BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Cobb Institute - ECPv6.15.17.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://cobb.institute X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Cobb Institute REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Los_Angeles BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20220313T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20221106T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20230312T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20231105T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20240310T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20241103T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20250309T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20251102T090000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240305T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240305T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20240304T173210Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240304T173717Z UID:10000945-1709632800-1709640000@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: Jonathan Foster DESCRIPTION:Topic: Indigo: The Color of Grief \n\n\n\nPresenters: Jonathan Foster \n\n\n\nJonathan Foster\, the first to graduate under Thomas Jay Oord’s supervision in the doctoral program in Open and Relational Theology at Northwind Theological Seminary\, has created indigo: the color of grief\, which he calls “my newest writing on life\, loss\, love\, theology\, beauty and being a human in the midst of it all.”  Peter Rollins calls Jonathan’s writing “a stunning reflection on loss and suffering.”  Catherine Keller says\, “The dark beauty of grief working as art glows through every stanza of this long\, slender epic.” \n\n\n\nBrian D. McLaren called the book “poignant and profound.”  “If you’re considering loss you’ll be grateful for this book. . .which is simultaneously heart-breaking\, heart-opening\, and heart-expanding.” To learn more see jonathanfosteronline.com\, where you can connect to his many podcasts or subscribe to his substack publication\, “at the intersection of mimetic theory\, open and relational theology\, grief\, and life.” In October\, 2022\, Jonathan Foster shared with Cobb & Friends his dissertation\, published by Sacra Sage Press as Theology of Consent\, combining the mimetic theory of Rene Girard\, and the Open and Relational theology so strongly influenced by Thomas J. Oord. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo receive the Zoom info for this gathering\, click the Going button and enter your name and email. \n\n\n\n\n\nIf you would like to receive regular announcements and updates about activities and events at the Cobb Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-jonathan-foster/ LOCATION:Online Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240227T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240227T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20240226T225938Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240226T230257Z UID:10000935-1709028000-1709035200@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: Evaggelos Vallianatos DESCRIPTION:Topic: The World’s First Computer of Genius \n\n\n\nPresenters: Evaggelos Vallianatos \n\n\n\nScience historian and environmental strategist Evaggelos Vallianatos will tell the story of the Antikythera Mechanism\, a device discovered in 1900 that has become a window into the genius of ancient Greeks. In the second century BCE\, the Greeks brought together the knowledge and philosophy they had been gathering for millennia into an astronomical computer designed primarily to predict the eclipses of the Sun and the Moon. The Cosmos was sacred to the Greeks\, but they had a special affection for the Sun and the Moon because these two stars gave them life and light. Besides\, like the rest of the stars\, the Greeks considered the Sun and his sister\, the Moon\, to be gods. Further\, the Sun and the Moon arrange the time of the day\, month and year. So\, the metal astronomical computer with toothed gears was very important. Predicting the eclipses of the Sun and the Moon had a psychological virtue as many Greeks were frightened by the temporary disappearance of these two stars from the sky. In addition\, the computer had a 19-year Meton accurate calendar and an 18-year Saros eclipse predictive dial. In fact\, the computer also predicted the Olympics\, so it united the heavens and Earth. \n\n\n\nThe Antikythera device was discovered in 1900 in the deep waters of the tiny Greek island of Antikythera in the Aegean. International scientists have been studying its fragments for more than 120 years. \n\n\n\nEvaggelos Vallianatos\, a frequent participant in our Cobb & Friends conversations\, earned his Ph.D. in history from the University of Wisconsin. He also did his postdoctoral studies in the history of science at Harvard. He worked on Capitol Hill and the US Environmental Protection Agency. He taught at several universities and authored hundreds of articles and 7 books\, including The Antikythera Mechanism: The Story Behind the Genius of the Greek Computer and its Demise.   \n\n\n\nHe has published several articles about this marvel of Greek civilization\, including:  \n\n\n\n1: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2022/10/the-antikythera-mechanism-the-greek-computer-of-science-and-reason.2: https://www.counterpunch.org/2023/12/05/why-was-the-antikythera-mechanism-so-far-ahead-of-its-time/. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo receive the Zoom info for this gathering\, click the Going button and enter your name and email. \n\n\n\n\n\nIf you would like to receive regular announcements and updates about activities and events at the Cobb Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2024-02-27/ LOCATION:Online Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240220T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240220T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20240212T212210Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240212T212629Z UID:10000915-1708423200-1708430400@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: Lynne Juarez DESCRIPTION:Topic: Tule Elk Park: A Cautionary Tale \n\n\n\nPresenters: Lynne Juarez \n\n\n\nIt’s about children and the environment\, always an important focus for Lynne Juarez\, who worked for 33 years with the San Francisco Public School District. Her B.A. was earned at University of San Francisco\, and she has an M.A. in early childhood education from San Francisco State University. In 1991\, the year of the Gulf War\, she was working in an Early Education Program in a school that served over 300 children aged three through the third grade. Many images of that war were flashed on the TV screen each night…the black smoke coming from the burning oil fields\, the eerie photos of soldiers\, faces obscured by gas masks. The images that were seared into Lynne’s brain were those of the many oil soaked birds. In the face of so much death and destruction\, she felt compelled to do something. But what? And so began a journey that lasted seven years\, the building of Tule Elk Park. The school with an asphalt playground was turned into a park\, and named after the animals that used to roam there. She takes great pride in creating something life-affirming despite the time of war. In her retirement she went to Namibia to work with young adults to work with lower income students who wanted to teach early childhood education.   \n\n\n\nFriends at the Institute for Postmodern Development in China encouraged Lynne to write a paper to be delivered at a Conference in China in 2014. Although a family emergency prevented her from doing so\, a companion traveler did make the trip and presented the paper to Chinese educators interested in children and the environment.  Lynne herself delivered the paper in 2015 for the Cobb Claremont conference on Seizing an Alternative.  A resident of Pilgrim Place in Claremont\, she is still active with its Environmental Concerns Committee\, including creating booths at its annual festival to educate young people about environmental concerns. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo receive the Zoom info for this gathering\, click the Going button and enter your name and email. \n\n\n\n\n\nIf you would like to receive regular announcements and updates about activities and events at the Cobb Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2024-02-20/ LOCATION:Online Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240213T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240213T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20240212T204021Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240212T210405Z UID:10000914-1707818400-1707825600@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: Celebrate John Cobb's 99th/100th Birthday DESCRIPTION:Topic: Celebrate John Cobb’s 99th/100th Birthday \n\n\n\nPresenters: Many Tributes Will Be Offered \n\n\n\nAccording to custom in China\, one’s 99th birthday is counted as 100 years. Zhihe Wang and Meijun Fan will share a portion of a China-centric audience’s tribute to Dr. Cobb\, “the Eco-Sage of our time\,” on this auspicious birth anniversary. Over a hundred persons experienced the celebration live\, and over 4000 have viewed the recorded tribute. How has John Cobb impacted your life? We’ll hear from several who have known John well. Come prepared to share your own word of greeting. Perhaps Jay McDaniel’s affirmation\, shared on Open Horizons\, will prompt some thoughts you’d like to share. The Open Horizons link also includes John Cobb’s thoughts on his own vocation in response to the Call of Abba. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo receive the Zoom info for this gathering\, click the Going button and enter your name and email. \n\n\n\n\n\nIf you would like to receive regular announcements and updates about activities and events at the Cobb Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2024-02-13/ LOCATION:Online Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240206T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240206T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20240124T032633Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240124T032743Z UID:10000912-1707213600-1707220800@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: Wesley J. Wildman DESCRIPTION:Topic: Thinking Outside All the Boxes: AI Applications and Ethical Challenges \n\n\n\nPresenters: Wesley J. Wildman \n\n\n\nAI and related computational techniques are transforming economies. They’re also rocking universities. Everyone has heard about the effect of generative AI on teaching and learning. Surprisingly\, however\, computational methods are also revitalizing the humanities\, arts\, and social sciences\, and demonstrating the value of those disciplines to the rest of the university. This presentation\, from the Co-Chair of Boston University’s AI Task Force\, will reveal what is happening in these parts of the university\, opening a discussion about the multidimensional power and ethical challenges of these technologies. \n\n\n\nWesley J. Wildman is a philosopher of religion and a computational social scientist. He is Professor of Philosophy\, Theology\, and Ethics\, and of Computing and Data Sciences at Boston University\, where he teaches AI ethics and philosophical theology (including process theology)\, among other topics. He is Professor II in the Institute of Global Development and Planning in the University of Agder\, Executive Director of Just Horizons Alliance\, and Chief Scientist of the Center for Mind and Culture. Author of nearly 200 articles and two dozen books\, his most recent book (with F. LeRon Shults) is Modeling Religion: Simulating the Transformation of Worldviews\, Lifeways\, and Civilizations (Bloomsbury\, 2014)\, which employs AI methods to study the role of religion in world history. His first novel\, which appeared in 2023\, is called The Winding Way Home. For more information\, see www.WesleyWildman.com. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo receive the Zoom info for this gathering\, click the Going button and enter your name and email. \n\n\n\n\n\nIf you would like to receive regular announcements and updates about activities and events at the Cobb Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2024-02-06/ LOCATION:Online Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240130T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240130T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20240124T031903Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240124T032040Z UID:10000911-1706608800-1706616000@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: Lília Dias Marianno DESCRIPTION:Topic: Love and terror: gender\, diversity\, and inclusion in biblical narratives \n\n\n\nPresenters: Lília Dias Marianno \n\n\n\nWe were delighted to hear from Dra. Marianno\, a member of the International Process Network who has been a Fellow of the Center for Process Studies that she had just published the book\, Love and terror:  Gender\, diversity and inclusion in biblical narratives.  She said\, “It is with great joy that I announce the launch of my first book on biblical exegesis with process-relational hermeneutics\, which is\, in fact\, the 10th book I have authored.”  Here is what she shared with us: \n\n\n\n“Since Ronald Farmer was at a Biblical Research conference that I coordinated in 2012 in Brazil I have persisted in process hermeneutics as the methodological path for resolving conflicts of religious intolerance in several areas\, especially in the field of gender diversity and unrestricted inclusion of LGBT+ people in faith communities\, which in Brazil is still a major problem.“It is my way of paying tribute to Jorge Pixley\, a long-time friend in Latin American biblical research and who was the person responsible for  my first contacts with Processual Thought in Biblical Theology. Who knows\, maybe one day we can publish it in English? If any editor is interested I can think about the translation. \n\n\n\n“Summary: \n\n\n\nPresentation………………………………………………………….Introduction………………………………………………………….1. Understand this book…………………………………………..2. Process exegetical approach in Judges 19-21…………….3. Exegesis in Genesis texts……………………………………..4. Exegesis in Leviticus 18 and 20……………………………..5. Exegesis in “texts of horror” from Paul……………………6. Loving texts through the Bible………………………………7. Inconsistent holiness………………………………………….. \n\n\n\nEpilogue……………………………………………………………….   \n\n\n\nWhen we asked Doctora Marianno to introduce her book to Cobb & Friends\, she said\, “I am very\, very glad to return to Cobb and friends a little about the big education about Process Thought that I received from you.”  Here are various ways you may learn more about her:  Linked In\, ORCID\, Academia.edu\,     \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo receive the Zoom info for this gathering\, click the Going button and enter your name and email. \n\n\n\n\n\nIf you would like to receive regular announcements and updates about activities and events at the Cobb Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2024-01-30/ LOCATION:Online Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240123T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240123T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20240124T031258Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240124T031419Z UID:10000910-1706004000-1706011200@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: Philip Clayton DESCRIPTION:Topic: The Process Vision for Constructive Dialogue with China on Ecological Civilization: Concrete Steps \n\n\n\nPresenters: Philip Clayton \n\n\n\nJohn Cobb urged us to invite Philip Clayton for conversation.  At the time of President Xi’s visit to the US\, John sent this note:  “Philip attended  the meeting in San Francisco and has been invited to write for the Beijing Daily and to work with the Xinhua news group.  I am more hopeful about lasting peace with China than I have been for some time.  I hope you can invite him to talk to us on a Tuesday morning.”  Philip has already made significant contributions to conversations of the Living Earth Movement\, which John Cobb founded to seek better cooperation of the US and China to care for the planet we share. Philip has long supported the work of the Institute for Postmodern Development of China\, and his book Organic Marxism: An Alternative to Capitalism and Ecological Catastrophe (Toward Ecological Civilization) has received extensive attention among some Chinese scholars. \n\n\n\nPhilip is the president of the Institute for Ecological Civilization. As a visionary thinker\, Philip leads EcoCiv in expanding and deepening its mission at the intersections of environment and humanity. With several decades of experience in university-based research\, teaching\, and lecturing\, Philip is involved in the conceptual development of all EcoCiv’s projects and ensures mission fit. In particular\, he helps project leaders think about intersectional societal changes relevant for their particular projects. Philip holds the PhD from Yale University; has held guest professorships at Harvard\, University of Cambridge\, and University of Munich; and is the author or editor of several dozen books and some 300 articles on science\, ethics\, and religion. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo receive the Zoom info for this gathering\, click the Going button and enter your name and email. \n\n\n\n\n\nIf you would like to receive regular announcements and updates about activities and events at the Cobb Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2024-01-23/ LOCATION:Online Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231219T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231219T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20231201T195515Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231218T220128Z UID:10000774-1702980000-1702987200@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: Jay McDaniel and Jill Thompson DESCRIPTION:Topic: Our Community of Process and Practice \n\n\n\nPresenters: Jay McDaniel and Jill Thompson \n\n\n\nJill Thompson\, the Director of Programs for the Alzheimer’s Association Arkansas Chapter\, oversees community educator and support group volunteers who provide vital education and support throughout the Arkansas community. Prior to her role at the Alzheimer’s Association\, Jill worked for a non-profit in Houston\, TX\, providing dementia care consultation and community education throughout the Houston area. Jill is also a licensed physical therapist and worked with the geriatric population for over 20 years in that capacity. Jill will talk about the various kinds of volunteer work people do in memory care units\, what she knows about music and Alzheimer’s\, and she will share the vision of the national Alzheimer’s association.  \n\n\n\nJill has a Bachelor’s degree from Hendrix College and a Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Central Arkansas. \n\n\n\nShe will be joined by Jay McDaniel\, whose own singalong ministry in memory care centers was featured in the publication of the Arkansas state chapter. Sharing from his own music ministry\, Jay McDaniel will say why the issue is so important for him\, and he’ll discuss ideas concerning God’s presence in the lives of people with dementia and their families. He’ll offer reflections in a process vein on understanding the self as a here-and-now event\, not reducible to memory or cognitive functions; the presence of God in each human life regardless of their condition\, and the vision of a beloved community that is all-age-friendly and all-condition-friendly. He’ll touch on the expanded notion of “family” in Jesus’ ministry that can be part of our own\, saying that I feel my friends with dementia are indeed family to me\, as are their families\, and I to them. For perspective\, he’ll also draw upon Whitehead’s idea that life includes “the dancing fairies and Christ nailed on the cross” and how a well-lived life entails openness to both sides\, in a spirit of love\, honesty\, and hope. Additionally\, he’ll discuss a process approach to life after death\, where no condition in life on earth is necessarily the “last” condition. And\, of course\, he’ll tell stories and talk about the role of music in human life from a process perspective: Music is what feelings sound like; it opens up treasures of the heart\, regardless of your condition. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo receive the Zoom info for this gathering\, click the Going button and enter your name and email. \n\n\n\n\n\nIf you would like to receive regular announcements and updates about activities and events at the Cobb Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2023-12-19/ LOCATION:Online Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231212T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231212T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20231201T194745Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231201T195005Z UID:10000773-1702375200-1702382400@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: Frank Rogers DESCRIPTION:Topic: Cradled in the Arms of Compassion \n\n\n\nPresenters: Frank Rogers \n\n\n\nWhen John Cobb saw that Dr. Frank Rogers had recently published another book on compassion\, we immediately invited him to share his thoughts with Cobb & Friends. We remember his previous presentation on compassion as we explored the meaning of Pomona’s decision to be a Compassionate City. He agreed to share with us the personal journey he explores in Cradled in the Arms of Compassion: A Spiritual Journey from Trauma to Recovery. (Order now.) \n\n\n\nFrank Rogers is Muriel Bernice Roberts Professor of Spiritual Formation & Narrative Pedagogy at Claremont School of Theology\, and Co-Founder & Co-Director\, Center for Engaged Compassion. Here is the way Dr. Rogers shared this good news with Friends of the Center. “I am honored and moved by three beautiful gifts in response to my new book\, Cradled in the Arms of Compassion\, and I want to pass them along. 1) My wife\, Dr. Alane Daugherty\, created a 6-minute promotional video about the book. She produced\, directed and edited the entire thing. What a gift. She even persuaded me to play a piece on the harmonica. You can view the video here.  2) The Wise Brain Bulletin\, created by Dr. Rick Hanson\, bestselling author of Buddha’s Brain\, published an excerpt of my book in their current issue. They did a wonderful job adding graphics. The piece is entitled “What Helped Me Recover from Childhood Trauma” and can be accessed here.  3) Rev. Julie Davis wrote a terrific review of the book for Spirituality and Practice\, the extraordinary online resource center for spiritual seekers of all faiths. Julie is a superb writer. That review can be viewed here.” \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo receive the Zoom info for this gathering\, click the Going button and enter your name and email. \n\n\n\n\n\nIf you would like to receive regular announcements and updates about activities and events at the Cobb Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2023-12-12/ LOCATION:Online Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231205T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231205T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20231201T193529Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231201T193936Z UID:10000772-1701770400-1701777600@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: Bruce Epperly DESCRIPTION:Topic: Christmas in Process: From Cosmos to Cradle \n\n\n\nPresenters: Bruce Epperly \n\n\n\nIn the seasons of the Christian year\, Christmas is more than just a day. It is a season going from Christmas Day to January 5\, although you can joyfully celebrate from Christmas Eve to the Feast of Epiphany\, the day of the Magi\, January 6. Joining the infinite and finite and tradition and novelty\, Christmas is a time to celebrate the Incarnation in Bethlehem\, in our lives\, and in the most unexpected places. Bruce Epperly will share how you can celebrate the twelve days of Christmas and embrace the spirit of Christmas from a process perspective through spiritual practices\, reflection on scripture\, and embodying Christmas in your daily life and citizenship not just for twelve days but all year long. \n\n\n\nRev. Bruce Epperly Ph.D. has served as a professor\, seminary administrator\, university chaplain\, and congregational pastor for over forty years. “Retired\,” he continues to teach theology\, spirituality\, and autobiography in the Doctoral of Ministry program at Wesley Theological Seminary\, give seminars\, write\, and rejoice in grandparenting and marriage with Rev. Dr. Kate Epperly. He is the author of over eighty books\, including his “twelve days of Christmas” series\, comprised of five books\, “the twelve days with…African American theologian and spiritual guide Howard Thurman\, theology and youth author Madeleine L’Engle\, Francis and Clare of Assisi\, carols and hymns\, and Celtic spirituality\, respectively\, as well as his book on the Incarnation\, “From Cosmos to Cradle\,” all published by Anamchara Books. He is currently working on a sixth “twelve days” book\, “Once Upon a Time: The Twelve Days of Christmas with Stories and Films.” \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo receive the Zoom info for this gathering\, click the Going button and enter your name and email. \n\n\n\n\n\nIf you would like to receive regular announcements and updates about activities and events at the Cobb Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2023-12-5/ LOCATION:Online Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231121T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231121T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20231115T055006Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231115T055244Z UID:10000770-1700560800-1700568000@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: Jacqueline Stillwell DESCRIPTION:Topic: Right Sharing of World Resources \n\n\n\nPresenters: Jacqueline Stillwell \n\n\n\nJackie Stillwell is the General Secretary of Right Sharing of World Resources\, a Quaker organization that gives grants to groups of marginalized women in Guatemala\, Kenya\, Sierra Leone\, and India to fund individual micro-enterprise projects. Right Sharing’s work is grounded in a sense of stewardship for the world’s material\, human\, and spiritual resources. Learn more at their website. \n\n\n\nJackie Stillwell\, a member of Monadnock Meeting\, New Hampshire (New England Yearly Meeting)\, has been a lifetime Quaker. She is a graduate of Friends World College with a B.A. in Education/Psychology\, and Antioch University New England with an M.S. in Organization and Management. Jackie has lived abroad in England\, Norway and spent nearly a decade in Guatemala\, 3 years of which were serving in the Peace Corps. For 22 years (1990-2012)\, Jackie served as Head of The Meeting School\, an experiment in education and simple living in Quaker community. She has traveled among Friends organizations\, serving as an elder and workshop facilitator at monthly\, quarterly\, yearly meetings\, and Friends schools. From 2011-2015\, Jackie served as clerk of New England Yearly Meeting.  Find details about her and the team she leads here.  \n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo receive the Zoom info for this gathering\, click the Going button and enter your name and email. \n\n\n\n\n\nIf you would like to receive regular announcements and updates about activities and events at the Cobb Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2023-11-21/ LOCATION:Online Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231114T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231114T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20231106T200339Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231106T200541Z UID:10000768-1699956000-1699963200@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: David Bartosch DESCRIPTION:Topic: Towards a Philosophy of Cosmic Life: A Conversation with Dr. John B. Cobb\, Jr. on a Burning Question of Our Time \n\n\n\nPresenters: David Bartosch \n\n\n\nA January\, 2022\, conversation of John Cobb\, David Bartosch\, and other international scholars has resulted in a book edited by David Bartosch\, Towards a Philosophy of Cosmic Life (Singapore: Springer\, August\, 2023)\, and co-edited by Hungarian Attila Grandpierre and Chinese Bei Peng. Bartosch considers John Cobb’s introductory chapter to be a classic text\, which clearly creates the foundations of consciousness for a peaceful and long-term sustainable planetary civilization. His discussion with John Cobb about that chapter is the “main act” in today’s conversation. Bartosch’s own chapter on the idea of a transcultural and poly-contextual perspective on “cosmic life” relates to John’s chapter and how it is inspired by John’s pluralistic and transcultural approach to philosophy and science. \n\n\n\nDr. Bartosch is a German philosopher currently working as a distinguished research fellow at Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai in South China. He conducts research in the field of transcultural comparative philosophy\, especially in the comparison of European and Chinese philosophical traditions\, as well as in German philosophy. He has broad interests in various contemporary topics of general interest. For example\, Bartosch is currently preparing a book on long-term sustainability for publication. He was a Cobb & Friends presenter on April 12\, 2022. He discusses why a German scholar finds inspiration in ancient Chinese philosophy in brief excerpts from this television interview. A list of his publications can be found here: https://philpeople.org/profiles/david-bartosch. \n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo receive the Zoom info for this gathering\, click the Going button and enter your name and email. \n\n\n\n\n\nIf you would like to receive regular announcements and updates about activities and events at the Cobb Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2023-11-14/ LOCATION:Online Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231107T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231107T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20231106T195258Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231106T195629Z UID:10000767-1699351200-1699358400@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: Pomona's Kindness Carnival DESCRIPTION:Topic: Pomona’s Kindness Carnival: A Report from the Folks Who Made it Happen \n\n\n\nPresenters: Dick Bunce\, Andrew Quinones\, Jan Chase\, and Renee Barbee \n\n\n\nCobb Institute has often focused our conversation on our neighbor town of Pomona\, which has officially joined the Compassionate City movement. When we heard of the great success of their October 14 Kindness Carnival\, we asked Cobb Institute board member Dick Bunce\, an activist resident of Pomona\, to share the experience with Cobb & Friends. Bunce is retired from pastoral ministry and management of nonprofit organizations. He will introduce key persons who made it happen and moderate our discussion. We’ll learn about the City of Pomona from carnival co-host Andrew Quinones\, a Pomona native and community leader who is Executive Director of Southern California Service Corp. The Rev. Jan Chase\, pastor of the local Unity Church and interfaith leader in the region\, is convener of Compassionate Pomona. She will discuss the role of the annual carnival within the global Compassionate City movement. Renee Barbee\, Vice-President of Marketing and Operations of the local bilingual newspaper\, La Nueva Voz\, was the carnival’s principal organizer. She will share specific details about the carnival. See information about the event in the Daily Bulletin and the website of Compassionate Pomona. Dick Bunce hopes that “people would come away with enough of an understanding to consider implications for their own communities.”  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo receive the Zoom info for this gathering\, click the Going button and enter your name and email. \n\n\n\n\n\nIf you would like to receive regular announcements and updates about activities and events at the Cobb Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2023-11-07/ LOCATION:Online Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231031T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231031T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20231023T215548Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231027T215046Z UID:10000765-1698746400-1698753600@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: Becky Goodwin and Paul Colbert DESCRIPTION:Topic: Icon Writing as Spiritual Practice. \n\n\n\nPresenters: Becky Goodwin and Paul Colbert \n\n\n\nOn the Eve of All Saints\, United Methodist pastor Becky Goodwin and her Episcopal priest husband Paul Colbert will share with us their discipline of icon writing. In the prayer space from which they will join our ZOOM gathering\, are images they have created of many saints\, ancient and modern. Members of the Pilgrim Place Community that John Cobb calls home greatly appreciated learning more about this spiritual practice when they shared it in a community gathering. Watch for further details. \n\n\n\nWatch for further details\, including information about a series of Saturday conversations with presentations by the authors.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo receive the Zoom info for this gathering\, click the Going button and enter your name and email. \n\n\n\n\n\nIf you would like to receive regular announcements and updates about activities and events at the Cobb Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2023-10-31/ LOCATION:Online Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231028T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231028T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20230922T222922Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231011T174802Z UID:10000759-1698487200-1698494400@cobb.institute SUMMARY:Intuiting Life DESCRIPTION:The Science Advisory Committee at the Cobb Institute invites you to join us for a conversation series with the editors and authors of Intuiting Life: Process-Philosophical Perspectives on Biology. Each session will feature presentations by two or more of the book’s contributors and conversations with all attendees. RSVP below to receive the Zoom information. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSchedule\n\n\n\n\nOctober 14: Arthur Araújo (co-editor)\, Federico Giorgo\n\n\n\nOctober 21: Philip Tryon\, Johanna Häusler\, and Nathaniel Barrett\n\n\n\nOctober 28: Spyridon Koutroufinis (co-editor)\, Matt Segall\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout the Book\n\n\n\n\n\nThis book challenges the reductionist\, materialistic metaphysics often adopted by biologists\, arguing that this approach overlooks the intricate complexities and essential characteristics of life. Instead\, the authors propose a process-philosophical approach\, grounded in the metaphysics of Alfred North Whitehead and other process thinkers\, which attributes subjectivity\, value\, and purposeful striving to all organisms\, from simple cells to complex animals. This fresh perspective aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of fundamental biological concepts such as organism\, development\, agency\, goal-directedness\, and environmental interaction. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPURCHASE\n\n\n\n\n\n\n“Whitehead is convinced of the ontological fundamentality of life in all of nature. He considers the problem of life to be the central question of science and philosophy. He insists that the basic principles of life are exemplified in rudimentary form in all forms of physical existence. Living nature can give us the key to understanding non-biological nature.” (Intuiting Life\, 31) \n\n\n\nScientific intellectual attitudes criticized by Whitehead and Bergson dominate the modern life sciences. They are particularly influential in one of the core problems of contemporary biology and philosophy of biology: the nature of explanation. In 20th century philosophy of science Carl Hempel’s theory of explanation was for decades the backbone of theorizing about scientific explanation. . . . In philosophy of biology there is broad consensus that the explanative relevance of biological modelling in contemporary biology—especially in mathematically operating systems biology and theoretical biology—cannot be captured by Hempel’s account. \n\n\n\nAs “life scientists commonly seek to uncover the mechanism responsible for the phenomenon of interest” (Bechtel and Abrahamsen 2010\, 322)\, in the life sciences phenomena are explained by mechanisms. Leading philosophers of science who advocate a school of thought that is often described as ‘New Mechanical Philosophy’ or ‘New Mechanism’ argue that in many fields of science what is considered a satisfactory explanation requires providing a description of a mechanism. Indeed\, much of the practice of science can be understood in terms of the discovery and description of mechanisms. Mechanistic explanations form the main theoretical basis of most\, if not all\, contemporary biological disciplines. \n\n\n\nThe neo-mechanistic school in biology is a specific manifestation of what Whitehead calls “scientific materialism.” It can also be seen as a typical product of the technological intellect striving to reduce reality for the purpose of manipulating it\, against the limitations of which Bergson warns. Some authors’ criticism of the biological relevance of mechanistic explanations echoes Bergson’s warning mentioned above: “The intellect is characterized by a natural incomprehension of life.” Consequently\, intuition must assist the life-studying intellect\, for only intuition can do justice to those aspects of life\, which\, for fundamental reasons\, transcend the discursive-analytic modes of thought. Intuitive knowledge is not the only conceivable response to neo-mechanistic thinking\, but it is certainly one that takes into account essential facts that neo-mechanicism simply ignores. \n\n\n\nPhilosophy\, and in particular process philosophy\, must breathe new life into what has been suppressed by scientific reductionism. Serving this purpose\, the present volume is committed to the following maxim: Starting from philosophical intuitions\, biophilosophy must unveil the abstractions of biology and overcome them with new metaphysical hypotheses. \n\n\n\n“[A]ll of [Whitehead’s] thinking draws from the following philosophical intuition: The main aim of contemporary metaphysics should be to resist the modern dogma that a truth cannot be scientific unless it hurts the deep intuitions of mankind\, and that we cannot be scientific unless we tame the authority of our intuition. […] Whitehead’s philosophical work can be seen as an alternative to the worldview that still prevails in the natural sciences of his and our time\, which arose in the 17th century and is described by Whitehead as ‘scientific materialism’.” (Intuiting Life\, 21) \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPresenter Bios\n\n\n\nArthur Araujo has a PhD in Philosophy from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro/Brazil (2001). He is currently a professor at the Federal University of Espirito Santo/Department of Philosophy (Brazil) and founding member (2016) and current Coordinator of the Semiotics Brazilian Association of Post-Graduation in Philosophy (ANPOF). His teaching and research focuses on Philosophy of Mind and Philosophy of Biology\, especially William James\, Uexküll\, Peirce\, Ryle\, Austin\, Wittgenstein\, Darwin\, and Whitehead. \n\n\n\nNathaniel Barrett is a research fellow and member of the Mind-Brain Group at the Institute for Culture and Society (Pamplona\, Spain). The main focus of his research is the nature of value and its role in experience\, mind\, and life\, especially as examined from the perspectives of pragmatism\, process philosophy\, and ecological psychology. His recently published book\, Enjoyment as Enriched Experience (Palgrave\, 2023)\, draws on the philosophies of John Dewey and Alfred North Whitehead and recent scientific research to develop a theory of affect as the enrichment or deterioration of conscious activity.  \n\n\n\nFederico Giorgi is a doctoral student at the University of Namur (Belgium). His doctoral research concerns the relevance of Whitehead’s theory of symbolism to the present-day philosophy of perception. Giorgi’s interests include process philosophy\, philosophy of film and artificial intelligence. \n\n\n\nJohanna Häusler studied biology and philosophy in Munich and works at the LMU in science communication. She currently writes her PhD in Philosophy about the problem of free will\, arguing for a libertarian account of freedom in a broadly Whiteheadian spirit. Her philosophical interests cover a wide range of topics like philosophy of mind\, the free will problem\, the philosophy of science\, theories of causality\, the philosophy of biology as well as classical metaphysics. \n\n\n\nSpyridon A. Koutroufinis is Privatdozent (Associate Professor) for philosophy at the Technical University of Berlin. Between 2012 and 2014 he was Visiting Associate Professor at the University of California\, Berkeley. He has specialized in process philosophy (Whitehead\, Bergson)\, biophilosophy (Canguilhem\, Uexküll et al.)\, classical metaphysics (Aristotle\, Leibniz) and complexity theory. His research focus is the establishment of a new theory of the biological organism based on process ontology. He is the author and editor of six books and numerous articles and book chapters. \n\n\n\nMatthew David Segall is a transdisciplinary researcher\, author\, and teacher applying process philosophy across the natural and social sciences\, including the study of consciousness. He is Associate Professor in the Philosophy\, Cosmology\, and Consciousness Graduate Program at California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco\, CA. He is the author of many articles and books including Crossing the Threshold: Etheric Imagination in the Post-Kantian Process Philosophy of Schelling and Whitehead (Revelore\, 2023) and Physics of the World-Soul: Whitehead’s Adventure in Cosmology (SacraSage\, 2021). \n\n\n\nPhilip Tryon did his graduate work in physics at the University of Wisconsin\, subsequently working as a development engineer on early automation projects for BioTek. He has a lifelong interest in quantum mechanics and how it relates organic systems and informs biological science. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRSVP to receive Zoom Info\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo receive the Zoom info for this event\, click the Going button and enter your name and email. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/intuiting-life-2023-10-28/ CATEGORIES:Conversation Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Intuiting-Life-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231024T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231024T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20231023T214137Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231023T214657Z UID:10000764-1698141600-1698148800@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: Kevin Carnahan DESCRIPTION:Topic: Maintaining Moral Balance in Israel/Palestine. \n\n\n\nPresenters: Kevin Carnahan \n\n\n\nKevin Carnahan is Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Central Methodist University in Fayette\, Missouri. He served for five years as the co-editor of the Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics\, and three as the President of the Niebuhr Society. He is author of Reinhold Niebuhr and Paul Ramsey (Lexington Books\, 2010)\, and From Presumption to Prudence in Just-War Rationality (Routledge\, 2017)\, and co-editor of Paradoxical Virtue: Reinhold Niebuhr and the Virtue Tradition (Routledge\, 2020). He has an enduring interest in the politics of Israel/Palestine and has traveled frequently in the region.  \n\n\n\nTalk Summary: The story of Israel/Palestine is a story of compounded historical tragedy. There is no solution to the conflict that fulfills all the requirements of justice. In such a context\, it becomes tempting for participants in the conflict to deny the reality of some goods (usually the goods of their opponents) in order to present what appears to be a simple and satisfying moral analysis of the situation. Realistic moral analysis must resist such reductive rhetoric\, count the costs\, and take seriously the balance of power in the region. Such vision is necessary to find a way for Israel and Palestine to coexist at any point in the future. \n\n\n\nWatch for further details\, including information about a series of Saturday conversations with presentations by the authors.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo receive the Zoom info for this gathering\, click the Going button and enter your name and email. \n\n\n\n\n\nIf you would like to receive regular announcements and updates about activities and events at the Cobb Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2023-10-24/ LOCATION:Online Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231021T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231021T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20230922T222611Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231011T174727Z UID:10000758-1697882400-1697889600@cobb.institute SUMMARY:Intuiting Life DESCRIPTION:The Science Advisory Committee at the Cobb Institute invites you to join us for a conversation series with the editors and authors of Intuiting Life: Process-Philosophical Perspectives on Biology. Each session will feature presentations by two or more of the book’s contributors and conversations with all attendees. RSVP below to receive the Zoom information. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSchedule\n\n\n\n\nOctober 14: Arthur Araújo (co-editor)\, Federico Giorgo\n\n\n\nOctober 21: Philip Tryon\, Johanna Häusler\, and Nathaniel Barrett\n\n\n\nOctober 28: Spyridon Koutroufinis (co-editor)\, Matt Segall\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout the Book\n\n\n\n\n\nThis book challenges the reductionist\, materialistic metaphysics often adopted by biologists\, arguing that this approach overlooks the intricate complexities and essential characteristics of life. Instead\, the authors propose a process-philosophical approach\, grounded in the metaphysics of Alfred North Whitehead and other process thinkers\, which attributes subjectivity\, value\, and purposeful striving to all organisms\, from simple cells to complex animals. This fresh perspective aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of fundamental biological concepts such as organism\, development\, agency\, goal-directedness\, and environmental interaction. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPURCHASE\n\n\n\n\n\n\n“Whitehead is convinced of the ontological fundamentality of life in all of nature. He considers the problem of life to be the central question of science and philosophy. He insists that the basic principles of life are exemplified in rudimentary form in all forms of physical existence. Living nature can give us the key to understanding non-biological nature.” (Intuiting Life\, 31) \n\n\n\nScientific intellectual attitudes criticized by Whitehead and Bergson dominate the modern life sciences. They are particularly influential in one of the core problems of contemporary biology and philosophy of biology: the nature of explanation. In 20th century philosophy of science Carl Hempel’s theory of explanation was for decades the backbone of theorizing about scientific explanation. . . . In philosophy of biology there is broad consensus that the explanative relevance of biological modelling in contemporary biology—especially in mathematically operating systems biology and theoretical biology—cannot be captured by Hempel’s account. \n\n\n\nAs “life scientists commonly seek to uncover the mechanism responsible for the phenomenon of interest” (Bechtel and Abrahamsen 2010\, 322)\, in the life sciences phenomena are explained by mechanisms. Leading philosophers of science who advocate a school of thought that is often described as ‘New Mechanical Philosophy’ or ‘New Mechanism’ argue that in many fields of science what is considered a satisfactory explanation requires providing a description of a mechanism. Indeed\, much of the practice of science can be understood in terms of the discovery and description of mechanisms. Mechanistic explanations form the main theoretical basis of most\, if not all\, contemporary biological disciplines. \n\n\n\nThe neo-mechanistic school in biology is a specific manifestation of what Whitehead calls “scientific materialism.” It can also be seen as a typical product of the technological intellect striving to reduce reality for the purpose of manipulating it\, against the limitations of which Bergson warns. Some authors’ criticism of the biological relevance of mechanistic explanations echoes Bergson’s warning mentioned above: “The intellect is characterized by a natural incomprehension of life.” Consequently\, intuition must assist the life-studying intellect\, for only intuition can do justice to those aspects of life\, which\, for fundamental reasons\, transcend the discursive-analytic modes of thought. Intuitive knowledge is not the only conceivable response to neo-mechanistic thinking\, but it is certainly one that takes into account essential facts that neo-mechanicism simply ignores. \n\n\n\nPhilosophy\, and in particular process philosophy\, must breathe new life into what has been suppressed by scientific reductionism. Serving this purpose\, the present volume is committed to the following maxim: Starting from philosophical intuitions\, biophilosophy must unveil the abstractions of biology and overcome them with new metaphysical hypotheses. \n\n\n\n“[A]ll of [Whitehead’s] thinking draws from the following philosophical intuition: The main aim of contemporary metaphysics should be to resist the modern dogma that a truth cannot be scientific unless it hurts the deep intuitions of mankind\, and that we cannot be scientific unless we tame the authority of our intuition. […] Whitehead’s philosophical work can be seen as an alternative to the worldview that still prevails in the natural sciences of his and our time\, which arose in the 17th century and is described by Whitehead as ‘scientific materialism’.” (Intuiting Life\, 21) \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPresenter Bios\n\n\n\nArthur Araujo has a PhD in Philosophy from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro/Brazil (2001). He is currently a professor at the Federal University of Espirito Santo/Department of Philosophy (Brazil) and founding member (2016) and current Coordinator of the Semiotics Brazilian Association of Post-Graduation in Philosophy (ANPOF). His teaching and research focuses on Philosophy of Mind and Philosophy of Biology\, especially William James\, Uexküll\, Peirce\, Ryle\, Austin\, Wittgenstein\, Darwin\, and Whitehead. \n\n\n\nNathaniel Barrett is a research fellow and member of the Mind-Brain Group at the Institute for Culture and Society (Pamplona\, Spain). The main focus of his research is the nature of value and its role in experience\, mind\, and life\, especially as examined from the perspectives of pragmatism\, process philosophy\, and ecological psychology. His recently published book\, Enjoyment as Enriched Experience (Palgrave\, 2023)\, draws on the philosophies of John Dewey and Alfred North Whitehead and recent scientific research to develop a theory of affect as the enrichment or deterioration of conscious activity.  \n\n\n\nFederico Giorgi is a doctoral student at the University of Namur (Belgium). His doctoral research concerns the relevance of Whitehead’s theory of symbolism to the present-day philosophy of perception. Giorgi’s interests include process philosophy\, philosophy of film and artificial intelligence. \n\n\n\nJohanna Häusler studied biology and philosophy in Munich and works at the LMU in science communication. She currently writes her PhD in Philosophy about the problem of free will\, arguing for a libertarian account of freedom in a broadly Whiteheadian spirit. Her philosophical interests cover a wide range of topics like philosophy of mind\, the free will problem\, the philosophy of science\, theories of causality\, the philosophy of biology as well as classical metaphysics. \n\n\n\nSpyridon A. Koutroufinis is Privatdozent (Associate Professor) for philosophy at the Technical University of Berlin. Between 2012 and 2014 he was Visiting Associate Professor at the University of California\, Berkeley. He has specialized in process philosophy (Whitehead\, Bergson)\, biophilosophy (Canguilhem\, Uexküll et al.)\, classical metaphysics (Aristotle\, Leibniz) and complexity theory. His research focus is the establishment of a new theory of the biological organism based on process ontology. He is the author and editor of six books and numerous articles and book chapters. \n\n\n\nMatthew David Segall is a transdisciplinary researcher\, author\, and teacher applying process philosophy across the natural and social sciences\, including the study of consciousness. He is Associate Professor in the Philosophy\, Cosmology\, and Consciousness Graduate Program at California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco\, CA. He is the author of many articles and books including Crossing the Threshold: Etheric Imagination in the Post-Kantian Process Philosophy of Schelling and Whitehead (Revelore\, 2023) and Physics of the World-Soul: Whitehead’s Adventure in Cosmology (SacraSage\, 2021). \n\n\n\nPhilip Tryon did his graduate work in physics at the University of Wisconsin\, subsequently working as a development engineer on early automation projects for BioTek. He has a lifelong interest in quantum mechanics and how it relates organic systems and informs biological science. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRSVP to receive Zoom Info\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo receive the Zoom info for this event\, click the Going button and enter your name and email. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/intuiting-life-2023-10-21/ CATEGORIES:Conversation Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Intuiting-Life-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231017T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231017T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20231003T190506Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231003T190630Z UID:10000763-1697536800-1697544000@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: Andrew M. Davis DESCRIPTION:Topic: Process Theology and Extraterrestrial Life: A History. \n\n\n\nPresenters: Andrew M. Davis \n\n\n\nA frequent Cobb & Friends presenter\, Andrew M. Davis\, Program Director of the Center for Process Studies\, is offering yet another opportunity for us to engage his creative thought.  He says\, “As word continues to spread about my new book Metaphysics of Exo-Life: Toward a Constructive Whiteheadian Cosmotheology\, I thought I would suggest another Tuesday Cobb meeting on the topic. While this book covers the presentation I gave the Cobb Institute with Steve Dick in much deeper form\, it is the appendix to the book which I think the Tuesday group would be interested in this time around. In it I offer a history of process theology and extraterrestrial life\, including key statements that are made by a variety of process thinkers\, and a summary of key affirmative points.”   Our Friends have come to enjoy Andrew’s attractive presentations and the discussion they prompt.  Follow these links to Amazon’s book description and its author information about  Andrew Davis.  See Andrew’s own website here. \n\n\n\nWatch for further details\, including information about a series of Saturday conversations with presentations by the authors.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo receive the Zoom info for this gathering\, click the Going button and enter your name and email. \n\n\n\n\n\nIf you would like to receive regular announcements and updates about activities and events at the Cobb Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2023-10-17/ LOCATION:Online Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231014T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231014T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20230922T220827Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231011T174549Z UID:10000757-1697277600-1697284800@cobb.institute SUMMARY:Intuiting Life DESCRIPTION:The Science Advisory Committee at the Cobb Institute invites you to join us for a conversation series with the editors and authors of Intuiting Life: Process-Philosophical Perspectives on Biology. Each session will feature presentations by two or more of the book’s contributors and conversations with all attendees. RSVP below to receive the Zoom information. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSchedule\n\n\n\n\nOctober 14: Arthur Araújo (co-editor)\, Federico Giorgo\n\n\n\nOctober 21: Philip Tryon\, Johanna Häusler\, and Nathaniel Barrett\n\n\n\nOctober 28: Spyridon Koutroufinis (co-editor)\, Matt Segall\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout the Book\n\n\n\n\n\nThis book challenges the reductionist\, materialistic metaphysics often adopted by biologists\, arguing that this approach overlooks the intricate complexities and essential characteristics of life. Instead\, the authors propose a process-philosophical approach\, grounded in the metaphysics of Alfred North Whitehead and other process thinkers\, which attributes subjectivity\, value\, and purposeful striving to all organisms\, from simple cells to complex animals. This fresh perspective aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of fundamental biological concepts such as organism\, development\, agency\, goal-directedness\, and environmental interaction. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPURCHASE\n\n\n\n\n\n\n“Whitehead is convinced of the ontological fundamentality of life in all of nature. He considers the problem of life to be the central question of science and philosophy. He insists that the basic principles of life are exemplified in rudimentary form in all forms of physical existence. Living nature can give us the key to understanding non-biological nature.” (Intuiting Life\, 31) \n\n\n\nScientific intellectual attitudes criticized by Whitehead and Bergson dominate the modern life sciences. They are particularly influential in one of the core problems of contemporary biology and philosophy of biology: the nature of explanation. In 20th century philosophy of science Carl Hempel’s theory of explanation was for decades the backbone of theorizing about scientific explanation. . . . In philosophy of biology there is broad consensus that the explanative relevance of biological modelling in contemporary biology—especially in mathematically operating systems biology and theoretical biology—cannot be captured by Hempel’s account. \n\n\n\nAs “life scientists commonly seek to uncover the mechanism responsible for the phenomenon of interest” (Bechtel and Abrahamsen 2010\, 322)\, in the life sciences phenomena are explained by mechanisms. Leading philosophers of science who advocate a school of thought that is often described as ‘New Mechanical Philosophy’ or ‘New Mechanism’ argue that in many fields of science what is considered a satisfactory explanation requires providing a description of a mechanism. Indeed\, much of the practice of science can be understood in terms of the discovery and description of mechanisms. Mechanistic explanations form the main theoretical basis of most\, if not all\, contemporary biological disciplines. \n\n\n\nThe neo-mechanistic school in biology is a specific manifestation of what Whitehead calls “scientific materialism.” It can also be seen as a typical product of the technological intellect striving to reduce reality for the purpose of manipulating it\, against the limitations of which Bergson warns. Some authors’ criticism of the biological relevance of mechanistic explanations echoes Bergson’s warning mentioned above: “The intellect is characterized by a natural incomprehension of life.” Consequently\, intuition must assist the life-studying intellect\, for only intuition can do justice to those aspects of life\, which\, for fundamental reasons\, transcend the discursive-analytic modes of thought. Intuitive knowledge is not the only conceivable response to neo-mechanistic thinking\, but it is certainly one that takes into account essential facts that neo-mechanicism simply ignores. \n\n\n\nPhilosophy\, and in particular process philosophy\, must breathe new life into what has been suppressed by scientific reductionism. Serving this purpose\, the present volume is committed to the following maxim: Starting from philosophical intuitions\, biophilosophy must unveil the abstractions of biology and overcome them with new metaphysical hypotheses. \n\n\n\n“[A]ll of [Whitehead’s] thinking draws from the following philosophical intuition: The main aim of contemporary metaphysics should be to resist the modern dogma that a truth cannot be scientific unless it hurts the deep intuitions of mankind\, and that we cannot be scientific unless we tame the authority of our intuition. […] Whitehead’s philosophical work can be seen as an alternative to the worldview that still prevails in the natural sciences of his and our time\, which arose in the 17th century and is described by Whitehead as ‘scientific materialism’.” (Intuiting Life\, 21) \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPresenter Bios\n\n\n\nArthur Araujo has a PhD in Philosophy from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro/Brazil (2001). He is currently a professor at the Federal University of Espirito Santo/Department of Philosophy (Brazil) and founding member (2016) and current Coordinator of the Semiotics Brazilian Association of Post-Graduation in Philosophy (ANPOF). His teaching and research focuses on Philosophy of Mind and Philosophy of Biology\, especially William James\, Uexküll\, Peirce\, Ryle\, Austin\, Wittgenstein\, Darwin\, and Whitehead. \n\n\n\nNathaniel Barrett is a research fellow and member of the Mind-Brain Group at the Institute for Culture and Society (Pamplona\, Spain). The main focus of his research is the nature of value and its role in experience\, mind\, and life\, especially as examined from the perspectives of pragmatism\, process philosophy\, and ecological psychology. His recently published book\, Enjoyment as Enriched Experience (Palgrave\, 2023)\, draws on the philosophies of John Dewey and Alfred North Whitehead and recent scientific research to develop a theory of affect as the enrichment or deterioration of conscious activity.  \n\n\n\nFederico Giorgi is a doctoral student at the University of Namur (Belgium). His doctoral research concerns the relevance of Whitehead’s theory of symbolism to the present-day philosophy of perception. Giorgi’s interests include process philosophy\, philosophy of film and artificial intelligence. \n\n\n\nSpyridon A. Koutroufinis is Privatdozent (Associate Professor) for philosophy at the Technical University of Berlin. Between 2012 and 2014 he was Visiting Associate Professor at the University of California\, Berkeley. He has specialized in process philosophy (Whitehead\, Bergson)\, biophilosophy (Canguilhem\, Uexküll et al.)\, classical metaphysics (Aristotle\, Leibniz) and complexity theory. His research focus is the establishment of a new theory of the biological organism based on process ontology. He is the author and editor of six books and numerous articles and book chapters. \n\n\n\nJohanna Häusler studied biology and philosophy in Munich and works at the LMU in science communication. She currently writes her PhD in Philosophy about the problem of free will\, arguing for a libertarian account of freedom in a broadly Whiteheadian spirit. Her philosophical interests cover a wide range of topics like philosophy of mind\, the free will problem\, the philosophy of science\, theories of causality\, the philosophy of biology as well as classical metaphysics. \n\n\n\nMatthew David Segall is a transdisciplinary researcher\, author\, and teacher applying process philosophy across the natural and social sciences\, including the study of consciousness. He is Associate Professor in the Philosophy\, Cosmology\, and Consciousness Graduate Program at California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco\, CA. He is the author of many articles and books including Crossing the Threshold: Etheric Imagination in the Post-Kantian Process Philosophy of Schelling and Whitehead (Revelore\, 2023) and Physics of the World-Soul: Whitehead’s Adventure in Cosmology (SacraSage\, 2021). \n\n\n\nPhilip Tryon did his graduate work in physics at the University of Wisconsin\, subsequently working as a development engineer on early automation projects for BioTek. He has a lifelong interest in quantum mechanics and how it relates organic systems and informs biological science. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRSVP to receive Zoom Info\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo receive the Zoom info for this event\, click the Going button and enter your name and email. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/intuiting-life-2023-10-14/ CATEGORIES:Conversation Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Intuiting-Life-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231010T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231010T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20230927T224104Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230927T224436Z UID:10000762-1696932000-1696939200@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: Elvi Bjorkquist DESCRIPTION:Topic: Process Thought & Aesthetic Qualities and Beyond. \n\n\n\nPresenters: Elvi Bjorkquist \n\n\n\nUsing her own paintings\, Elvi Bjorkquist\, who recently completed the Cobb Institute Certificate Program\, will show the connection between Art and the Process thought of Whitehead. For both Whitehead and Buddhism the world is permeated by “aesthetic qualities.” It is these aesthetic qualities that are the content of religious experience within the Whiteheadian and Buddhist process traditions. Whitehead also believes that aesthetic apprehension is complementary to scientific apprehension and helps to complete it. He believes that deeply felt intuitions highlight and illumine nature and that there are multiple ways of knowing that can be jointly affirmed and harmonized. Thinking is actually a form of feeling; aesthetic wisdom and rational inquiry are complementary. Both can be contexts in which people discover higher ideals in which to live and give a sense for the mystery and beauty of the universe. It becomes a means to the end of cultural transformation. God has given all cultures choices on how to relate and this affects what kind of world we live in. By using Process thought and universal art we can help create an ecological change in our world relations. \n\n\n\nElvi Bjorkquist has been an artist all of her life. She graduated with a BFA degree in Art and Art History. A lifetime ELCA Lutheran\, she graduated with both a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theological Philosophy from Iliff School of Theology in Denver\, Colorado. When John Cobb taught a class at Iliff\, Elvi found and immediately loved Process thought.  \n\n\n\nShe was the owner of the Elvi Design Group which worked nationally and internationally for many years. She lives in Denver\, Colorado and is now painting and showing her artwork. She’s on the board of the Parker Artist Group. \n\n\n\nShe was invited to present her thesis\, “Andean Originality and Creativity Were Used to Survive and Redefine Selfhood\,” at the SARTS Convention in San Antonio in 2016. The paper\, titled “Counter-Hegemonic Aesthetics and Spiritual Aesthetics and Spiritual Transformation in the Viceroyalty of Peru\,” is presently on “Academia” online.  Also available on “Academia” is the Spring Board PowerPoint presentation she did to fulfill requirements for the Cobb Institute Certificate Program\, “Process Thought & Universal Art Creating Intertwining Between Cultures.” \n\n\n\nWatch for further details\, including information about a series of Saturday conversations with presentations by the authors.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo receive the Zoom info for this gathering\, click the Going button and enter your name and email. \n\n\n\n\n\nIf you would like to receive regular announcements and updates about activities and events at the Cobb Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2023-10-10/ LOCATION:Online Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231003T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231003T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20230918T230637Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230918T231032Z UID:10000756-1696327200-1696334400@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: Matt Segall DESCRIPTION:Topic: Intuiting Life: Process-Philosophical Perspectives on Biology. \n\n\n\nPresenters: Matt Segall \n\n\n\nMatt Segall\, a frequent presenter for Cobb & Friends in his role as Cobb Institute’s chair of its Science Advisory Board\, will introduce a new book released in June by Cambridge Scholars Publishing\, Process-Philosophical Perspectives on Biology–Intuiting Life\, edited by Arthur Araújo and Spyridon Koutroufinis. In order to do justice to the complexity of biological phenomena\, the book aims to correct the materialistic metaphysics assumed by many life scientists. Its authors explore the viability of process metaphysics to advance our understanding of fundamental biological concepts such as organism\, ontogeny\, agency\, teleology\, environment\, and normativity\, based on the metaphysics of Alfred North Whitehead and other process thinkers. This book highlights the uniqueness and intrinsic value of living beings\, opening up new horizons in the thinking of philosophers\, philosophers of biology\, life scientists\, and environmentalists. Matt Segall wrote a chapter in the book\, “On the Place of Life in the Cosmos: Whitehead’s Philosophy of Organism and Contemporary Theoretical Biology.” Segall is a philosopher\, transdisciplinary researcher\, author\, and teacher applying process-relational thought across the natural and social sciences\, including the study of consciousness. He is Associate Professor in the Philosophy\, Cosmology\, and Consciousness Graduate Program at California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco\, CA. For details of his academic background\, his teaching\, and his writings\, see the curriculum vitae on his website\, https://footnotes2plato.com/. \n\n\n\nWatch for further details\, including information about a series of Saturday conversations with presentations by the authors.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo receive the Zoom info for this gathering\, click the Going button and enter your name and email. \n\n\n\n\n\nIf you would like to receive regular announcements and updates about activities and events at the Cobb Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2023-10-03/ LOCATION:Online Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230926T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230926T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20230912T220422Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230918T223854Z UID:10000754-1695722400-1695729600@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: Vivian Song DESCRIPTION:Topic: Yunhe Centre:  Balancing Economic Development and Ecological Restoration in China. \n\n\n\nPresenters: Vivian Song \n\n\n\nVivian Song has been working with Yunhe Centre\, which is actually a collection of centers in China in places which border preservation areas. By combining social entrepreneurship and innovative education\, the Yunhe Center believes “a regenerative economy with all life at heart is possible.” Vivian Song\, a director of the program\, says\, “I’m happy to share my experience working with the Yunhe Centre\, and our current summer water restoration community learning and service initiative.” For more information about Yunhe Centre and access to their website\, see Jay McDaniel’s piece at this Open Horizons website. Vivian Song has provided leadership for the Youth Dialogues program of the Living Earth Movement\, which John Cobb has founded. She is a member of the Cobb Institute Board. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo receive the Zoom info for this gathering\, click the Going button and enter your name and email. \n\n\n\n\n\nIf you would like to receive regular announcements and updates about activities and events at the Cobb Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2023-09-26/ LOCATION:Online Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230919T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230919T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20230912T215813Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230912T220104Z UID:10000753-1695117600-1695124800@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: Sam Coker DESCRIPTION:Topic: John Coltrane’s Love Supreme: A Process Approach to (Popular) Music. \n\n\n\nPresenters: Sam Coker \n\n\n\nArguably a dominant “religion” of contemporary culture is popular music: jazz\, rock\, metal\, indie\, rap\, country\, etc. People form identities and communities around it\, and enjoy touches of transcendence while listening to it. It is\, in a certain sense\, the sacred scripture for many around the world: albeit sonic not textual. Recently Sam Coker\, a recent graduate of Garrett-Evangelical seminary\, with a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theological Studies\, wrote a thesis on theology and popular music. His research interests include hermeneutics and the intersection of contemporary theology and music\, which culminated in a master’s thesis entitled “Keeping Time: A Theological Reading of Temporality in Popular Music.” Building upon that MA thesis\, he will explore the role of popular music in contemporary culture\, in dialogue with Jay McDaniel\, who was Sam’s professor of religious studies at Hendrix College. Using samples from jazz to metal music\, they will discuss (1) how music works with a yearning for restoration with the divine reality and can\, at times\, embody that restoration in sonic form; (2) how music elicits a dual dialectic of the apophatic and cataphatic; and (3) how temporality itself\, understood as a lived passage from present to past to future\, is at the heart of all music.   \n\n\n\nIn developing his themes\, he uses John Coltrane’s Love Supreme as one of his examples. Sam will introduce the themes and Jay will link with process thought. Sam currently lives in Chicago and splits his time between working in the chaplain’s office at a senior living facility and as a barista at a midsize coffee company. In his spare time\, he listens to tons of music\, goes to a lot of concerts\, and collects vinyl records. He is excited to collaborate with Dr. Jay McDaniel\, who was Sam’s professor of religious studies at Hendrix College.   \n\n\n\nHe is a certified candidate for ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church and one day hopes to pursue a doctoral degree in theology and ethics.To further get acquainted with Sam Coker\, see this link to his thesis: https://www.proquest.com/docview/2819964804. Or check out his metal article here:https://www.openhorizons.org/metal-music-a-hunger-for-transgressive-spiritual-spaces.html. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nInformation about how to access each gathering is made available via email. To find out about a single meeting\, send an email to events@cobb.institute. If you would like to receive regular meeting announcements and updates about the Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2023-09-19/ LOCATION:Online Event CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230912T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230912T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20230912T215113Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230912T215303Z UID:10000752-1694512800-1694520000@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: Mary Elizabeth Moore DESCRIPTION:Topic: To Repair Earth\, Learn from Trees\, Ants\, and Diverse Humans! \n\n\n\nPresenters: Mary Elizabeth Moore \n\n\n\nCobb Institute Board Member\, Dr. Mary Elizabeth Moore\, will share her thoughts presented in her keynote address to the International Academy of Practical Theology\, in Seoul\, Korea in June 2023. The conference focused on practical wisdom in the Anthropocene. Dr. Moore asks\, “What do trees\, ants\, and diverse human communities teach about the natural world and its care? The year 2023 offered the hottest spring and summer on record for the Northern Hemisphere; animals\, forests\, and people died in shocking numbers in the landmark heat. Such a year is a non-gentle reminder of the urgency of ecological understanding and action. Familiar tropes are no longer adequate to provide guidance. The planet insists that humans face critical questions: how will we deepen our knowing and understanding and how will we find the requisite courage and capacities to protect\, heal\, and repair the earth and solar system?” She argues that the place to begin is with the non-human natural world and the peoples who live closest to the earth. “In my current work\, I turn particularly to trees\, ants\, and diverse human communities to upturn anthropocentric\, individualistic\, and industrial-technocratic dominance.” \n\n\n\nMary Elizabeth Moore\, is Dean Emeritus of Boston University School of Theology and chair of the Cobb Institute’s Strategic Planning process. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nInformation about how to access each gathering is made available via email. To find out about a single meeting\, send an email to events@cobb.institute. If you would like to receive regular meeting announcements and updates about the Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2023-09-12/ LOCATION:Online Event CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230905T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230905T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20230828T222550Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230828T222658Z UID:10000742-1693908000-1693915200@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: Patricia Adams Farmer DESCRIPTION:Topic: Grief\, Beauty\, and a Process Theology for the People. \n\n\n\nPresenters: Patricia Adams Farmer \n\n\n\nJay McDaniel appreciates the way Patricia Adams Farmer makes process theology accessible to lay people. Here are links to three of her essays that provide a springboard for discussion. Jay reports\, “One deals with grief in the death of her mother years ago; my wife Kathy has a copy of it in her wallet\, finding it so helpful in dealing with Kathy’s mother’s death. Another is Patricia telling the story of going blind through glaucoma. The third spells out the role Beauty plays in process theology. Explore these readings and come prepared for conversation! \n\n\n\nhttps://www.openhorizons.org/grief-takes-a-road-trip1.html \n\n\n\nhttps://www.openhorizons.org/beauty-in-the-darkness-patricia-adams-farmer.html \n\n\n\nhttps://www.openhorizons.org/my-religion-is-beauty-patricia-adams-farmer.html \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nInformation about how to access each gathering is made available via email. To find out about a single meeting\, send an email to events@cobb.institute. If you would like to receive regular meeting announcements and updates about the Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2023-09-05/ LOCATION:Online Event CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230829T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230829T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20230828T221905Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230828T222029Z UID:10000741-1693303200-1693310400@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: Lynn DeJonghe DESCRIPTION:Topic: Critical Thinking as an Integrative Process: Debating Wolves in Yellowstone. \n\n\n\nPresenters: Lynn DeJonghe \n\n\n\nA frequent presenter for Cobb Institute on educational matters\, Lynn DeJonghe will share the lecture she gave at this month’s International Whitehead Conference in Munich.  She thinks of this as the “missing 15th chapter” of her book\, Starting with Whitehead:  Raising Children to Thrive in Treacherous Times (Hamilton Books\, a subsidiary of Rowman & Littlefield.)  She brings Whitehead’s wisdom to the educational task by reflecting on the experience of 8th graders debating this resolution:  \n\n\n\n\n“Resolved: In light of the successful reintegration of gray wolves into Yellowstone Park and surrounding areas\, gray wolves should be removed from the endangered species list in Wyoming\, Montana\, and Idaho.” \n\n\n\n\nDr. Lynn Sargent De Jonghe has had a long career in progressive education that spans more than forty years. She served as the founding Head of East Bay Sierra School\, which later merged with another school to form Prospect Sierra School\, to become one of the preeminent schools in the San Francisco Bay Area. Prior to her work in independent schools\, Lynn spent fifteen years in public education administering federal funds to innovative programs\, advocating for project learning as an alternative to textbooks\, and pushing for integration in Massachusetts schools. She received her BA degree in History from Harvard University and a MS in Library Science from Simmons College before completing her PhD in Education at Cornell University. Her doctoral work on children’s problem solving led her to push for challenging educational programs that encourage all students to pursue learning in depth and to use problem solving skills\, collaborative learning\, and exploration of values in an integrated curriculum. More broadly she is committed to social justice\, to moving society from divisiveness to compassion\, and to saving the sentient and becoming-sentient life on our planet. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nInformation about how to access each gathering is made available via email. To find out about a single meeting\, send an email to events@cobb.institute. If you would like to receive regular meeting announcements and updates about the Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2023-08-29/ LOCATION:Online Event CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230822T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230822T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20230811T223427Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230811T223534Z UID:10000739-1692698400-1692705600@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: Ellen Brown DESCRIPTION:Topic: Banking on the People:  Democratizing Money in the Digital Age. \n\n\n\nPresenters: Ellen Brown \n\n\n\nEllen Brown is the founder of the Public Banking Institute and the author of a dozen books and hundreds of articles. She developed her research skills as an attorney practicing civil litigation in Los Angeles. In the best-selling Web of Debt (2007\, 2012)\, she turned those skills to an analysis of the Federal Reserve and “the money trust\,” showing how this private cartel has usurped the power to create money from the people themselves and how we the people can get it back.Her latest book is Banking on the People: Democratizing Money in the Digital Age and her 400+ blog articles are at EllenBrown.com.  She is visiting Claremont in conjunction with the visit of Wall Street veteran Scott Smith\, who will be speaking on Friday\, August 25 at Claremont Presbyterian Church about Another Look at the Financial Transactions Tax That Could Eliminate Need for All Others. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nInformation about how to access each gathering is made available via email. To find out about a single meeting\, send an email to events@cobb.institute. If you would like to receive regular meeting announcements and updates about the Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2023-08-22/ LOCATION:Online Event CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230815T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230815T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20230811T222633Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230811T222812Z UID:10000738-1692093600-1692100800@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: Barkley Thompson DESCRIPTION:Topic: Is God in Control? A Pastoral Appreciation of the Process Understanding of God. \n\n\n\nPresenters: Barkley Thompson \n\n\n\n A sermon by his former student caught the attention of Jay McDaniel\, who posted a portion of the Rev. Barkley Thompson’s sermon\, affirming the pastoral wisdom in a process understanding of God. See the sermonic moment\, asking “Is God in Control?” on the Open Horizons website here. After a decade as dean of Christ Church Cathedral in Houston\, Texas\, the Rev. Thompson has returned to his home state of Arkansas\, where he is now rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Little Rock. Come prepared to join selected respondents in reacting to this pastor’s message to help folks through real grief. Barkley Thompson recommends this website as an introduction to his ministry\, which includes authoring several professional articles and three books. The publication date for his most recent book\, How Can We Know The Way?: Reflections on Belief\, Salvation and Eternal Life\, is August 22\, 2023. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nInformation about how to access each gathering is made available via email. To find out about a single meeting\, send an email to events@cobb.institute. If you would like to receive regular meeting announcements and updates about the Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2023-08-15/ LOCATION:Online Event CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230801T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230801T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20230725T163920Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230725T163926Z UID:10000706-1690884000-1690891200@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: William Andrew Schwartz DESCRIPTION:Topic: Center for Process Studies Ventures Forward \n\n\n\nPresenters: William Andrew Schwartz \n\n\n\nIn February the Center for Process Studies celebrated 50 years as a faculty program of the Claremont School of Theology (CST)\, founded by John Cobb and David Griffin. The relocation of CST this summer to a new location in West Los Angeles is accompanied by re-affirmation of the Center’s mission under new circumstances. Dr. William Andrew Schwartz\, Executive Director of the Center for Process Studies\, will share emerging developments for its future programming and impact. Andrew has overall strategic and operational responsibility for CPS\, including development and implementation of the CPS mission\, programs\, and strategic vision.  \n\n\n\nSchwartz is also Assistant Professor of Process Studies & Comparative Theology at Claremont School of Theology\, and Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of the Institute for Ecological Civilization. He earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion and Theology at Claremont Graduate University. He was a principal organizer of the Seizing an Alternative conference\, from which his book emerged. His recent work has been focused on high-impact philosophy and the role of big ideas in the transition toward ecological civilization. Co-editor of Putting Philosophy to Work\, and co-author of What Is Ecological Civilization? His academic interests are broad\, and include Comparative Religious Philosophies\, Process Thought\, Ecology\, Education\, and more. His recent work has been focused on high-impact philosophy and the role of big ideas in the transition toward ecological civilization.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nInformation about how to access each gathering is made available via email. To find out about a single meeting\, send an email to events@cobb.institute. If you would like to receive regular meeting announcements and updates about the Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2023-07-11/ LOCATION:Online Event CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230725T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230725T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T214851 CREATED:20230725T163512Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230725T163721Z UID:10000709-1690279200-1690286400@cobb.institute SUMMARY:John Cobb & Friends Gathering: Leslie King & Rolla Lewis DESCRIPTION:Topic: Process Certificate Program: Prospects for its Future \n\n\n\nPresenters: Leslie King & Rolla Lewis \n\n\n\nEleven people completed the requirements to receive the Cobb Institute’s first “Certificate in Process and Practice\,” a program which included online courses taught by Jay McDaniel\, Andrew M. Davis\, Jeanyne Slettom\, Sheri Kling\, and Marcus Ford. The program\, guided by Terry Goddard\, was designed as “A Transformative and Holistic Educational Experience to Cultivate a More Just\, Sustainable\, and Fulfilling World.”  See the list of graduates and their synthesizing capstone “Springboard” projects. Future leadership for the program has emerged from the first cohort of graduates.  Dr. Rolla Lewis has agreed to be the guiding Dean of the Certificate Program\, and Rev. Dr. Leslie King has agreed to be the overall guiding Chairperson of our educational programs.  Rolla and Leslie will share their experience in and hopes for the Certificate Program.  Other participants have been invited to share their experiences of the Certificate program and their hopes for its future.      \n\n\n\nRolla Lewis\, Professor Emeritus in Educational Psychology at California State University\, East Bay\, has had a long career as School Counseling Coordinator at CSUEB and Portland State University.  He is a Taos Institute Associate\, which promotes social constructivism.  In September\, 2019\, he shared with Cobb & Friends his perspective on “Lifescaping–Creating a World We Want to Live In.”  Now retired in Portland\, OR\, his active gardening became the focus of his Certificate study’s capstone project.   \n\n\n\nLeslie King\, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Waco\, Texas\, studied process theology with Nancy Howell in the Doctor of Ministry program at St. Paul’s School of Theology. Find her biodata here\, and her blog here.  Her capstone project was “Forever Young:  Concepts of God and Launching Young Adults.”  In her new role of Education Chairperson\, she is a member of the Cobb Institute Board. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nInformation about how to access each gathering is made available via email. To find out about a single meeting\, send an email to events@cobb.institute. If you would like to receive regular meeting announcements and updates about the Institute\, please join our list of Friends. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings. URL:https://cobb.institute/event/john-cobb-friends-gathering-2023-07-25/ LOCATION:Online Event CATEGORIES:Cobb & Friends ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobb.institute/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cobb-Friends-header-1300x500-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Cobb Institute":MAILTO:events@cobb.institute END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR