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

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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

Showing posts with label Online Education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Online Education. Show all posts

Friday, December 15, 2023

AI Bard / Gemini Update



Gemini is the most capable and general model we’ve ever built.

Bard will use a fine-tuned version of Gemini Pro. It will be available in English in more than 170 countries and territories, and we plan to expand to different modalities and support new languages and locations in the near future.

In our new update, Gemini Pro will help Bard be far more capable at things like:
  • Understanding
  • Reasoning
  • Planning
Bard with Gemini Pro is already performing as well as or better than other industry-leading chatbots, and it will continue to improve with your feedback.

BUILD WITH GEMINI
Integrate Gemini models into your applications
via the Gemini API in Google AI Studio and
Google Cloud Vertex AI.



Google Bard’s First Year
It’s been a wild year, and we are grateful to everyone who’s given Bard a try. Our team is so thankful for your support, and we’re excited for you to experience and enjoy what’s to come in 2024.



Googles GEMINI Just SHOCKED The ENTIRE INDUSTRY! 
(GPT-4 Beaten) Full Breakdown + Technical Report
by "TheAIGRID"  |  Dec 6, 2023


 #Largelanguagemodel #chatgpt #NeuralNetworks
Googles GEMINI Just SHOCKED The ENTIRE INDUSTRY!
(GPT-4 Beaten) All Capabilities...

The Buzz Around Bard

Bard has access to Google’s apps and now its the
best large language model...  |  Image: Google

 

* * * * * * * *

Google’s Bard chatbot is getting
way better thanks to Gemini

By David Pierce, editor-at-large and Vergecast co-host with over a decade of experience covering consumer tech. Previously, at Protocol, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired.
Dec 6, 2023, 10:00 AM EST

While OpenAI’s ChatGPT has become a worldwide phenomenon and one of the fastest-growing consumer products ever, Google’s Bard has been something of an afterthought. The chatbot has steadily gained new features, including access to your data across other Google products, but its answers and information have rarely seemed to rival what you get from ChatGPT and other bots using GPT-3 and GPT-4.

The case for Bard may have just gotten more compelling, though: as of today, for English-speaking users in 170 countries, Bard is now powered by Google’s new Gemini model, which it says matches and even exceeds OpenAI’s tech in a number of ways. (Google says Gemini is coming to more languages and countries “in the near future.”)

Bard is now running Gemini Pro, the middle tier of the Gemini series. Ultra is the biggest and slowest but the most capable, Nano is small and fast and meant for on-device tasks, and Pro sits right in the middle. It’s meant to be the Goldilocks version of the model, really: fast and efficient while still as capable as possible.

Pro is meant to be the Goldilocks version of Gemini: fast and efficient while still as capable as possible

Sissie Hsiao, who runs Bard and Assistant at Google, said in a press briefing that Gemini represents the “biggest and best upgrade yet” for Bard. It should be a marked improvement for just about everything Bard already does: summarizing, brainstorming, writing, and the like. Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO, tells me that, in his testing, he’s found that there’s not so much a whizbang new feature as there is just an overall improvement across the board. “I think people are just going to find that the product got a lot better,” he says. “It understands their intent better, it’s answering better. It’s more factual, higher quality. If you’re trying to code it’s better!”

Right now, Bard is still just a chatbot: you type, it types back. But there’s a new version of Bard coming soon that could be much more. Next year, Google is planning to launch a preview of “Bard Advanced,” powered by Gemini Ultra, which is the most powerful and capable version of Google’s new large language model. Gemini Ultra is also the multimodal version of the model, meaning it can accept and create images, audio, and video in addition to just text.

The non-text interactions are where Gemini in general really shines

The non-text interactions are where Gemini in general really shines, says Demis Hassabis, the head of Google DeepMind. “We built it to be natively multimodal from the ground up,” he says. “That’s one of the new capabilities that it has… the kinds of seamless integration and reasoning it can do across modalities.” Google’s demos included the YouTuber Mark Rober using Bard to make the perfect paper airplane — including by taking photos of his designs to get AI-provided feedback — and parents uploading pictures of their children’s homework to get help figuring out where their math went wrong.

That’s all just demos and promotional videos for now, though. Pichai says he thinks of this launch both as a big moment for Bard and as the very beginning of the Gemini era. But if Google’s benchmarking is right, the new model might already make Bard as good a chatbot as ChatGPT. And that’s already a pretty impressive feat.


Sunday, August 7, 2022

Recommended Process Theology Schools - NORTHWIND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY



Mission
  • Northwind Theological School is dedicated to fostering a theologically informed learning community.
  • To implement this mission NTS is a co-owner member institution of the Digital Theological Library.
  • Our membership provides library services to our Faculty and Students.
Vision
  • The Library serves as the center of expertise for information literacy skills within NTS.
  • Library resources are seamlessly integrated into the student experience to serve students at the point of need.
  • The Library effectively supports NTS faculty and students in building a culture of academic excellence.
Goals
  • Offer a research-based program of student-centered information, creating both best practices and empowered scholars.
  • Meet our community at their point of need through a robust, forward-thinking, and technologically innovative reference service by providing Faculty and Students with access to Research Liberians
  • Our collections meet the information needs of empowered scholars through regular assessment and data-driven collection development.
Leadership
  • Dr. Thomas E. Phillips, is a member of the NTS Faculty.
  • He is also the Director fo the Digital Theological Library.
  • Dr. Phillips continues to serve as the Dean of Library and Information Services; Professor of Theological Bibliography and New Testament at Claremont School of Theology.

https://www.northwindseminary.org/seminary-degrees




DESIGNED FOR THOSE CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN MINISTRY
AND NEED TO COMPLETE THEIR MINISTRY DEGREE



Pathway to Ministry

The Pathway to Ministry program is designed for those currently engaged in ministry and need to complete their Ministry degree. Experienced ministry mentors will guide you through a streamlined admission process and the range of options required for your degree.

Bachelor Degree Pathway
Students transferring the maximum 75 credits
can complete their Bachelor's Degree
with 5 Courses in 5 Months for $5000
No SAT or ACT Requirements To Enroll

Master's Degree Pathway
Ordained Clergy can complete their
Master's Contextual Ministry Degree
with 3 Courses in 3 Months for $3000
No GRE, GMAT, or Language Requirements To Enroll

Doctoral Degree Pathway
Clergy with a Master's Degree can complete their
Doctor of Specialized Ministry Degree
with 6 courses in 6 months for $6000
No GRE, GMAT, or Language Requirements To Enroll




 * * * * * * *


Northwind Conversations:
Thomas Jay Oord on Open and Relational Theology
An Introduction (2021)

Conversations about Faculty Conversations at Northwind Seminary,
hosted by Dr. Michael J. Christensen,
Professor of Theology and Academic Dean

Ever Creator: God Always Creates out of Creation in Love. In progress.

 

Full-Orbed Love: Agape, Eros, Philia, and God. Forthcoming 2022.

 

Open and Relational Theology: An Introduction to Life-Changing Ideas. Grasmere, Id.: SacraSage, 2021.

 

Partnering with God: Exploring Collaboration in Open and Relational Theology. Edited with Bonnie Rambob, Tim Reddish, and Fran Stedman. Grasmere, Id.: SacraSage, 2021.

 

Questions and Answers for God Can’t. Grasmere, Id.: SacraSage Press, 2020.

 

Open and Relational Leadership: Leading with Love. Edited with Roland Hearn and Sheri D. Kling. Grasmere, Id.: SacraSage Press, 2020.



* * * * * * *


THOMAS JAY OORD
YOUTUBE PRESENTATIONS, INTERVIEWS, DEBATES





ACADEMIC CENTERS AT NORTHWIND

The academic centers of Northwind Institute and Northwind Seminary provide opportunities for students and faculty to engage with learning and enrichment in various academic concentrations.

Each Center is directed by a Core Faculty Member of the Seminary.

The academic centers offer intellectual engagement, community outreach and service, co-curricular opportunities, and commitment to interdisciplinary research and practical applications offering direct connections to the Certificate and Degree programs.

Students and faculty participate in center activities in a variety of ways, including research projects, symposia, lectures, and other activities that bring together faculty and students from every department.


Center for Leadership & Specialized Ministry
Rev. Dr. Robert J. Duncan, Jr., Center Director
Senior Faculty and Professor of Leadership and Ministry

Founding President Northwind Institute | Seminary

FEATURED SPECIALIZED MINISTRY DEGREES
Wesleyan Studies
Faith-Based Education
Faith-Based Non-Profit Leadership
Faith-Based Communications
Intersectional Church Leadership

Visit Center


Center for Theology, Spirituality, & Ministry
Rev. Michael J. Christensen, Ph.D., Center Director
Senior Faculty and Professor of Theology and Spiritual Formation
Academic Dean and Program Director for Romantic Theology

FEATURED DEGREES
Doctor in Theology & Ministry - in Romantic Theology
Doctor in Specialized Ministry: Spiritual Formation
Doctor in Contextual Ministry : Faith-Based Community
Development


Center for Open and Relational Theology
Dr. Thomas J Oord, Ph.D., Center Director
Senior Faculty and Professor of Open and Relational Theology
Noted theologian, philosopher, and scholar of multi-disciplinary studies
Best-selling and award-winning author and editor of over 25 books, including: God Can’t.

FEATURED DEGREE
Doctor in Theology & Ministry: Open & Relational Theology

Visit Center

Center for Archaeology and Biblical Studies
Rev. Carl E. Savage, Ph.D., Center Director
Senior Faculty and Professor of Archeology and Biblical Studies
Associate Dean for Doctoral Studies.

FEATURED DEGREES
Doctor in Theology & Ministry: Biblical Studies
Doctor in Theology & Ministry: Biblical Languages
Doctor in Contextual Ministry: Christian Pilgrimage


Center for Local Church Ministry
Rev. Dr. Steve Van Ostran, Center Director
Core Faculty and Professor of Pastoral Ministry

He is the Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of the Rocky Mountains. Steve directs the ABCUSA Ordination Track for second-career and bi-vocational clergy at both Northwind Institute and Northwind Seminary.

FEATURED DEGREES
Master in Pastoral Ministry
Doctor in Pastoral Ministry

Center for Innovation in Global Theology & Ministry
Rev. Dennis Cheek, Ph.D,, Ph.D. Center Director
Senior Faculty and Professor of Global Theology & Ministry

Dr.Cheek's interdisciplinary leadership, research, and activities have focused on creativity, all levels of formal education, entrepreneurship, innovation, nonprofits, philanthropy, professional development, theology, and science, technology and society.

FEATURED DEGREES
Master in Contextual Ministry: Global Theology
Doctor in Contextual Ministry: Global Theology




Tuesday, August 2, 2022

UHAMKA - University of Jarkata for Studies

 



To my friends at Uhamka, Jakarta. Blessings. - re slater





HAMKA NEWGENS,
WELCOME TO UHAMKA!

University of Muhammadiyah Prof. DR. HAMKA (referred to as UHAMKA) is one of the private universities owned by Muhammadiyah located in Jakarta. As one of Muhammadiyah's movements in education, UHAMKA is an Islamic university that implements the Al-Quran, As-Sunnah, Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution. UHAMKA also carries out the catur dharma Muhammadiyah universities involving obligations in education, research, community service, and Al Islam and Ke-Muhammadiyahan.


VISION, MISSION, GOALS

As a transformation process at Private Universities (PTS), Uhamka is here to build a progressive civilization as an effort to realize Islam Rahmatan Lil'Alamin, the Uhamka Vision for 2024 is formulated, namely:

Vision

"To become a prophetic teaching university that educates spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, and socially to create a progressive civilization"

Mission

Organizing education that integrates the values ??of Al-Islam and Muhammadiyah with science.

Organizing high-quality and innovative student education and development to produce graduates who are spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, and socially intelligent;

Organizing research and community service that is excellent and tangible;

Organizing high quality university asset management and services based on competency quality with the support of ICT;

Organizing financial and non-financial asset management to improve performance and welfare in a sustainable manner

Goals

Realizing a campus which has academic norms that integrate Al-Islam and Muhammadiyah with science;

Producing graduates who are spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, and socially intelligent;

Producing high-quality and broad-impact in scientific and community service works;

Realizing a transparent and accountable higher education governance system;

Realizing a transparent and accountable higher education governance system;

Basic ValueIntegrity : All Leaders, Lecturers, Education Personnel, Students, and Alumni of UHAMKA must make the value of honesty the basis for self-development.
Trust.: UHAMKA as the fire of civilization is responsible for continuously building trust for the sake of truth through studies and research.

Compassion (Caring) : UHAMKA must develop science, technology, arts and culture that provide great value for humanity. UHAMKA teaches and trains all human resources and students to care and have a strong side to the oppressed and marginalized groups.

Advantages of UHAMKA Graduates

Spiritual Intelligence

Obedient to Practice Religious, Diligent in Worshiping, Having Noble Morals, Conscience, And Deserves To Be An Model.

Intellectual Intelligence

a. Smart
b. Creative
c. .Innovative
d. Objective
e. Agile
f. Be a solution for the community

Emotionally Intelligence

a. Self-awareness
b. It is better to "give" than "to receive"
c. Empathize / without contempt
d. Eager to excel
e. Good at collaborating / synergizing

Social Intelligence

a. Beneficial to the environment
b. Tolerance / tolerance
c. Respect for others
d. Have a good relationship
e. Feeling an inseparable part of the social environment
f. Feeling responsible for being an element of the Muhammadiyah association