Presence: A Global Conversation for a New Earth.

We continue to use the historical model of Spiral Dynamics to illustrate how worldviews and their evolution related to the interpretation of God identity.  The first 2 worldviews illustrated by the Spiral model are Archaic and Tribal. These 2 worldviews show up in the Biblical Narrative as Archaic Adam and Tribal Abraham. Both are in the Genesis of the story. These 2 figures set the stage for the evolution of spiritual consciousness with regard to universal God identity. Understanding how Adam and Abraham understood God identity is a necessary first step in the journey. We are proposing that the Biblical Narrative is actually one seamless story that traces the beginnings of spiritual consciousness all the way to our present day map. Spiritual consciousness with regard to God identity did not start with Jesus. To understand how we have a current map of separation, division and denomination in the world religion of Christianity we have to start at the beginning and then see if we can find where the interpretation of the story got off track along the way. 

We are using cartography to view the Christian landscape via a map. The map helps define the great diversity of churches and denominations.  Our series explains why the result of 2,000 years of evolution led to such division. In this episode we use Spiral Dynamics to trace the history of the situation. The state of Christianity and the church must be understood from the beginning or Genesis of the God Identity story. So I show how everything preceding Jesus and the apostolic writers set the stage for an interpretation of Christology that led to a world religion.  From here we will propose a new future for Christology, one that results in world-centric unity.

The concept I'll be using relating to map making is cartography. The audience for this series is any and everyone interested in having a global conversation for a new earth. All are welcome regardless of denominational affiliation or non-affiliation, Catholic or Protestant and those who are now post Christian or Trans-religious.  The series will address the map as it evolved from the past, meaning how the map took shape in the first few centuries and then expanded into a world religion of thousands of denominations and factions. We will then address the map as to how it looks today. And I'll ask each of you to identify your place on today's map.

This episode is a summary of the main points related to Christology and the Holomovement. We continue to show how the current problems around Christianity stem from competing interpretations. To illustrate these points I have included a Theology Quiz! I've taken the idea from Sesame Street. They have a game entitled, “Which of these things is not like the other?” I will show you 3 diagrams and you have to come up with the correct answer. Who said theology is not fun?    #holomovement #biblicalnarrative #theology #christianity #christology #progressivechristianity #universalism #spirituality #sbnr

In this episode we wrap up our in depth look at sin. Sin was a specific condition that was dependent on law. So questions have to be answered. How can sin no longer exist but yet right and wrong do? What is sin beyond right and wrong? Why is the understanding of sin necessary to understanding doing and being? Why do fundamentalist Christians exist? Why do progressive Christians want to distinguish themselves from fundamentalists? What is the next evolution of progressive Christianity?

We continue our discussion about Law and Grace in this episode. Law and grace is a very confusing story when one interprets Christology as a religion. And at the center of any discussion of the Law is the concept of sin. Sin is part of the language of the first covenant/world. Sin has a specific meaning related to the Biblical Narrative.  We will discuss how language today in a New Earth has transcended sin language. Yes, there is still right and wrong or obedient/disobedient but I no longer use the word sin in my vocabulary. 

We are in the middle of a discussion based on a trans-disciplinary approach to the interpretation of the Biblical Narrative. The series is comparing the Quantum Physics findings about our universe with regard to the Holomovement with the Biblical Narrative.  We are proposing that the cosmology of our universe aligns beautifully with Biblical cosmology. Specifically, we're comparing the Holomovement of our universe with Christology. Neither result in a religion but rather point to a trans-religious source of consciousness and Spirit.  Our universe and the Biblical Narrative are both God stories. The Holomovent is to the cosmology of the universe what Christology is to the Narrative.  We are proposing that interpreting Christology as a form/religion does not.  This part of the series focuses on law and grace. Just as the latest discoveries in Quantum Physics have resulted in new interpretations of our universe so also our integral approach to theology results in a new, wholistic and unified interpretation of the Biblical Narrative. 

We continue to compare the new scientific discoveries related to our universe with our approach to a Christology that results in a Post Christian, Trans-religious outcome. The universe is the first story told by God. We propose that the Biblical Narrative mirrors and aligns with that story. Therefore the principles in our own universe provide a trans-disciplinary validation of our approach to Christology. It also illustrates how a divided, denominated Christology, interpreted as a religious form, is very problematic. Today we will consider and discuss both our universe and the narrative in terms of the movement Form, Trans-Form and Formlessness.

We are continuing our series comparing the cosmology of our universe with Biblical cosmology. The next few episodes will focus on one of the most confusing teachings of the world religion Christianity.  I'm referring to the concepts of law and grace.  At first glance one might wonder what our universe and the Biblical Narrative have in common on this subject. But this series is proposing that the concept of the holomovement in quantum physics aligns beautifully with Christology.  However, it's not the Christology that the Roman Empire handed down 2,000 years ago. It's not the Christology that is interpreted to be a world religion. It's not the Christology that divides, separates and denominates.  We're proposing a Christology that reflects the harmony and unity of our universe. We're proposing a Christology pointing to a trans-religious, post Christian future. 

What does the explicate order of our universe as defined by Quantum Physics have to do with the Biblical Narrative?  We continue our series by looking at the in-forming movement that led to the form-ation our universe. This story aligns beautifully with the Biblical version of God's creative action. Today we look at the realm of form(s) in Biblical cosmology. They made up an initial creation or world that was necessary before the coming of a new creation or new heavens and earth.  Our universe consists of 2 orders- an explicate and an implicate. The Biblical Narrative also has 2 orders—the heavens and earth of Genesis 1 and the New Heavens and Earth. We will get to the implicate order in Biblical cosmology later in the series.  The movement between these 2 orders changes everything regarding long held interpretations of Christology, eschatology, hamartiology, soteriology and ecclesiology!  God has 2 narratives, the universe/holomovement and the Biblical narrative. Their meaning and interpretation will either align or not. God is not a God of confusion. God doesn't provide 2 conflicting stories.

**In continuing our series on the Biblical Narrative as holomovement, I'm recommending you watch the video presentation as it includes 5 diagrams that will be helpful to see as you hear the information. Link to YouTube HERE. In this episode we continue to address the power of convergence. Our proposal is that science is now telling us that the holomovement is nothing less than God's creative narrative.  The radical and dramatic paradigm change is with regard to the interpretation of Christology as a religion, therefore Christianity.  We continue to propose that the biblical narrative points away from itself to a universal source or that which is called God.  Here are a few of the points that I'll be discussing in this episode: There is no such thing as ‘the church'. There are only thousands of iterations of what people disagree about ‘the church.' God's holomovement narrative is that Christology is transform….it is not a form.  We are not eliminating Christology….we're reinterpreting it. An interpretation that goes beyond a “little God.”  The result is universal God identity…not a religion.  Christology and the holomovement both tell the story of God's creative action.   

In this series I propose that the holomovement is nothing less than the creative nature of God. Further, I am proposing that when you align the holomovement elements with the Biblical Narrative it provides validation for our ongoing message of universal God identity. This week I'm honored to have Jude Currivan as my guest today. Dr Jude Currivan is a cosmologist, planetary healer, futurist, author, Evolutionary Leaders Circle member and previously a senior UK-based international business woman. www.wholeworld-view.org   www.evolutionaryleaders.net #holomovement #spirituality #bible #theology #integral #JudeCurrivan

In this series I propose that the holomovement is nothing less than the creative nature of God. Further, I am proposing that when you align the holomovement elements with the Biblical Narrative it provides validation for our ongoing message of universal God identity. The link to view this on YouTube is HERE.  

Today's podcast is an update on another exciting project. The field of convergence is revealing the importance of unified approaches that lead to global unity. Science and Spirituality is an example. Presence has already shown how the historical model of Spiral Dynamics validates our approach to the interpretation of the Biblical Narrative. Now we are working with those in the fields of science to do the same.  As science and spirituality converge we can now compare how the many different interpretations of the Biblical Narrative either align or don't align with the science of our universe.  I will specifically talk about the concept of the Holomovement and a project I'm working on with Oxford Physicist Dr. Jude Currivan and Evolutionary Biologist Dr. Kurt Johnson.  And this soon to be published work (today's announcement) will lead into my series this Fall on “The Biblical Narrative as Holomovement.” The excitement level is higher than ever about the future of faith especially as it relates to the amazing Biblical Narrative. 

It is becoming more and more clear that something different is happening. A paradigm shift like no other before is now in process. It radically reframes long held views that have now become unworkable.  In this episode I describe the Nomad podcast experience with Tim Nash. Link to video cast interview for World Unity Week. Along with Patrick Carolan I discuss this years theme which interestingly enough is, “A Rising New Earth.” The interview is conducted by Ben Bowler and I give some background to his impressive work. 

In this podcast episode I discuss the latest news with regard to the major paradigm shifts manifesting around the globe. A new book is now available, The Holomovement; Embracing Our Collective Purpose To Unite Humanity.”  I'm honored to have a small part in this collection of essays from leaders representing numerous diverse fields of study and research. It reflects the momentum of something amazing as we enter into this 3rd millennium C.E. Why is Presence a part of a book like this? Well, that's why we do podcasts! So join me as I outline the next steps for seeing how the Biblical Narrative is contributing to new frontiers of universal love and acceptance. #Holomovement #EvolutionaryLeaders 

We're dedicating this podcast to the life and legacy of Max R. King. On behalf of our family I thank all of you who reached out with such kind words of support. Many of you have shared the impact his work has had in your lives.  I couldn't mention all of you by name but you must know that you were so meaningful to his work.  Please also know that I was overwhelmed by so many thoughts as I considered my own personal time with dad over the decades. I did my best to share some things with you so we could honor him and then move ahead with our own efforts and contributions to make this world a better place. #MaxKing #MaxRKing #PresenceMinistry #Presence 

Doug King of https://www.presence.tv interviews Dr. Riane Eisler. Dr. Eisler pioneers-- through her multidisciplinary “Four Cornerstones” approach-- our urgently needed global transition from domination-- to partnership-- models and consciousness (https://centerforpartnership.org/). Her iconic books include The Chalice and the Blade, now in 57 U.S. printings and 30 foreign editions, The Real Wealth of Nations and, most recently Nurturing Our Humanity: How Domination and Partnership Shape Our Brains, Lives, and Future (co-authored with neuroscientist Dr. Douglas P. Fry, Oxford University Press, 2019). #rianeeisler #dougking #consciousness #integral #wisdom #theology #evolutionaryleaders https://www.evolutionaryleaders.net

We continue our Global Conversation regarding the movement from Dominator Hierarchies to Partnership Societies and families. In this episode I want to discuss this subject regarding gender in the Biblical Narrative and the religion of Christianity historically. So let's do some theology.  Tracking through the Narrative, the creation story culminates with the creation of male and female. In Genesis 2 the story says the 2 become 1. This idea is one of partnership.  Domination hierarchies identify power and authority to a specific group and all others are subjects.  How is that paradigm trans-formed in the story? Why is it important in the story? How has Christianity been a model of Dominator Hierarchy?   #dominatorheirarchy #christianity #genderroles #gender 

In my podcast today I set the stage for this series by giving my observations about the current landscape of Christianity and why there is a new paradigm shift that's gaining significant energy and excitement as we move into the trans-religious era of history.  I'll also tell you a little about Riane Eisler, an amazing woman who is 91 years young and who has become known internationally for her work in Big History. It traces the history of Dominator Hierarchies and calls for a shift into Partnership Societies and families. Desmond Tutu said this about Riane's work, “ It's a template for the world we so urgently need. So why is Riane doing a podcast with Presence? And why are people from Quantum Physics, Psychology, Philosophy and many other fields now working with Presence? Listen to learn more.

I am excited and pleased to announce that I will be joining Dr. Sheri Kling, Director of Process and Faith in a 6 weeks course beginning September 13th.  Process and Faith operates as part of the Cobb Institute and has considerable influence in the field of theology. The course is entitled: The Biblical Narrative and Universal God Identity; Integral Theology and Process Approaches. For Registration and Course Information click here: REGISTRATION

We end our series on Regeneration and its various concepts and implications regarding God identity. Judgment is at the foundation of a dysfunctional God story. It's time to grow in our understanding of that which holds all things together.

The implications of God's regenerative work are dramatic. Human identity is at stake. We've spent time talking about the 2 creations and their paradigms of consciousness. One creation produced bondage to sin and death while the new creation delivered humanity from sin and death. The first creation had last days and came to an end. That's because sin and death is a consciousness paradigm and God was in Christ reconciling that way of seeing. God was in Christ the individual in the process of dying to the first creation and rising as the firstborn one of the new. But why was there a need for the body of Christ or ecclesia? What was the role and function of the church? If so many are leaving the church, could it be that church itself became misunderstood by the Gentiles? The church, as it has been taught and handed down, is now a problem. It's time to think about how God's regenerative work was in that body. It's time to think about a dramatically different future—or keep doing the same thing and wondering why it keeps failing.

We continue to dig deep into our ancestral roots of identity. The act of regeneration was a process that transformed all things. One of the confusing issues around this discussion relates to sin and death. Why did Paul tell the Gentiles that sin and death were going to be removed when the Deliverer came out of Zion? The Gentiles thought the regeneration process was complete when Christ died on the cross for their sins. If you want to know your ancestry you have to do the research. So once again we research the Narrative for the roots of our universal, world-centric identity. 

This episode is about the relationship of judgment to that of love and acceptance. The Gentiles in Rome thought the judgment of God was a process of separating human beings. Paul goes to great lengths to show judgment as that which reveals the basis upon which all are regenerated. The separation of self as source from Spirit as source was the necessary prelude to the acceptance of all. Paul's teaching that all Israel will be saved has stood in contradiction to the Christian religion's teaching of condemnation, wrath and casting away for the purpose of tormenting most of the world for eternity. The Gentiles in Rome institutionalized Jesus, made him the founder of a new religion and passed down this judgment message through history. Paul deconstructs this divisive message and clarifies the nature of God's love and acceptance. 

One of the major themes of the God story, handed down for the last 2,000 years, is judgment. We continue to look at what we've done with our understanding of God identity as it relates to judgment. When Christology is made into a religious form its boundaries must be policed. The focus of our thinking becomes tribalistic- who's in, who's out? This, of course requires judgment to insure those who represent God's chosen ones.  Starting with the Gentiles in Rome, the end result of this approach over the last 2 millennia is leading to the disintegration of church attendance, the closing of seminaries and the lack of interest shown by the younger generation. Now is the time to ask and seek. Now is the time to reconsider long held views of judgmental, condemning language. Is it possible God's work through Christ offers so much more? Is it possible judgment plays a role in unifying the world by leading to restoration and acceptance for all? 

Regeneration is the process of identity transformation. Our human family first understood identity from a tribal or genealogical point of view. Any encounter with tribes who were different brought conflict and even war. Integral thinkers are now pointing to a movement from ethnocentric to world-centric identity. But this world-centric or integrative movement is challenging to those in religion who attach their identity to a tribe that separates itself from all other tribes. Even within Christianity the embedded tribalism of denominationalism supports the divisiveness of this paradigm. At the heart of the struggle is the issue of judgment. In this episode we continue the conversation for a new earth with regard to the process of casting out and acceptance. Both are part of the story. However, even the element of casting out is to reveal the basis upon which all humanity is accepted and the basis of God's mercy upon all. And this goes against our ethnocentric instincts. 

In this episode we continue to look at the relationship between Regeneration and Judgment. The subject of judgment has been a very confusing one through the ages. We discuss the role and function of judgment and why it was necessary to the process of regeneration. We also begin to look at the other side of the reconciliatory process- acceptance.

In this 4th episode in the Regeneration series we incorporate the principles of judgment as taught by Jesus with relation to regeneration. What is the role of judgment in the Narrative? How can we be in a new heaven and earth when there are those who do not belong? And who decides (judges) those accepted and those who are not? We will begin by looking at the context of judgment, throne and regeneration going back to the early history of Israel. Judgment has inflicted more destruction, pain and angst upon humans than some physical violence. It's place in the God process requires our urgent attention, especially as people are looking for answers beyond old paradigms.

This is episode 3 in our series on The Biblical Narrative, Integral Consciousness and Regeneration. The importance of world-centric thinking is showing itself in the Russian invasion of the Ukraine. All separation thinking leads to discrimination and denomination. The Narrative is a story of the evolution or growth of integral conscious (God as all in all) from ethnocentric thinking that divides people into tribes to a new tier of thinking that has eyes to see human identity as universal.

The global conversation is happening and synergy groups are formulating a new unitive narrative based on world-centric thinking. All fields of study are joining in and this has led to a movement of convergence. But does the Biblical Narrative affirm the principles being put forth by science, art, technology, economics, education and many more? Or do we water down the Biblical Narrative by proposing that God is in this new way of thinking? Today we discuss these questions further in order to see where we fit into an ever changing planet.  I believe we are on the cusp of an amazing breakthrough for a Narrative that is becoming of less and less interest to people.

This first episode in this series compares the current narrative of Integral Consciousness with the Biblical Narrative. There's a big discussion going on about the concept of convergence. More and more people are seeing something exciting amid the chaos. It seems that science, art, technology, education etc. are coming together to create a new unitive narrative. Amazing! Some 2,000 years ago the apostle John said that all nations would walk in the light of a New Jerusalem as a cataclysmic shift in cosmology moved humanity into a New Heaven and Earth. This is the space of convergence of all fields of study and experience.   #BiblicalNarrative #Theology #convergence #integral #cosmology #integraltheory #consciousness #spiritualawakening 

Presence is announcing our induction into Evolutionary Leaders. This is a big step forward in the acceptance and promotion of our integral approach to the Biblical Narrative. Evolutionary Leaders is a movement founded by Deepak Chopra, Maryanne Williamson, Deborah Moldow, Diane Williams and others as a subset of the Source of Synergy Foundation. Its purpose is to create Synergy Circles of leaders from many diverse fields. These prolific leaders, authors and media figures come from philosophy, wisdom traditions, business, eco systems, physics, biology, personal transformation, group transformation, technology, art, music and more. Please watch the video of my interview with Dr. Kurt Johnson on this amazing and dynamic movement across the planet and why Presence was invited to join these efforts. #EvolutionaryLeaders #KurtJohnson #DougKing #Integral #Cosmology #Theology #Spirituality #PostReligion

In this podcast I'm going to take an integral look at the role and function of disruption. I was inspired to talk about this as I read the book, “Rethinking Humanity” by James Arbib and Tony Seba. The same principles of disruption that were at work in the first century, cataclysmic end of one world and the manifestation of a new creation are now happening in these sectors, that at first glance may seem to have nothing to do with theology. But we see the principles of disruption as related to the evolution of human consciousness. Disruption is necessary to the creation of a much better world.

  We continue our global conversations with Deborah Muldow in this episode. Rev. Deborah Muldow has had an amazing journey from child TV actor to the Broadway stage to the United Nations and beyond. Deborah is founder of Garden of Light, a nonprofit for those aligned with emerging global spirituality.  Deborah served more than 20 years as representative to the United Nations group, “May Peace Prevail on Earth International.” She is also a founding member of the United Religions Initiative. She currently is director of Evolutionary Leaders, a project of the Source of Synergy Foundation. This group brings together visionaries from around the world committed to the acceleration of the conscious evolution of humanity. So you can see that our Presence connection with Deborah opens up a truly global conversation. It's time to take down the walls of religious separation and evolve into a new heaven and earth where the Spirit of God is the guiding principle of our identity. All of this is movement toward a greater manifestation of that which is all in all.  

If God is truly all in all we must seek the God in all people. For millennia people have sought to know the transcendent. We come from the Biblical narrative but that narrative was never meant to be hid under the form of the Christian religion. Christians talk to Christians. Denominations read books that are written for their denominations. All of this perpetuates division not dialog. You will hear the views of others and agree with some things and disagree with other things. But Presence is engaging our Biblical understandings to contribute to a global conversation. The first episode focuses on a new book by Dr. Elena Mustakova, “Global Unitive Healing.” I was invited to give the Presence view of this work as you will hear. I'm joined by Ken Wilber, Claudia Welss, Bob Atkinson and Nomi Naeem. Dr. Kurt Johnson is the moderator. #unitivehealing #GlobalUnitiveHealing #KenWilber #ClaudiaWelss #KurtJohnson

Do God experiences only happen to this who read the Bible? If Christology is Trans-form what about the role and function of narratives? If a narrative is trans-form it's about that to which the narrative points. The narrative points away from itself as Christ pointed away from himself and the Body pointed away from themselves—to GOD. I use the bible to show it's not about the bible—it's about that to which the bible points!

We are going into episode 2 of our series, “Christianity is Declining and It's About Time.” We continue our discussion around the statistics of this decline and the numerous podcasters, videos and groups who are deconstructing faith and religion. #Deconstructingfaith #DeconstructingReligion #Christianity #Eschatology #Churchstatistics #Religion #Churchmembership

We're setting the stage for all of the deconstruction conversations, podcasts and writing around the decline of Christianity. We are proposing that it's about time from multiple perspectives. We'll look at the historical times that got us to where we are today. We'll look at why the model of Spiral Dynamics is all about time. And we offer an alternative view to those who see this decline as a negative thing. We ask, “what if Christianity's decline is necessary for the understanding of Christology and universal God identity to move forward?” #Christianity #DeconstructingFaith #DeconstructingChristianity #Religion #Christology #BrianMcLaren #DianaButlerBass #TrippFuller Homebrewed Christianity Podcast (20 Years of Religious Decline) Article referenced: The End of Seminary Article referenced: US Church Membership Falls Below Majority For First Time

EPISODE 3 OF GLORIOUS FREEDOM In this 3rd episode of Glorious Freedom we conclude our thoughts on the life conditions of our time. We return to the Biblical Narrative as a guide for the challenges of growth into a new way of thinking and understanding. The first century of transformation was bringing about a new way of seeing God identity. But the glorious freedom that it promised came with a cost. Just as now, the first century followers experienced the emotions and feelings that came with putting the old to death in order to move into the new. We investigate their struggles with frustration, hopelessness, isolation, confusion and not knowing. The Narrative reveals how the chaos must precede the joy and peace to follow. #PostReligion #Christianity #Church #Freedom #God #Sacred #SpiritualConsciousness #Spirituality #SBNR #PostChristian

In episode 2 of Glorious Freedom I continue to look at our current life conditions in the numerous ways they compare with first century life conditions. Our life conditions create reactions and responses that produce feelings. So each episode is asking, “what are you feeling today?” The setting for the first century dealt with the transformation of the Ages meaning it was world changing. I'll give my views on why our time in history at the beginning of the 3rd millennium C.E. is nothing less. No matter what part of the globe you live on, you and I are experiencing the same challenges and feelings of change. This time of change is enormous because it presents the opportunity for an evolutionary leap in human understanding—even though it may seem to be the very opposite! #PostReligion #Christianity #Church #Freedom #God #Sacred #SpiritualConsciousness #Spirituality #SBNR #PostChristian

In this episode I want to talk with you about leaving the structure of religion. Humans have always experienced their beliefs in God(s) via external structures or sacred objects. Israel was warned many times about the problems with idols. The evolution of spiritual consciousness has also been tied to temples, shrines, cathedrals, mosques etc. For those coming out of Christianity as a religious identity the church building is a symbol of such structure. So let's start with this concept and investigate what the Narrative has to say that might guide us today.   #PostReligion #Christianity #Church #Freedom #God #Sacred #SpiritualConsciousness #Spirituality #SBNR #PostChristian

The Passion for For type 1s is ANGER. Type 1s are often called the Reformers and hold themselves to very high standards which is a good quality, right? SO…the deceitfulness of the passions is that it seems GOOD to be conscientious and ethical, with a strong sense of right and wrong. And being ANGRY goes against what seems to be GOOD. So they resist being angry. And when others don’t seem to hold the same standards of goodness then that anger that they resist builds. But 1s are even harder on themselves so that anger turns inward so often if they believe they haven’t lived up to their own standards. The relentless demand of the inner critic to be good and do good at all times and to set the standard for what is good, replaces personal needs and shuts down feelings which, if left unaddressed will come out in the form of resentment. Type 2s…The Passion is Pride …..This seems so opposite of what we see in type 2s who are so giving of their love, their time, knowing what everyone else needs. In fact, they are so focused on others that they take PRIDE in seeming to not have needs of their own. THEY see themselves as THE SOURCE of what others need. It seems GOOD to be so servant-hearted but when they resist acknowledging they have needs, having denied their own in service to others, they are actually denying others the gift of service. For type 3s the passion is Self-deceit or conforming to what they think is necessary to be SEEN as successful or WORTHY. 3s are often called “Shape shifters” because they will take on the role of what they think OTHERS want them to be. It seems GOOD to be success-driven and even GOOD to be adaptable but they resist resting in their authenticity and resist knowing they are fully loved apart from any external success. The passion of type 4 is Envy but this envy is a internal sense of a lack of being whole…like something about themselves is inherently missing. They tend to believe everyone else has that missing thing. They long for authenticity which leads to the desire to be unique because they actually believe they ARE unique because others have what they believe they are missing. 4s are SO in touch with this FEELING of deficiency that they seek value in an idealized external experiences or work or a relationship. It seems GOOD to BE AUTHENTIC and not conform but they resist knowing there’s nothing missing because they are so identified with that image. It becomes a never ending loop if left in an unhealthy stage. Type 5’s passion is AVARICE but in Enneagram language it is not a desire for obtaining money or possessions but of resources .They retreat inward and hoard their time and energy. This inward focus allows the Type Five ample time to focus on ideas and acquiring knowledge. That doesn’t seem like a negative thing, right? I mean…isn’t it GOOD to know what you’re talking about - to gain knowledge and to not just throw your time and energy away? It can be good for sure. BUT…they worry that if they share too much of themselves, they won’t have enough left. SO…in resisting connection by retreating inward, but it also builds a wall between them and others. As they pull back from external connections, they also become detached from their emotional self. The passion for type 6 is FEAR. They are sometimes referred to as THE LOYALISTS - great people to have on your team, right? Type 6s are so great at anticipating what could go wrong. They look for where danger could be lurking or what problems MIGHT occur at any time. We NEED these people who are cautious and security-oriented. If I’m going on a wilderness trek that’s who I want to go with! But they can become so focused on what could go WRONG that they become suspicious and filled with self-doubt. So what seems GOOD can be paralyzing. For Type 7s the passion is Gluttony. In this context it’s a almost insatiable craving to experience ALL THE THINGS. 7s see the positive in most things and are typically focused on being joyful and happy. 7s deepest fear is being trapped in emotional pain so they try to avoid anything that causes pain or sadness. In fact, they see their worth is in BEING the positive person. It seems GOOD to look for the positive, to be Joyful, to NOT dwell in pain. And so....they resist what is actually before them in the present and deny that they experience pain. This also makes them emotionally unavailable to anyone else who might need them in time of grief. And what happens? They disconnect from their heart and my body, rationalize away the pain and escape to a place in the future where there is no sadness. But that place doesn’t actually exist and instead of feeling FULL of all aspects of life, they are left feeling a hunger and emptiness through what appeared to be GOOD. Type 8s passion is called LUST which isn’t just about sexuality although it can include it. 8s have a desire for INTENSITY in whatever they do. They take the initiative and make things happen! They see the world as unjust and power imbalanced. So they feel they need to dominate so they are not controlled. They are the most assertive type in the enneagram. 8s want to be self-reliant, to prove their strength and resist weakness, to be important in their world. 8s are often referred to as THE PROTECTOR. They are often champions for the underdog. That sounds SO GOOD! But in their attempt to control and NOT BE controlled they lose touch with vulnerability. They can see it as weakness and so they resist letting their feelings be seen. Make no mistake, though…8s are very feeling people but keep up the powerful façade so they won’t be hurt. Type 9’s passion is called Sloth. So…what does ‘sloth’ mean in Enneagram language? It is sense of inertia to YOURSELF….a falling asleep to your OWN passions, abilities, desires, needs, and worth by merging with others. Why have type 9s been called the PEACEMAKERS? Because they strive to maintain peace both internally and externally. So, this means avoiding conflict at all costs! You will often read about type 9s’ desire for Peace and Harmony like they are one and the same. But they are not. I think that 9s - like all of us, actually, would love to live in HARMONY with the world but we settle for NO-CONFLICT. The tendency is to GO ALONG with others to avoid not having peace. So - where is the deceitfulness of Good here? Type 9s often make great mediators because they have an ability to see all sides of a situation. How great is that? They generally have a calming effect on people, they are usually non-judgmental, easy going. But, as we have quoted throughout this series, “what you resist not only persists, but grows stronger.” When you resist your own needs to accommodate others’ it will result in unhealthy relationships - maybe even a codependent relationship. Avoiding conflict with others keeps Nines from being fully present in relationships. Avoiding internal conflict leads to inertia and self-forgetting. When so much of their focus is on other’s then there isn’t a lot of energy to take care of your own. 9s can become passive-aggressive and resentment builds because they have so much to contribute to the world but taking on the role of THE PEACEMAKER keeps them from taking action on their own desires. Once again…this is the loop that we all get in when we don’t acknowledge our suffering. We are deceived into believing our GOOD WORKS will equal being LOVED. #Enneagram #EnneagramPassions #DeceitfulnessOfGood #SelfDeceit #Enneagram1 #Enneagram2 #Enneagram3 #Enneagram4 #Enneagram5 #Enneagram6 #Enneagram7 #Enneagram8 #Enneagram9  

As we continue to look at the deceitfulness of good through the enneagram perspectives we see how the passion, which comes from the latin word 'passeo' which means 'to suffer', of each type is tied to an attempt to resist the suffering by doing good. But, in the words of Carl Jung, what you resist not only persists, but will grow in size. When we resist confronting what makes us suffer it will only lead to deeper suffering, loss of self love and loss of relationships. In this episode we look at Enneagram types 4,5,6 and 8. We are saving types 7 and 9 for next week as those are our types and we'll explore how this journey has opened up such growth for ourselves, as individuals, as well as our marriage.

Denée and I continue our series on the “Deceitfulness of Good” coming from the perspective of the individual as understood through the use of the Enneagram. I really like the Enneagram as a way of understanding spiritual growth in every day life. If our study does not provide tools for looking inward at our own personal journey, we are not going to enjoy the fullness of life. I’ve learned a lot about myself through working with Denée and the Enneagram material. It’s also helped me understand where she’s coming from when we work through our life conditions. People look at the same things but often see something different. Our marriage has deepened greatly by constantly communicating, being honest with each other and showing respect for our differences. Along the way I have become less fearful of seeking out my areas of weakness and seeing new opportunities life more abundant. In this episode we began looking at each of the nine perspectives regarding our human desire to be loved and accepted. #Enneagram #IntegralTheory #Worldviews

We return to the podcast world today in a new series I’m doing with Denée! The topic is the Deceitfulness of Good. We’re approaching this subject from multiple perspectives. Denée will be coming form the 9 perspectives of the Enneagram and I will be coming from theology and world religion using the Spiral. The human being is so complex in our make up. We are the sum total of many different elements and life conditions. All of us experience transformation in some way every day of our lives. The past year has been challenging on many different levels. We will discuss the global human longing for moving from chaos to unity. All of our tools for transformation must include our individual and personal growth as well as our growth in relationships, groups and collectives. The more tools we have the more likely we can experience positive transformation no matter what challenges present themselves. #Enneagram #SpiralDynamics #Integral #UnityConsciousness #Transreligious #Spirituality #SpiritualButNotReligious #universalidentity #UniversalHumanity #Transformation

"The success of humanity's evolution will not be determined by "survival of the fittest," but by our own capacity to converge and unify" -- Pierre Teilhard de Chardin   Central to the integration theme of The Ambient Christ is harmonizing the creation/evolution stories together as one, (a) for future generations, (b) to round-out the gospel story by explaining the third (organic) nature of Christ in creation, and (c) for a futuristic vision of where history is headed in keeping with the biblical timeline toward the Omega Point of history (a Christogenesis). The chief contributor to this integral view was French paleontologist, theologian, and mystic Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, who saw evolution as including the rise of consciousness in progressive stages, unfolding from its elementary state embedded (incarnated) in the heart of matter, to its advancing rise in biological, psychological (mind) and finally spiritual form over deep time. According to Joe Masterleo, author of Ambient, such a global advance in consciousness replicates the unfolding of same in unhindered human psycho-spiritual development (see 1 Cor. 15). Below find two short video clips on the significance of Teilhard's work and vision, found here and here. More than seventy years after his death, this gestating global synthesis is now birthing as Teilhard envisioned, headed in the direction of a third eye (spiritual) seeing necessary to bridge multiple splits and divisions at all levels toward a unitive global consciousness. (For those wishing to explore Teilhard's contributions in greater detail, there are corresponding YouTube videos of greater length that can be readily referenced online.) Teilhard anticipated the advance of the highest levels of human thought and consciousness converging in the direction of a new and inclusive synthesis. This Spirit-generated synthesis will result in the natural selection of a new human phylum (remnant) that has overcome its defunct ancestral habit of dualistic thought and perception. For an explanation on the faulty human tendency to think and perceive dualistically, and the necessity of overcoming the intensity of this subtle error(sin), see two video clips on same by Richard Rohr, here and here. Upon completing the unitive synthesis in his book, Joe extends Teilhard's vision by anticipating what this new, totally spiritualized phylum of humans will look like as homo elektor or homo universalis, evolved light beings and light workers, co-creating a new world with God "on earth as it is in heaven.    #science, #evolution, #spirituality, #christ, #theology, #creation, #integral, #cosmos, #universalism

Both science and world religions agree that a unified field exists in the cosmos that holds everything together. In fact, the word Universe means “a reality turning around on one thing. Yet paradoxically, both disciplines offer different stories about the mystery of that one thing, the Creation Story (religion) and the Evolution Story (science). In a divided, post-modern world of disjointed stories, a novel, unifying story is in order. A truly integral story must be internally consistent, replicate itself at all cosmic scales, join inner/outer worlds in a practical synthesis, and offer a future-looking global vision for the planet. In “The Ambient Christ,” the author proposes that the Creation and Evolution stories are competing partial truths joined by a universal element, or constant (singularity) common to them both – light. Einstein and Tesla revealed that everything that appears solid in the world is light energy in a state of vibration, abuzz with pulses, oscillations, wave motions, rhythms, and cycles in a vast continuum of interconnected energy fields – all defined by the vibration and frequency of light (electromagnetism). Appearing in a countless variety of created forms, and cloaked in a variety of cultural beliefs, interpretations and practices, the author details how light is the single substance reconciling them all. Chief among the geometric forms found at all scales of the cosmos is the spinning, spiraling torus. The taproot of all forms, the torus is the underlying structure of every atom, molecule, cell, crystal, plant, animal, human, planet, solar system, and galaxy. Donut shaped, the torus is creation’s chief cornerstone, whose center point is a singularity, a black hole or zero-point (ZPF) that connects the Infinite Invisible (Spirit) with the space-time field everywhere. Such doubles as the biblical definition of the Universal Christ, the chief cornerstone “in whom all things consist and cohere” (Matt.21:42-44, Col.1:17). This seamless nexus joining Spirit and matter is the creative source of limitless growth, potential, information, inspiration, generative reorganization, and stabilization – an apt job description of how and by what energy and configurations divinity works and is co-present in all things. See working models of the torus and toroidal flow IN THIS VIDEO.    

In episode 2 we begin to dig deeper into the common threads and connections between science and spirituality. Here are some thoughts from author Joe Masterleo: From small beginnings, God makes things that make other, more complex things. Like a tiny mustard seed, all created things uncoil and evolve from an invisible dynamic center point at their innermost. Appearing as if out of nowhere (ex nihilo) from empty space, atoms group into molecules which form cells, which in turn form tissues, organs and eventually organisms. Among the universal images cast onto the field of matter from the quantum world (Spirit) is the spiral motif. Spirals are found at all scales in the universe, from quark to quasar. The spiral is a complex vortex that twists and rolls the stuff of creation from a sub-atomic zero-point at its tightly packed center, uncoiling from there like a scroll. Graphic designer Cristobal Vila has created powerfully animated images of same set to music in two awe-inspiring videos. The first is “The Amazing Fibonacci Spiral/Sequence,” found here. In the second, “Infinite Patterns” found here, note how the DNA molecule spins and whirls around an invisible axis the way plant tendrils coil around a garden stake. DNA and RNA contain electromagnetic feedback loops from the zero-point quantum (invisible) order we call God. All things large and small are created from the magnetic still-point of an invisible axis at their center (axis mundi) impressed upon the canvas of space-time by light. Quantum mechanics supports the notion that God is light, the invisible origin and substance of all created form. 

This is the first episode in our series and I’m very excited to explore an integral approach to this subject. We begin by talking with Joe Masterleo, author of “Ambient Christ.” His book looks at the ways both science and spirituality are converging. The book goes in depth on models of science that point to a universal field that holds all things together. This, of course, is what we see in terms of God or Spirit in the Biblical Narrative. There is evidence of an All in All in both fields of study. In this episode you will hear Joe explain how his journey led him to this understanding. We’ll talk about the major elements of the book and set the stage for the next few episodes that will take a deep dive into scientific models and the quantum realm.

The Trinity is at the heart of most Christian denominations. In fact, it is one of their most important creeds or doctrines. But humans are becoming tired of religious dogma and creed. This approach to Christology is no longer satisfying to people and we’ll explain why. An integral approach to Christology always recognizes its two-fold nature. Christology is both the individual and the collective Christ. What you say about Jesus as Christ must be said about the Body or Collective as Christ. The nature of the head cannot be different than the nature of the body. We then ask the question, “what are people hungry for today?” Are they wanting to hear more about the Trinity in your neighborhood? Christology has a specific and unique role and function in the Narrative. It is Trans-Form! People are more hungry than ever for change. We want to see so many things move forward to better places. This requires transformation. And transformation is most powerful when seen as the action of God/Spirit. So join me as I talk about these most important and pressing issues of our times on the planet. It’s all part of a global conversation for a new earth.