Podcast appearances and mentions of John B Cobb

We just lost John Cobb months before his 100th birthday. In this episode, Philip Clayton joins me for a conversation to celebrate his life and thought. My relationship with John started as the author of a book that changed my life (God & the World). Then, I got to take a summer school class with him in Claremont before Divinity School. When I moved to LA for my PhD he invited me and my family to lunch. Over the years in SoCal we had many meals and conversations together. We have recorded over 30 hours of conversation and taught two classes together. Beyond being a creative, brilliant, and ground-breaking scholar, John was a deeply passionate and compassionate disciple of Jesus. When friends ask about his picture with me, I say "That's John freaking Cobb, and he's my Gandalf." The last time we got to hang he introduced me as his friend (and said this in front of a bunch of people). I recently edited a book of John Cobb's best theological writing from across his career, including some excellent introductory chapters for people new to Process theology. Check it out. You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube Dr. John B. Cobb, Jr. taught theology at the Claremont School of Theology from 1958 to 1990. In 2014 he became the first theologian elected to the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences for his interdisciplinary work in ecology, economics, and biology. Previous Episodes with John Cobb Why Stay Christian? John Cobb turns 97 Secularizing Christianity JC on JC: a conversation with John Cobb and Tom Oord on Jesus Why Whitehead? John Cobb goes to #TheologyBeerCamp LIVE from Vancouver with Sallie McFague and John Cobb How Modern Metaphysics Killed God Have Yourself a John Cobb Advent!  Christology and Process Theology Why Metaphysics Matters Prayer & Process with John Cobb Theology for the People: Keller, Cobb and God Lexington Theological Seminary is the sponsor for this Episode. Lexington Theological Seminary is a pioneer in online theological education. Both the Doctoral and Masters programs are designed with the flexibility and contextual focus needed for the working student. You can learn more by heading here. Here are a few episodes with a couple of their Profs Leah Schade & Wilson Dickinson: Faith During an Ecological Collapse Leah Schade: Preaching in a time of Crisis from Corona to Climate Wilson Dickinson: Faith After a Neo-liberal Compliant Church _____________________ Join my Substack - Process This! Join our class - TRUTH IN TOUGH TIMES: Global Voices of Liberation Spend a week with Tripp & Andrew Root in Bonhoeffer's House in Berlin this June as part of the Rise of Bonhoeffer Travel Learning Experience. INFO & DETAILS HERE Get access to over 45 of our online classes at TheologyClass.com Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. John B. Cobb, Jr. The Economics of Nuclear War Not since the early 1980s have we collectively worried about nuclear war. Today the war in Ukraine rages on and the US foreign policy has not excluded the potential of nuclear weapons against both Russia and China. . Meanwhile, the oceans are heating up, species are dying out at record rates, and the economies of the world are in jeopardy. . Are we at the dawn of a nuclear, or, for that matter, environmental holocaust? Is there any good news on the horizon? What can we, as business leaders, do to make the world safer for us all? . We will endeavor to answer those questions in surprising ways as we sit down with the author of more than 50 books; an American theologian, philosopher, and a leader in the environmental movement. . is the preeminent scholar in process philosophy and process theology. Dr. Cobb's transdisciplinary approach integrates insights from many different study areas and brings different specialized disciplines into fruitful communication. He has influenced various disciplines, including theology, ecology, economics, biology, and social ethics. . In 1971, he wrote the first single-author book on environmental ethics, Is It Too Late? A Theology of Ecology, which argued for the relevance of religious thought in approaching the ecological crisis.[9]  . Dr. Cobb is the co-founder and current co-director of the Center for Process Studies in Claremont, California. In 2014 Cobb was elected to the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He recently founded the Living Earth Movement and is writing his newest book, Is International Cooperation Possible? . Website: https://LivingEarthMovement.eco Twitter: https://twitter.com/LivingEarthMvmt . Part 2) China & US: Environmental Collaboration .

Dr. John B. Cobb, Jr. The Economics of Nuclear War Not since the early 1980s have we collectively worried about nuclear war. Today the war in Ukraine rages on and the US foreign policy has not excluded the potential of nuclear weapons against both Russia and China. . Meanwhile, the oceans are heating up, species are dying out at record rates, and the economies of the world are in jeopardy. . Are we at the dawn of a nuclear, or, for that matter, environmental holocaust? Is there any good news on the horizon? What can we, as business leaders, do to make the world safer for us all? . We will endeavor to answer those questions in surprising ways as we sit down with the author of more than 50 books; an American theologian, philosopher, and a leader in the environmental movement. . is the preeminent scholar in process philosophy and process theology. Dr. Cobb's transdisciplinary approach integrates insights from many different study areas and brings different specialized disciplines into fruitful communication. He has influenced various disciplines, including theology, ecology, economics, biology, and social ethics. . In 1971, he wrote the first single-author book on environmental ethics, Is It Too Late? A Theology of Ecology, which argued for the relevance of religious thought in approaching the ecological crisis.[9]  . Dr. Cobb is the co-founder and current co-director of the Center for Process Studies in Claremont, California. In 2014 Cobb was elected to the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He recently founded the Living Earth Movement and is writing his newest book, Is International Cooperation Possible? . Website: https://LivingEarthMovement.eco Twitter: https://twitter.com/LivingEarthMvmt . Part 1) Free Thinking as Modern Heresy

In this episode, Dr. Oord discusses a new book project compiling numerous unpublished theological essays written by John B. Cobb Jr.  The new book, entitled Selected Writings from a Christian Theologian, is edited by Tripp Fuller and Wm Andrew Schwartz and is one of 24 books/authors featured at the upcoming International Open and Relational Theology Conference Online (ORTLine24), a 3 day online conference taking place February 22-24.For information and to register for this annual conference visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ortline-2024-tickets-755753899257

Dr. Oord discusses renowned theologian John B. Cobb Jr's new and most personal book, Confessions in which Cobb gives his most deeply personal beliefs full voice and exression.Confessions is now available for purchase:https://www.amazon.com/Confessions-John-B-Cobb-Jr/dp/1940447607

An amazing lecture by the legendary truth seeker David Ray Griffin. David was an American professor of philosophy of religion and theology and a 9/11 truther. Along with John B. Cobb, Jr., he founded the Center for Process Studies in 1973, a research center of Claremont School of Theology that promotes process thought. Griffin published numerous books about the September 11 attacks, claiming that elements of the Bush administration were involved. An advocate of the controlled demolition conspiracy theory, he was a founder member of Scholars for 9/11 Truth.Email us: thefacthunter@mail.com

American theologian, philosopher, and environmentalist John B. Cobb talks about his half-century long commitment to the environment, and environmental ethics, his life long work as a theologian and philosopher. He talks about the recent popularity of his ideas in China and why, at 97, he has cofounded the Living Earth Movement to inspire global cooperation for the sake of all life on our planet--with a particular focus on the geopolitical relationship between the United States and China-a topic of burning importance following  the diplomatic fallout of Nancy Pelosi's recent visit to Taiwan--and China's decision to withdraw from vital climate talks.John B. Cobb an American theologian, philosopher, and environmentalist and the author of more than fifty books. A key idea at the heart of Cobb's work is his emphasis on ecological interdependence—the idea that every part of the ecosystem is reliant on all the other parts. In 1971, he wrote one of the first books in environmental ethics, Is It Too Late? A Theology of Ecology. He is co-founder of the Living Earth Movement whose mission is to inspire global cooperation for the sake of all life on our planet, beginning with the United States and China. 

Look around. The signs of climate change are all around and it looks ugly. Can it be mitigated? We'll talk to Dr. John B. Cobb about his upcoming book, “Is International Cooperation Possible? – A Bold Appeal For A Living Earth”. John is a leader in the formation of the Living Earth Movement as well as one of the foremost process thinkers of our time. Website: https://livingearthmovement.eco/

Look around. The signs of climate change are all around and it looks ugly. Can it be mitigated? We’ll talk to Dr. John B. Cobb about his upcoming book, “Is International Cooperation Possible? – A Bold Appeal For A Living Earth”. John is a leader in the formation of the Living Earth Movement as well as one of the foremost process thinkers of our time.

Look around. The signs of climate change are all around and it looks ugly. Can it be mitigated? We'll talk to Dr. John B. Cobb about his upcoming book, “Is International Cooperation Possible? – A Bold Appeal For A Living Earth”. John is a leader in the formation of the Living Earth Movement as well as one of the foremost process thinkers of our time. Website: https://livingearthmovement.eco/

In this ClimateGenn episode, I am speaking with the theologian, environmentalist and philosopher, and author of over 50 books, Dr John B Cobb, about his efforts to bring into being a Living Earth Movement. [Join ClimateGenn for early episodes + extra climate focussed content] The Living Earth Movement asks us all to look at how we can reshape humanity to act as part of the ecosphere and not against it. A major part of John's mission is to call on the US and China to stop competing and start working together as leaders in the change we need to end the destruction of our planet. John implores all of us as individuals to think about the way we live and not take anything for granted, especially now that we are committed to devastating impacts from the ecological destruction we are bringing on ourselves. The Living Earth Movement (livingearthmovement.eco) was founded in February, this year at the same time that John turned 97 years old, clearly demonstrating that it is never too late to take action to strive for a better world for all ecology. Action and activism are hot topics at the moment and in the next episode I am speaking Sunny Morgan in South Africa about a new campaign called Cancel The Debt - a call from thousands of activists in the global south demanding the global north cancel the very debts that are preventing them rising out of poverty and accelerating a green transition. Thank you for listening. Please subscribe and share on Youtube, or any major podcast channel. If you want to access episodes early, and gain access to unseen interviews, please consider becoming a member on Patreon where more climate emergency interviews and insights will be posted in the months to come. Thank you.

John B. Cobb Jr. (pictured) from the U.S.-based Living Earth Movement has lived through wars and good times and now advocates, in whatever way he can, for peace and care for the Earth. He has personally written to both the leaders of America and China and with, he believes/hopes, some success. John has twice been a guest on Climate Conversations and on both occasions, our conversation has been cut short by technical problems, and you can hear our first chat here - "Interview: Dr John B Cobb sees a safe future in cooperation and collaboration". Enjoy "Music for a Warming World". Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/climateconversations --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/robert-mclean/message

Dr John B. Cobb (pictured) is the prime mover of The Living Earth Movement and wants all of us to do what we can to inspire the United States, China, and other nations to reduce conflicts and work together to address the ecological crisis, urgently and dramatically. The Living Earth Movement website says: "What can we do to lay the foundations for ecological civilization?For this movement to succeed, it must be organic and locally-led." This interview was cut short when the technology failed and so part two of the Dr John B Cobb interview will appear early next month (June). Enjoy "Music for a Warming World". Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/climateconversations --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/robert-mclean/message

Almost Centenarian John B. Cobb, Theologian, Philosopher & Environmentalist, joins us to discuss the Living Earth Movement and how it may be our last & best chance to save ourselves.   But first, we'll be speaking with Cynthia Mendes, candidate for Lt. Governor of Rhode Island!   Check out our Patreon for more! ☀️ patreon.com/JENerationalChange  ☀️ WEBSITE: jenerationalchange.com ☀️ TWITTER & INSTAGRAM: @JENFL23

Nothing is so intertwined with human success and folly as economics. The economy, for better or for worse, drives much of our fate from our household budget to our national policies to the outbreak of war. But economic activity also has profound effects on the environment and a close inspection of economics opens the question of whether humans can live sustainably on the only planet we have. The field of economics that focuses on sustainability and the environmental costs of economic activity is ecological economics. With us to discuss this field is one of its founders, Herman Daly. Herman received a B.A. in economics from Rice University in 1960 and a PhD in from Vanderbilt University in 1967. He was a professor of economics at Louisiana State University until 1988, and then served as senior economist in the environment department of the World Bank until 1994. He then joined the faculty at the University of Maryland in the School of Public Affairs. Herman is the author of over 100 articles in professional journals, as well as many books, including: Toward a Steady-State Economy (1973), Steady-State Economics (1977), Valuing the Earth (1993), Beyond Growth (1996), Ecological Economics and the Ecology of Economics (1999), Ecological Economics: Principles and Applications (2004), and Ecological Economics and Sustainable Development (2007). He is co-author with theologian John B. Cobb, Jr. of the award-winning book, For the Common Good (1989). He also co-founded the journal Ecological Economics and the International Society of Ecological Economics. Herman has received too many awards to list here, but they include Sweden's Honorary Right Livelihood Award, the Heineken Prize for Environmental Science from the Netherlands, the Sophie Prize for Environment and Development from Norway, the Medal of the Presidency of the Italian Republic, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Council for Science and the Environment, and the Blue Planet Prize.

John Cobb, the greatest living theologian, returns to the podcast for a birthday pod. What an honor, treat, and thrill! I hope you all enjoy this one half as much as I did :) Dr. John B. Cobb, Jr. taught theology at the Claremont School of Theology from 1958 to 1990. In 2014 he became the first theologian elected to the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences for his interdisciplinary work in ecology, economics, and biology. Books by Cobb that come up in the episode Salvation: Jesus's Mission and Ours Christ in a Pluralistic Age Process Theology Organic Marxism: An Alternative to Capitalism and Ecological Catastrophe A Christian Natural Theology, Second Edition: Based on the Thought of Alfred North Whitehead God and the World Jesus Abba: The God Who Has Not Failed Romans Is It Too Late?: A Theology of Ecology Theological Reminiscences Spiritual Bankruptcy: A Prophetic Call to Action Sustaining the Common Good: A Christian Perspective on the Global Economy For The Common Good: Redirecting the Economy toward Community, the Environment, and a Sustainable Future   Previous Visits from John Cobb John Cobb: Secularizing Christianity John Cobb: Christology and Process Theology JC on JC: a conversation with John Cobb and Tom Oord on Jesus #BarrelAged A SPECIAL INVITATION from John Cobb: Why Whitehead? John Cobb goes to #TheologyBeerCamp Tag-Team Preaching with John Cobb @TheLoft_LA LIVE from Vancouver with Sallie McFague and John Cobb How Modern Metaphysics Killed God with John Cobb #FANiac Have Yourself a John Cobb Advent! #FANiac #FANiac Alert… Why Metaphysics Matters with John Cobb Fully Human, Fully Divine, & All Process! Christology with John Cobb Prayer & Process with John Cobb Theology for the People: Keller, Cobb and God   Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roland Faber was born in Austria. He received his M.A., Ph.D., and Habilitation at the University of Vienna. He occupies the Kilsby Family/John B. Cobb, Jr., Professor of Process Studies at Claremont School of Theology, and serves as Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Claremont Graduate University. He is the Founder and Executive Director of the Whitehead Research Project, and Co-Director of the Center for Process Studies. Research and publications encompass the fields of Whitehead's philosophy, Process Philosophy and Process Theology; (De)Constructive Theology; Poststructuralism (Gilles Deleuze); Transreligious Discourse (epistemology of Religious Relativity and Unity) and interreligious applications (e.g., Christianity, Buddhism, Baha'i Faith); Comparative Philosophy and Mysticism (Meister Eckhart, Nicolas of Cusa, Ibn 'Arabi), and Theopoetics (an approach to post-structuralist and process theology, which addresses the liberating necessity of multiplicity). More information on his work can be found on his webpage:http://faber.whiteheadresearch.org.

It's not every day that you get to sit down and talk with a living legend. This week Josh had the privilege of being joined by Dr. John B. Cobb. John Cobb is a theologian, philosopher, and environmentalist. Cobb is often regarded as the preeminent scholar in the field of process philosophy and theology. We cover a variety of things from interfaith studies to the journey of faith to the process theology and philosophy. This was a fascinating conversation with a living legend of the faith. Enjoy.  RESOURCES: Cobb Institute Website John B. Cobb Author Page    

No, the Bible is not an infallible book of rules; but, yes, it can guide a life. No, God is not an all-controlling power; but, yes, God is a companion to the world’s joys and sufferings, and an indwelling lure to radical love. No, Jesus is not a man to be worshipped as an infallible deity; but, yes, he is a savior for the world, in whose compassionate way of living we can share, and who appeared after his death to his disciples, giving hope for all. These are among the ideas we hear from John B. Cobb, an American theologian, philosopher, and environmentalist, known as the preeminent proponent of process philosophy and theology. In this Conversation in Process, John Cobb, age 95, shares his journey in faith with Jay McDaniel and, along the way, reveals a poignant life in process.

Dr. John B. Cobb Jr. is the greatest living interpreter of Alfred North Whitehead and he is here to tell you Why Whitehead! In this special episode you will heard a powerful invitation from JC himself to join our upcoming online extravaganza – Probing PROCESS & REALITY. This 6 week online pop-up learning community is going… Read more about A SPECIAL INVITATION from John Cobb: Why Whitehead?

Our first Process Theology episode is finally here!  We know many of our listeners have been waiting to hear more about this particular theology that was introduced to the Irenicast audience by Bonnie in episode #136.  We expect there will be more conversations on this topic to follow. Because, in this episode, we just dip our toes into the realm of possibilities embedded in process thought and theology. As you’ll hear, Process Theology emerges out of Alfred North Whitehead’s metaphysics of reality as process which fundamentally contradicts reality as substance.  This creates an opportunity for a shift in the way we see God. What if God’s everlastingness is rooted in eternal evolution/change? What if the stars are not aligned according to God’s purposes but instead they are in constant flux in relationship to God’s and each other’s processes of becoming? What if God’s love for the world is not a controlling love but a vulnerable, receptive love that delights in each one’s process of becoming?  If we follow the “what ifs”, everything changes. You decide if it's for the better.  The episode finishes by engaging in a roller coaster of a round of Would You Rather.  Prepare to get weird and thoughtful with a segment that quickly goes off the rails, finds a new track and finally ends with a return to the original track.  If that sounds confusing, it is. But also super fun! Conversation on Process Theology (01:20) Would You Rather Segment (50:31) RELEVANT LINKS From Our Conversation on Process Theology The Diversity of Christian Theologies – What Straight Old White Guys Don't Tell You – 136 (Irenicast Episode Introducing Process Theology) Theism (Theological Term) Process Theology The Creation of Adam - Sistine Chapel's ceiling John Shelby "Jack" Spong (Bishop of the Episcopal Church) Process and Reality by Alfred North Whitehead  (Book - Amazon Affiliate Link) Heraclitus (pre-Socratic Greek philosopher) Newtonian Physics or Classical Mechanics Watchmaker Analogy or Watchmaker Argument (Teleological Argument) Charles Hartshorne (American philosopher who concentrated primarily on the philosophy of religion and metaphysics) On the Mystery: Discerning Divinity in Process by Catherine Keller (Book - Amazon Affiliate Link) 1 John 1 (CEB) Rob Bell Everything is Connected -- Here's How: | Tom Chi | TEDxTaipei (YouTube Video) Process Theology by John B. Cobb (Book - Amazon Affiliate Link) From a Broken Web by Catherine Keller (Book - Amazon Affiliate Link) Center for Process Studies Claremont Institute for Process Studies From Our Would You Rather Segment (This segment has also been played on episodes #011, #053, #080) Efforts to Impeach Donald Trump (Wiki) SUPPORT THE SHOW Thank you for listening to Irenicast!  We are so appreciative of those who take the time to thoughtfully listen to our show.  If you find value in what we provide there are a number of ways you can support our work. Contact us!  Any feedback from our listeners is so valuable to us.  You can contact us through any of the ways listed at the bottom of the show notes, or leave a rating/review on your preferred listening platform. You can also help support the show financially by donating through PayPal or going to irenicast.com/support to do your Amazon shopping.  This will cost you nothing, but Amazon will give a portion of the proceeds to the show. IRENCAST HOSTS Rev. Allen O’Brien, MAT | co-founder & co-host | allen@irenicast.com Allen is a venerator of emotionality. He thrives on education, peace, and interconnectedness— passions which permeate his work as pastor, writer, lover of all the things, and occasional vegan. You can connect with Allen (@RevAllenOB) on Facebook,Twitter, Instagram, GoodReads, & LinkedIn.   Rev. Bonnie Rambob, MDiv | co-host | bonnie@irenicast.com As a pastor, activist, educator, mom, and possibility artist, Bonnie invites people into newness. She loves climbing trees, knitting and hiking while conversing with friends about smashing the patriarchy. You can connect with Bonnie on Facebook and at Parkside Community Church-UCC   Pastor Casey Tinnin, MTS | co-host | casey@irenicast.com Preacher, protester, everybody’s pastor. Casey geeks out on comic books, talking theology, politics, and sex.  He’s most free when he is dancing, cooking with his partner Jose, or walking their dog Kole. You can follow Casey on Twitter and Facebook, or you can check out his blog The Queerly Faithful Pastor or loomisucc.org   Jeff Manildi | co-founder, producer & co-host | jeff@irenicast.com Chaser of tales and climax initiator, Jeff rises to the occasion, edging to a satisfying completion. Get your mind out of the gutter, we’re talking story, not sex. Jeff expresses his creativity by curating diverse ideas, energies and people. Follow Jeff (@JeffManildi) on facebook, instagram & twitter.  You can also listen to Jeff’s other podcast Divine Cinema.   Rev. Rajeev Rambob, MCL | co-host | rajeev@irenicast.com Rajeev loves thoughtful and provocative conversation over food and drink, most often with his family. He’s a loyal, smart-ass friend who believes in the power of spiritual journeys. Feminist, Anti-colonial, Process Theology-nerd.   You can follow Rajeev on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION Join our progressive Christian conversations on faith and culture by interacting with us through the following links: Read Us on our blog Irenicon Email Us at podcast@irenicast.com Follow Us on Twitter Like Us on Facebook Listen & Subscribe to Us on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Android, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, Spreaker, Pandora and SoundCloud Speak to Us on our Feedback Page and the Post Evangelical Facebook Group See Us on Instagram Support Us on Amazon Love Us? CREDITS Intro and Outro music created by Mike Golin. This post may contain affiliate links.  An Irenicon is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

Download In this special interview, Joe and Kyle sit down with Theologian, John B. Cobb Jr., referred to as the Godfather of American Theology. They recorded with John at the conference they all attended in California, on how exceptional experience can help save the world. They cover a range of topics inspired from Alfred Whitehead’s teachings and the promising applications of Whitehead’s thoughts in the area of ecological civilization and environmental ethics pioneered by John Cobb Jr. 3 Key Points: Process thinking argues that reality consists of processes rather than material objects, and that thinking this way is similar to the teachings of a psychedelic experience. It is hoped for and believed that exceptional experiences can help save the world. Whitehead's process philosophy argues that 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 consequences for the world around us. Certain curriculum, education systems and Universities are not helping us to see the value of our world. A full systems change is needed and hopefully psychedelics, exceptional experiences and process thinking can help with that. Support the show Patreon Leave us a review on iTunes Share us with your friends – favorite podcast, etc Join our Facebook group - Psychedelics Today group – Find the others and create community. Navigating Psychedelics Trip Journal                                               Integration Workbook             Show Notes Process Thought Alfred North Whitehead The senses heighten connection, but we shouldn't rely only senses for our experiences The label that can we give to the 'most fundamental relationship' is any 'happening' What's happening when we listen to music? We aren't hearing one tone after another tone, we are hearing the music as a whole piece Whitehead calls the fundamental relationship of inclusion, a 'prehension' How one moment leads into another moment If the world is made up of prehensions, then in any given moment, what is prehended? The boundary between conscious and unconscious experience is fuzzy. Whitehead calls the relatedness to the past, physical prehensions. But we also prehend, potentialities. It is being experienced as potential not as actual. Whitehead thinks this is present in very elementary matters. Whitehead says that waves of vibration are a very large part of the world we live in Whitehead believes that without some type of variation from moment to moment, that nothing really happens He wrote a lot on relativity and very little about quantum David Bohm He was very process oriented He wanted to change our language into using words that mean something is ‘happening’ versus using nouns that say that something ‘is’ “If you only have potentiality and too little grounded in actuality, you better be careful. If you don't have the potentiality, then you live in a deterministic universe” - John “Does Whitehead relate the potentialities to his ideas about intuition?” Intuition can be of both pure potentials and about other people A lot of paranormal experiences are not supernatural Just because someone has seen something or done something, it doesn't mean that it's true. There is plenty of illusion. [caption id="attachment_3637" align="alignleft" width="300"] T-shirts available on our store[/caption] Complex Societies An important feature of Whitehead is to distinguish complex society Panexperientialism is ‘the view that if evolution of humans goes all the way down to subatomic particles, then human ‘experience’ by deduction must have originated at the subatomic level, which implies that not just humans but individual cells, individual molecules, individual atoms, and even individual subatomic particles, such as photons or electrons, incorporate a capacity for ‘feeling’ or degree of subjective inferiority.' There might be in-deterministic qualities in individual entities From a Whiteheadian point of view, contemporary physics would be almost universally valid if the entire world were made up entirely of physical feelings, feelings of actual occasions, ‘what is’. “What would be opposed to physical feelings?” Conceptual feelings, feelings of potentials He thinks there are feelings of potential in every actual occasion “The attempt to make standard physics apply to the quantum world are a total failure.” -John “The attempt to make standard physics apply to the human experience is the task of the Neuroscientists. They think that the subjective experience has a causal role to play in the world.” -John It's more committed to metaphysics than it is to empirical study “Do you think what's going on in the mind, say neurotransmitters or electrical activity firing, that is creating this reality, or the experience, is having an influence on the neurochemistry?” John says that the psyche plays a role Scientists who are busy engineering genetic change, tell us purpose plays no role in genetic change “What do you mean by no purpose in genetic change?” Purpose cannot have a causal effect in the Cartesian world They say ‘I know that my purposes are completely the result of mechanical relations between my neurons’ “Could you elaborate on the definition of actual occasions?” The psyche is a consistent series of actual occasions Its what kinds of things are in and of themselves, ‘actual’ It's in the distinction of things that can be divided up into other entities An actual occasion cannot be divisible into other actual occasions Like an atom, it is divisible, but dividing it does not keep it from actually existing For Whitehead, an actual occasion is the basic unit of actuality Its an alternative to a ‘substance’ way of viewing When we look at other living beings, animals with brains and such, we assume they have a psychic life John thinks that plants have some kind of unified experience Some people have a feeling about a tree, that it's not just a bunch of cells interacting “It's hard for me to think that a stone is an experiencing entity, I think the molecules though are.” - John “I’m sure that cells are influenced by the emotions of people” -John Having a particular conceptuality does not define how things are going to map out “This world view seems very psychedelic.” Among quantum physicists, Whitehead’s name is known and appreciated. It may mean that physics as a whole might adopt an organic model than just mechanistic one The common sense in this is that our knowledge of each other is not just in visual and auditory clues, but people have been told so long that it is “What else would it be informed by if not by visual and auditory cues?” Just by our immediate experience of each other If you go into a room, there is an immediate climate there. You can tell when you walk into a room full of angry people. Ivan Illich's Book on Deschooling Society (Open Forum S) “What would be your vision of an education system if its not working right now?” The one that Matthew Segal teaches in CIIS are examples of a different education system The Great Books program needs revision. It's only been the great western books. John hopes they have incorporated great books from other parts of the world There are parts of different educational systems that are better than what we have “If I had an opportunity to create a school, it would be a school that teaches ecological civilization because a healthy human survival is a goal that ought not to be regarded as an eccentric and marginal one, but regarded as what all we human beings ought to be getting behind collectively, together. And if you have a school for that, the curriculum would be quite varied, but the production and consumption and sharing of food should be a very central part of it.” -John Capitalism has ignored much of reality John says creating a curriculum is not his role, his role is deconstruction because he thinks what is going on now is absurd “Enlightenment is the worst curse of humanity, we have been enlightened into not believing all kinds of things. The disappearance of subject from the world of actuality. If that's enlightenment, then I don't want to be enlightened.” - John Language John thinks we need a lot of reflection on the language we use The questions that are the most important are the ones rarely asked “One of my favorite parts of Whitehead is the reframing of language, our words carry inertia that we are not aware of” - Joe Whitehead Word Book: A Glossary with Alphabetical Index to Technical Terms in Process and Reality (Toward Ecological Civilzation) (Volume 8) The reason there are 36 universities for process studies and 0 in the United States, is because in the US, process isn't as fundamental as substance Kyle Shares his Near Death Experience Kyle got in a snowboarding accident, ruptured his spleen and lost about 5 pints of blood It became mystical when he was in the MRI machine and he was standing on one side of the room with the doctors and in his body at the same time There was an orb of light, and an external voice or ‘experience’ that said “you're going home, back to the stars where you came from, this is just a transition, the more you relax into it, the easier it will be.” Kyle describes it as a blissful experience, but he had a hard time integrating it back into his life. Whitehead has done a remarkable job to describe process, and exceptional experience and putting a language to it Joe says that Whitehead’s work has helped put the psychedelic experience into words “Do you recall the first time you heard something that made you interested in the impact of psychedelics?” Lenny Gibson was probably one of the first people that opened his eyes to the positive uses “Today, it would be remarkable if 10% of the world's population survived without civilization” -John He is confident that there are good things that come from psychedelics He says Whitehead has made him understand the changes that might make us behave in responsible ways, so he doesn't feel the necessity of having a psychedelic experiences “What kind of changes?” We have to change from our substance thinking to process thinking We need to shift from thinking that every individual is self-contained, we are all products of our relationships with each other. In the Whiteheadian view, any individual is, the many becoming one. To be an individual is being a part of everything. Links Website Process Theology: An Introductory Exposition Other books by John Cobb Jr. A Christian Natural Theology, Second Edition: Based on the Thought of Alfred North Whitehead Jesus' Abba: The God Who Has Not Failed Grace & Responsibility: A Wesleyan Theology for Today For Our Common Home: Process-Relational Responses to Laudato Si' About John B. Cobb Jr. John B. Cobb, Jr., Ph.D, is a founding co-director of the Center for Process Studies and Process & Faith. 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: Christ in a Pluralistic Age; God and the World; For the Common Good. Co-winner of Grawemeyer Award of Ideas Improving World Order.

Almost 94 years old, John B. Cobb, Jr.'s work has been influential across a range of disciplines, including theology, economics, ecology, biology, and social ethics. He discusses the notion of ecological civilization, ecological economics, Pope Francis, integral ecology, process philosophy, what gives him hope.

Almost 94 years old, John B. Cobb, Jr.’s work has been influential across a range of disciplines, including theology, economics, ecology, biology, and social ethics. He discusses the notion of ecological civilization, ecological economics, Pope Francis, integral ecology, process philosophy, what gives him hope.

Almost 94 years old, John B. Cobb, Jr.'s work has been influential across a range of disciplines, including theology, economics, ecology, biology, and social ethics. He discusses the notion of ecological civilization, ecological economics, Pope Francis, integral ecology, process philosophy, what gives him hope.

John B. Cobb is one of the world's most renowned theologians and philosophers, noted especially for his Christological pluralism and work across many disciplines, and lately in major ways in ecological sustainability circles. His writing and thinking are marvelously clear and powerful, continuing even today at age 92. We are thrilled that just last week he agreed to sit down with Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon and great friend of the show and frequent panelist James McLachlan for a brief discussion of his life and the development of his thought, and then a much more extensive focus on his latest book, Jesus' Abba: The God Who Has Not Failed.  Jesus consistently referred to God the Father by the Aramaic term, "Abba," which is very intimate, indicating an unconditionally loving stance from the father to the child. Shortly after Jesus' death, Christianity began to employ monarchial titles to God--Lord, King, King of Kings, etc.--emphasizing God's sovereignty and power. This shift, coupled with all the wrong turns brought on by modernity (individualism, industrialization, professionalization, rationalization, pervasive technologies), have all but eliminated the use and feel of "Abba" in today's world. For Cobb, Jesus's "Abba" understanding led him to begin to look at others in the world through God's eyes. Abba is a God who loves ALL of us, not just those on "our" side. As such, we must meet the world with radical love; we must love even our enemies. God loves even sinners. Living out of this consciousness, Jesus rejected the compromises involved in accommodation of Roman rule in Palestine, but he likewise rejected the path of revolt, rightly predicting what eventually happened in Jerusalem when that strategy was tried. Instead, Jesus lived out a "third" option. And he lived it right on through to the cross. It was so powerful, many people were moved then, and throughout history (think of someone like St. Francis of Assisi), and even more recently (Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., along with many, many Christians who have an Abba understanding of God). They live powerfully even as they live counter-culturally. In them, and should society shift its values away from money, power, and all the other distractions and selfishness of this world, Abba God has not failed. Tune in to hear from this most powerful thinker who has been and is changing the world person by person, book by book and whose work and influence is growing in places as far away as China and is inspiring great movements in ecological activism. It's a wonderful treat to have him engaging us in Mormonism.

This week we speak with Dr. Catherine Keller. Catherine is Professor of Constructive Theology at the Theological School of Drew University. In her teaching, lecturing and writing, she develops the relational potential of a theology of becoming. Her books reconfigure ancient symbols of divinity for the sake of planetary conviviality – a life together, across vast webs of difference. Thriving in the interplay of ecological and gender politics, of process cosmology, poststructuralist philosophy and religious pluralism, her work is both deconstructive and constructive in strategy. Keller has taught since 1986 in the Theological and Philosophical Studies Area of Drew’s Graduate Division of Religion. After studies in Heidelberg and in seminary, she did her doctoral work at Claremont Graduate University with John B. Cobb, Jr., and remains involved with the Center for Process Studies. Through her leadership of the Drew Transdisciplinary Theological Colloquium since its inception in 2000, she fosters with colleagues and graduate students a hospitable context for its far reaching annual conversations. The TTC has yielded a path-breaking series of co-edited volumes. She also enjoys the monthly conviviality of gatherings in which Ph.D. students discuss their work in progress. Catherine Keller's Published Works: From a Broken Web: Separation, Sexism, and Self, Apocalypse Now and Then: A Feminist Guide to the End of the World, Face of the Deep: A Theology of Becoming, God and Power: Counter-Apocalyptic Journeys, On the Mystery: Discerning God in Process, and Cloud of the Impossible: Theology and Planetary Entanglement. Special guest music on this episode provided by: Cloud Cult www.cloudcult.com Twitter: @CloudCult Facebook: www.facebook.com/CloudCultMusic/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/cloudcult8 Instagram: @cloud_cult Enjoy the songs? Songs featured on this episode were: Cloud Cult’s music is available on iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, YouTube, Play Music, iHeartRadio, MySpace, & TuneIn. The Deconstructionist’s Podcast is mixed and edited by Nicholas Rowe at National Audio Preservation Society: A full service recording studio and creative habitat, located in Heath, Ohio. Find them on Facebook and Twitter or visit their website for more information. www.nationalaudiopreservationsociety.weebly.com www.facebook.com/nationalaudiopreservationsociety Twitter: @napsrecording Donation: If you’re digging what we’re doing here consider making a small donation. Maintaining a podcast isn’t cheap and every dollar donated helps us to keep this thing going. Money donated goes to helping to purchase research materials, maintenance of the website, storage of episodes, etc. Click the link below to donate: Https://squareup.com/store/thedeconstructionists Brand new T-Shirts now available! An original design by Joseph Ernst (@joernst1 on Instagram), this limited edition uni-sex t-shirt is soft and durable poly/cotton in charcoal grey with white screen printed graphic. Grab one to support your favorite podcast and remember when you embraced the beauty of your deconstruction. Https://squareup.com/store/thedeconstructionists Follow us on social media for quotes and all the latest news! www.thedeconstructionists.com Twitter: @deconstructcast Facebook: deconstructionistsanonymous Instagram: deconstructionistspodcast Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-deconstructionists/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

JC is on the podcast! That's right it is Just Catherine (Keller). During the podcast we discuss her amazing new book Cloud of the Impossible and the connections between the apophatic tradition, contemporary science and process theology. This podcast episode is sponsored by Subverting the Norm III. STN3 (November 5-7) is that most awesome of an event in Springfield Missouri in which Keller, Caputo, Rollins, and more will be bringing the theological heat. Be there. Use the code HBCSTN for a discount. The day before on November 4th Jack Caputo and I will be putting on a Theology Nerd Bootcamp. If you want to nerd out in a very significant way then you should be there. Sign-up now! Catherine Keller is Professor of Constructive Theology at the Theological School of Drew University. In her teaching, lecturing and writing, she develops the relational potential of a theology of becoming. Her books reconfigure ancient symbols of divinity for the sake of a planetary conviviality—a life together, across vast webs of difference. Thriving in the interplay of ecological and gender politics, of process cosmology, poststructuralist philosophy and religious pluralism, her work is both deconstructive and constructive in strategy. In this podcast we discuss Cloud of the Impossible: Theological Entanglements, which explores the relation of mystical unknowing, material indeterminacy and ontological interdependence. Keller has taught since 1986 in the Theological and Philosophical Studies Area of Drew's Graduate Division of Religion. After studies in Heidelberg and in seminary, she did her doctoral work at Claremont Graduate University with John B. Cobb,Jr., and remains involved with the Center for Process Studies. Through her leadership of the Drew Transdisciplinary Theological Colloquium since its inception in 2000, she fosters with colleagues and graduate students a hospitable context for its far reaching annual conversations. The TTC has yielded a path-breaking series of co-edited volumes. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices