Quotes & Sayings


We, and creation itself, actualize the possibilities of the God who sustains the world, towards becoming in the world in a fuller, more deeper way. - R.E. Slater

There is urgency in coming to see the world as a web of interrelated processes of which we are integral parts, so that all of our choices and actions have [consequential effects upon] the world around us. - Process Metaphysician Alfred North Whitehead

Kurt Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem says (i) all closed systems are unprovable within themselves and, that (ii) all open systems are rightly understood as incomplete. - R.E. Slater

The most true thing about you is what God has said to you in Christ, "You are My Beloved." - Tripp Fuller

The God among us is the God who refuses to be God without us, so great is God's Love. - Tripp Fuller

According to some Christian outlooks we were made for another world. Perhaps, rather, we were made for this world to recreate, reclaim, redeem, and renew unto God's future aspiration by the power of His Spirit. - R.E. Slater

Our eschatological ethos is to love. To stand with those who are oppressed. To stand against those who are oppressing. It is that simple. Love is our only calling and Christian Hope. - R.E. Slater

Secularization theory has been massively falsified. We don't live in an age of secularity. We live in an age of explosive, pervasive religiosity... an age of religious pluralism. - Peter L. Berger

Exploring the edge of life and faith in a post-everything world. - Todd Littleton

I don't need another reason to believe, your love is all around for me to see. – Anon

Thou art our need; and in giving us more of thyself thou givest us all. - Khalil Gibran, Prayer XXIII

Be careful what you pretend to be. You become what you pretend to be. - Kurt Vonnegut

Religious beliefs, far from being primary, are often shaped and adjusted by our social goals. - Jim Forest

We become who we are by what we believe and can justify. - R.E. Slater

People, even more than things, need to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone. – Anon

Certainly, God's love has made fools of us all. - R.E. Slater

An apocalyptic Christian faith doesn't wait for Jesus to come, but for Jesus to become in our midst. - R.E. Slater

Christian belief in God begins with the cross and resurrection of Jesus, not with rational apologetics. - Eberhard Jüngel, Jürgen Moltmann

Our knowledge of God is through the 'I-Thou' encounter, not in finding God at the end of a syllogism or argument. There is a grave danger in any Christian treatment of God as an object. The God of Jesus Christ and Scripture is irreducibly subject and never made as an object, a force, a power, or a principle that can be manipulated. - Emil Brunner

“Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh” means "I will be that who I have yet to become." - God (Ex 3.14) or, conversely, “I AM who I AM Becoming.”

Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy. - Thomas Merton

The church is God's world-changing social experiment of bringing unlikes and differents to the Eucharist/Communion table to share life with one another as a new kind of family. When this happens, we show to the world what love, justice, peace, reconciliation, and life together is designed by God to be. The church is God's show-and-tell for the world to see how God wants us to live as a blended, global, polypluralistic family united with one will, by one Lord, and baptized by one Spirit. – Anon

The cross that is planted at the heart of the history of the world cannot be uprooted. - Jacques Ellul

The Unity in whose loving presence the universe unfolds is inside each person as a call to welcome the stranger, protect animals and the earth, respect the dignity of each person, think new thoughts, and help bring about ecological civilizations. - John Cobb & Farhan A. Shah

If you board the wrong train it is of no use running along the corridors of the train in the other direction. - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

God's justice is restorative rather than punitive; His discipline is merciful rather than punishing; His power is made perfect in weakness; and His grace is sufficient for all. – Anon

Our little [biblical] systems have their day; they have their day and cease to be. They are but broken lights of Thee, and Thou, O God art more than they. - Alfred Lord Tennyson

We can’t control God; God is uncontrollable. God can’t control us; God’s love is uncontrolling! - Thomas Jay Oord

Life in perspective but always in process... as we are relational beings in process to one another, so life events are in process in relation to each event... as God is to Self, is to world, is to us... like Father, like sons and daughters, like events... life in process yet always in perspective. - R.E. Slater

To promote societal transition to sustainable ways of living and a global society founded on a shared ethical framework which includes respect and care for the community of life, ecological integrity, universal human rights, respect for diversity, economic justice, democracy, and a culture of peace. - The Earth Charter Mission Statement

Christian humanism is the belief that human freedom, individual conscience, and unencumbered rational inquiry are compatible with the practice of Christianity or even intrinsic in its doctrine. It represents a philosophical union of Christian faith and classical humanist principles. - Scott Postma

It is never wise to have a self-appointed religious institution determine a nation's moral code. The opportunities for moral compromise and failure are high; the moral codes and creeds assuredly racist, discriminatory, or subjectively and religiously defined; and the pronouncement of inhumanitarian political objectives quite predictable. - R.E. Slater

God's love must both center and define the Christian faith and all religious or human faiths seeking human and ecological balance in worlds of subtraction, harm, tragedy, and evil. - R.E. Slater

In Whitehead’s process ontology, we can think of the experiential ground of reality as an eternal pulse whereby what is objectively public in one moment becomes subjectively prehended in the next, and whereby the subject that emerges from its feelings then perishes into public expression as an object (or “superject”) aiming for novelty. There is a rhythm of Being between object and subject, not an ontological division. This rhythm powers the creative growth of the universe from one occasion of experience to the next. This is the Whiteheadian mantra: “The many become one and are increased by one.” - Matthew Segall

Without Love there is no Truth. And True Truth is always Loving. There is no dichotomy between these terms but only seamless integration. This is the premier centering focus of a Processual Theology of Love. - R.E. Slater

-----

Note: Generally I do not respond to commentary. I may read the comments but wish to reserve my time to write (or write off the comments I read). Instead, I'd like to see our community help one another and in the helping encourage and exhort each of us towards Christian love in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. - re slater

Sunday, December 3, 2023

Process-based Eco-Community Links & Resources



John Cobb Bio
John Boswell Cobb, Jr. (born 9 February 1925) is an American theologian, philosopher, and environmentalist. Cobb is often regarded as the preeminent scholar in the field of process philosophy and process theology, the school of thought associated with the philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead. Cobb is the author of more than fifty books. In 2014, Cobb was elected to the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Cobb is a founding co-director of the Center for Process Studies and Process & Faith that celebrated its 50th anniversary February 2023. He also serves as Chairman of the Board for the Living Earth Movement established in 2022 to celebrate his 97th birthday. He has held many positions, such as Ingraham Professor of Theology at the School of Theology at Claremont, Avery Professor at the Claremont Graduate School, Fullbright Professor at the University of Mainz, Visiting Professor at Vanderbilt, Harvard Divinity, Chicago Divinity Schools. His writings include over 50 books including: Is It Too Late? A Theology of Ecology, God and the World; For the Common Good. Co-winner of Grawemeyer Award of Ideas Improving World Order.

John B Cobb - Seizing an Alternative
Center for Process Studies  |  Mar 9, 2015


Message from John B. Cobb, Seizing an Alternative Conference 2015



John Cobb - Whitehead's Model and Multiple Spiritualities
Center for Process Studies  |   Feb 13, 2015

Seizing an Alternative Conference John B. Cobb, Jr. "Whitehead's Model and Multiple Spiritualities" at the Center for Process Studies Seminar at Claremont School of Theology, Spring 2002.


Hi,

I’m putting together a series of articles for you online which I’ll forward asap. All of them will be focusing on process philosophy (and theology) across various industries and endeavors. For you, I imagine you may apply this into:

  • Environmental process ecology (and / or process-based agriculture) or,
  • Urban and rural process-based development (sic, habitat and social justice)
  • Process thought is perfect for this areas per John Cobb’s 3 minute video below.

If you go this route I can help mentor you in this area. Below please find a few books (there’s many more online and at my website; you’ll just have to search them out).

  • I suggest the full website and not the mobile platform where you may utilize:
  • the topical and INDEX lists;
  • the INDEXES are a compilation of topics on a topic… thus saving search time;
  • you’ll find these in the topical list as alphabetized

Suggestions below with more to come,

Enjoy,

R.E. Slater
November 17, 2023

* * * * * * *


Process-based Eco-Community
Links & Resources


1 - Earth Charter - https://earthcharter.org/

2 - (John) Cobb Institute - https://cobb.institute/about/

  • There are books, articles, and video resources here; 
  • I was fortunate to go through John’s Whiteheadian class five years ago qualifying
  • me as a third generation Whiteheadian (without John I’d be a fourth gen’er)



3 - Philip Clayton’s Institute for Ecological Civilization - https://ecociv.org



Amazon link


4 - Living Earth (International) Movement Videos (all 2023) (their wordpress website isn’t working):

Dr. John B. Cobb, Jr. of the Living Earth Movement
Introduces the Understanding China Program
Nov 8, 2023  |  1:46:04


Dr. John B. Cobb, Jr. and other members of the Living Earth Movement for International Peace and Cooperation on Climate Solutions Introduced the Understanding China Program and conducted a discussion on the first few China Papers. More details in Nov 9, 2023 newsletter at http://mailchi.mp/livingearthmovement...

INTRODUCTION: Many of us participating in the Living Earth Movement believe that the global problems we face in both the natural world and society are in grave danger of bringing our civilization to its end. Many of us believe that only well-led global cooperation can save us. We think that the real leaders today are the United States and China, and that their joint leadership would have the best chance of unifying the world in facing the desperate situation. 

Given the urgency of the United States working with China for the sake of all of us, the barrage of news and propaganda preparing us for war is deeply disturbing. If the priority of the United States is unilateral domination of the planet, then the nuclear destruction of China may result. but we believe that most Americans would prefer to partner with others in working for the survival of humanity than to dominate a largely uninhabitable globe. Cooperation with an enemy is hard to implement.

If civilization is to survive, enemies must be changed into partners. A major obstacle to partnering with China for the good of all is that American propaganda has dehumanized or demonized China’s leadership in the minds of so many Americans. Many cannot think of China as a partner in light of all its wrongdoings. It is that understanding of China that we want to see set aside by a more realistic interpretation of what has happened that makes Chinese actions understandable.

Our goal is not to persuade Americans that China is correct on disputed matters, that Chinese motives are always pure, that China’s actions have always been wise. We do want to persuade readers that Chinese actions and policies are understandable, and that they do not justify the judgment that China cannot serve as our partner in envisioning the changes required for survival.

We want human civilization to survive on a living Earth. We want China and the United States to co-lead the world to take the actions that will keep the planet habitable, We think that balanced and objective knowledge will show that China can do its part if it is treated as a partner. We hope that the information we offer will help Americans open themselves to the cooperation so urgently needed. After reading Chinese propaganda, we are likely to be less easily swayed by American, and, of course, vice versa.

Our project is different. We want to provide neutral information. We are writing for Americans. We think that misunderstanding China in ways encouraged by American propaganda blocks the path to the cooperation with China that would benefit all of us. Our task is to tell the truth about what China is doing and planning in such a way that Americans can understand, whether or not we approve. We hope that mutual understanding will enable us to cooperate for the sake of everyone rather than give priority to weakening and damaging China. This means that we are not “neutral” about everything. We really, passionately, want to save the planetary biosphere.

The papers we are sharing are the work of a group of a dozen persons who want peace and partnership between the world’s two greatest powers and polluters. A list of the initial 11 papers is provided. We hope we have freed our papers from error, and that they offer sufficient information to show that while China is far from perfect, it is as committed as any country to the survival of civilization. Its mistakes and failures do not justify crossing it off our list of nations with which we would partner to save the world.

If you find errors or distortions, please let us know. We are open to correction. If you find errors, please let us know. Also, if you feel that we are omitting or obscuring important features of what has happened, please help us achieve a more balanced account. Our conviction is that China and the United States working together could give great leadership to the world with respect to climate change and other matters. We believe that there are legitimate criticisms of both these countries and of all others. We do not believe that in the case of the United States and China the shortcomings and missteps indicate that one or the other of these two countries is incapable of giving priority to truly critical matters or working with the other.

Initial List of Understanding China Papers• U.S. China Cooperation Energy Grid• Difference in Thinking Between Chinese and Americans• Ecological Civilization• Economic Hitmen American and Chinese• The Two Mountain Theory• Taiwan• One-Child Policy• Hong Kong• Propaganda• South and North Korea• COVID Epidemic in the PRC

Why Cooperation Between the U.S. and China Is
Essential for World Peace and Climate Solutions
 Living Earth Movement  |  Sep 27, 2023  |  1:34:26

The Living Earth Movement (LEM) https://livingearthmovement.eco/ produced this program on Why Cooperation Between the U.S. and China Is Essential for World Peace and Climate Solutions for Peace Week 2023.
LEM founding members John B. Cobb, Jr. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_B.... and Charles Betterton https://oneworld.earth/members/11813678 share a presentation on why the LEM’s priority mission is encouraging cooperation between the U.S. and China. They describe how the organization came into existence, share their goals and strategies, and discuss how those relate to Peace Week.
The program also includes two moving presentations by LEM key participants Robert Detrano and Bruce Hanson on their recent visits to China They both are among the devoted members of the Understanding China program and each of them have made substantial contributions to the papers being written and edited collaboratively by members of the team.
Dr. Cobb, 98, author of 50+ books including the 50th anniversary edition of IS IT TOO LATE? A Theology of Ecology, will also share his vision of A Peaceful World As A Community of Communities. The mission of the Living Earth Movement is twofold. The short-term priority is to get the U.S. and China to cooperate for the sake of all life on this planet. Without their full and joint participation, the necessary changes will not be made in time. However, with their joint leadership, virtually all nations will follow.
The second and equally important priority is to promote the foundations for a new kind of civilization in which humans would learn to value and cooperate with the rest of the ecosphere. We need a world in which humans understand themselves as part of a living earth community. We call this an ecological civilization.
The ongoing activities of the Living Earth Movement include monthly Youth Dialogues with American and Chinese Youth Sharing from the Heart
and weekly meetings of the Understanding China program
that is developing a series of papers to help Americans better understand Chinese people, culture, and government.
Please join our grassroots activism by signing up today!
Climate change is no longer theoretical. We see its effects everyday with cataclysmic weather events in our own communities and those around the world. The time to act is NOW.

 

5 - Pando Ecological Society, Los Angeles, CA for building sustainable and equitable civic engagement programs - https://pandopopulus.com/


6 - Claremont Graduate School for Sustainable Futures (Pasadena, CA) -


7 - Institute for Postmodern Development of China - https://postmodernchina.org/
*FYI - John Cobb is meeting with Chairman Xi sometime soon as part of his 25-30 year school of process societies which is well attended by many university intellectuals. Of note, XI was part of this group (not Cobb’s) in his youth. Videos on the home page share the vision.

A Few Introductory Process Titles 

Fourth Generation Process Lectures,
Discussions, Papers, and Whatnot


The Collected Papers of Process II - of Philosopher & Theologian Andrew M. Davis
Published by R.E. Slater

Elvi Bjorkquist - Process Thought, Aesthetic Qualities, and Beyond
Published by R.E. Slater

Andrew Davis - The Becomingness of Cosmology
Published by R.E. Slater

Andrew David - Process Cosmology
Published by R.E. Slater

Matt Segall: Process Philosopohical Perspectives on Biology
Published by R.E. Slater

The Processual Complex Memory of the Universe Is Significant for Cosmic Life
Published by R.E. Slater

R.E. Slater & ChatGPT - The Purpose & Meaning of Life for a Christian Eugelion, Part 1
Published by R.E. Slater

*I included this latter article which I produced a week ago as a reminder to myself to focus on process philosophy as a complex relational iteration bearing integral novelty, compassion, and social justice. I used CHATBOT to help me speak my thoughts a bit more simply. 😊


No comments:

Post a Comment