing to examine more closely questions of meaning, moral responsibility, human flourishing, and the nature of care.

The programme welcomes participants of all faiths and none; no prior study of Islamic theology or philosophy is required.

Programme Fees

The fee for this six-part programme is £75.00, covering all six lectures.

Scholarships

Applicants are first considered for admission to the programme. Following a successful application, those wishing to apply for a scholarship are invited to complete a separate scholarship assessment form. Applicants should indicate in the Additional Information section of the programme application if they wish to be considered for financial support.

The scholarship assessment process comprises a review of the application, followed by an interview. Awards are made on an individual basis, taking into account an applicant’s commitment to learning, academic merit and potential, together with demonstrated financial need.

Please allow up to 14 working days for the scholarship assessment process to be completed. Scholarships are subject to availability and eligibility.

Enrolment and Application

Applications are submitted through Teleia, The Classical Institute’s proprietary Virtual Learning Platform, developed specifically to support the Institute’s educational environment and programme delivery. The programme is open to those with a serious interest in its themes, and no prior study of Islamic theology or philosophy is required. Applicants will normally receive an admissions update within 14 days of submission.

Direct application link for members of the Teleia community already enrolled on the platform: https://tci.teleia.co.uk/programmes/finding-meaning-moral-responsibility-a-god-centr

Programme Information

Lecturer: Dr Mahshid Turner
Department: Philosophy & Theology
Format: Six-Part Online Programme
Delivery: Online via Zoom
Day: Sunday
Time: 11.00am-12.30pm (UK time)
Dates: 13 September 2026-10 January 2027