Ahmed Afzaal
HE / HIM / HIS
Ahmed Afzaal, PhD., is a scholar, teacher, writer, coach. He brings together old and new modalities from around the globe, in a life-long effort to identify the best approaches for confronting the mighty and urgent crises of our age—and is a keynote speaker on education, critical thinking, and sustainability.
The last of the human freedoms [is] to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances. —Viktor Frankl
Popular Talks
Education
Modern systems of education are out of alignment with our social and ecological reality. Educators have a moral responsibility to fundamental alter how they live, teach, and lead so they can prepare the younger generation for the challenges that are coming their way.
What the World Needs
If we understand that the consequences of long-term unsustainability are now upon us, and if we have accepted that Business-as-Usual cannot continue for too long, then how are we supposed to adapt and change? Given the times in which we are living, what capacities, attitudes, and skills are most worth learning?
Worldviews
Modernity, or modern civilization, is based on a deeply flawed and problematic worldview that has caused immense suffering, both physical and spiritual, and has now brought the entire biosphere at the brink of extinction. We need postmodern alternatives, including a postmodern worldview, so that we stop repeating past mistakes. Towards that end, we need to identify the flaws and problems of the modern worldview at the deepest level and consider the emerging postmodern possibilities.
Workshops & Coaching
Workshops
Why Modern Education is Obsolete
Participants will understand that education, as it is practiced institutionally, is out of alignment with the challenges our current students are most likely to face. They will come to see that maintaining the educational status quo amounts to preparing the younger generation for a world that no longer exists.
Education on Right Side of the Brain
Modernity is characterized by the domination of the talents and skills associated with the left hemisphere of the brain, a pattern that rules our educational system as well. Transforming education requires putting the right and left hemispheres in their proper places. This workshop draws upon the works of Iain McGilchrist, Jill Bolte Taylor, Fredric Schiffer, and others.
Critical Thinking for Violent Times
This workshop, also offered as a six week course, is designed for people who are feeling confused and overwhelmed by the news of war, mayhem, and terror on a daily basis. It provides a broad framework that can help us make sense of the news, see through propaganda and disinformation, and clarify our own role in contributing to peace and justice.
Building a Prosocial Community
This workshop is based on the work of David Sloan Wilson, Steven Hayes, and Elinor Ostrom, each of whom is a leading figure in their respective fields, i.e., evolutionary biology, contextual behavioral science, and political economy. Participants will learn about “Prosocial” both as a theoretical framework and a practical program for building effective, equitable, and collaborative groups and communities.
Coaching
The purpose of my coaching practice is to help clients develop the capacity, mindset, and skills necessary for acting leaderfully in the face of societal and ecological unraveling. It is intended for individuals who are feeling confused, isolated, and overwhelmed in the face of the polycrisis and who are looking for concrete ways to improve their emotional resilience, clarify their values, and find their unique purpose.
“The ‘Critical Thinking for Violent Times’ course not only introduced me to Dr. Ahmed Afzaal but also offered a whole new perspective on foundational concepts of peace, violence, learning, and critical thinking. . . . As a doctoral student, I thought I was already proficient at critical thinking. Still, after this course with Dr. Afzaal, I am rethinking my assumptions about what I know and do not know to gain more clarity. Dr. Afzaal’s lecture and discussion style were balanced and paced well. I remember thinking I wished some of my doctoral coursework could have been this engaging and meaningful.”
– Susamma Seeley
“I was grateful to be part of a synchronous cohort of eager learners who also wished to apply greater reasoning skills as we examined the anatomy of an argument, learned how to distinguish weak binaries from strong, considered terrorism from above and below, and more — and all with the intent and goal to foster and promote peace. What mattered as much as WHAT we learned was HOW we learned: Dr. Afzaal is clearly experienced in facilitating valid and valuable learning experiences for adult learners; his andragogical practice is easy to both learn from and to admire.”
– Katie Walsh
“I can’t recommend this course enough. The entire class literally did not want it to end, and we were all very sad on the final day. I don’t think I was the only one who had lightbulb moments within the first 30 minutes of the first session. We are living through historic times and the propaganda and censorship are only going to get worse. We all need to be thinking critically regarding all the information we are receiving. I feel much more confident analyzing debates/arguments/information and whether they have a strong binary. If you are in leadership or an educator, this course is a must.”
– Beth Watson
- Women, BIPOC & Disability-owned Business
- Traveling from Minnesota, USA
As a generalist with a broad range of interests, Ahmed Afzaal brings together old and new modalities from around the globe, in a life-long effort to identify the best approaches for confronting the mighty and urgent crises of our age.
A native of Pakistan, Ahmed has lived in the United States for almost 25 years. He holds a PhD in the Sociology of Religion from Drew University in New Jersey. Currently, he is an Associate Professor in the Religion department of a small liberal arts college.
Let’s collaborate to ensure a transformative experience.