Friday Night Conversations with visiting Sophia Center faculty
7:00 p.m.
Sophia Center Classroom (at Chapel level, look for signs)
ADMISSION
$15 General, $12 Seniors & Students
Open to the Public - Come Join Us!
Spring 2010: The Great Work
Jan. 22 “Indigenous Teachings for a Sustainable Future” (Leslie Gray) Whereas there are no examples of sustainable industrial societies, there are many examples of sustainable indigenous societies. Dr. Leslie Gray will expand upon this observation by elucidating the underlying 1) world-view, 2) values and 3) model of health propelling most critical decision-making in American society today. Leslie will compare each of these 3 motivators with their counterparts in indigenous cultures with a view toward envisioning how our technoculture might transformed from self-destructive to life-supporting.
February 19 Inscendence: The key to the Great Turning (Bill Plotkin) Thomas Berry as emphasized that, to transform contemporary culture, what is needed is a revelatory vision and an awakening to the numinous powers ever present in the more-than-human world. We will explore a nature-based map of human development, the encounter with soul that ripens people into genuine adults and elders—visionary artisans of cultural change, trailblazers of what Joanna Macy calls the Great Turning of the twenty-first century.
Mar. 19 The engaged Spiritual Life: Wisdom and Compassion in Action (Donald Rothberg) What is the connection of contemplative practice with responding to the needs of our communities and our world? If we have been using meditation especially as a place of refuge and healing, how do we take steps toward compassionate action? And for those of us who are already involved in service or social change, how can the resources of inner work help strengthen and sustain us? Through talks, silent meditation practice, interactive exercises, group discussion, and creative process, we will explore these questions, providing principles to guide us and practices to take home.
Apr. 16 One Life: People and Earth (Helen Prejean & Marya Grathwohl) An integration of care for Earth, passion for justice and spirituality grounded in the Universe Story, Native American teaching based on Marya's experience, and Gospel prophetic traditions, through song, sacred dance, storytelling and personal reflection.