Happening in 2010"Can Christianity and Buddhism Remain Relevant to the 21st Century?As two of the world's leading exponents of, respectively, radical Christianity and radical Buddhism, Professor Lloyd Geering and Stephen Batchelor will take part in a panel discussion on this topic.Professor Sir Lloyd Geering is well-known to SATRS subscribers. Stephen Batchelor has recently extended the material in his well-known Buddhism Without Beliefs in his spiritual autobiography Confession of a Buddhist Atheist. Stephen will be in News Zealand briefly (more details here) with his wife Martine (an author and teacher in her own right) on a speaking and teaching tour. We are fortunate to be able to bring these speakers into the same forum.
"The Human Ground of Compassion"This year the Sea of Faith Network will hold its annual Conference at St Patrick's College at Silverstream. We have arranged for two of the Conference speakers to address SATRS audiences on their aspects of the Conference Theme: Compassion and Crisis: Our Human Dilemma. This information will be completed nearer the indicated dates.
"Such Is Life": More Dialogues with EcclesiastesIn a four-part series, Lloyd Geering will continue his dialogue with the Old Testament sage, Qoheleth, the author of the book that we know as "Ecclesiastes". These dialogues are excerpts from his recent book Such Is Life, My Encounter with Ecclesiastes. Lloyd Geering shows how relevant are these insights to our current human problems, even though they were written some 2,300 years ago.
Book Launch: "Such Is Life"Sir Lloyd Geering's book of that title was launched on March 24th. It takes a critical look at the applications of the tenets of the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes to today's world. It is now available at major bookshops.This short extract comes from pages 24 and 25: "More than any priest, prophet or even sage before him, Qoheleth [the author of the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes] examined the nature of human existence. He asked some basic questions: What does it mean to be human? In the absence of any certainty or permanence, how can we get the best out of life? In doing so he raised the pursuit of wisdom to a higher level. True sages had to do more than collect gems of wisdom, select the best, and pass them on to their students. Wisdom is not an immutable body of knowledge, and it is vain to imagine that it is. We must personally walk the path of wisdom for ourselves rather than expect to receive it from others ready-made. So the role of the sage was not to provide instant wisdom for the foolish and unlearned; the words of the sage, says the Book of Ecclesiastes, were to be like a sharp goad forcing hearers to shake off their complacency and to pursue wisdom for themselves.” Easter Series: "Jesus Rediscovered"A series of lectures by Sir Lloyd Geering was given under the title Jesus Rediscovered. They reflect on Lloyd's 1983 series Jesus Reconsidered which launched The St. Andrew's Trust for the Study of Religion and Society.A CD set is available here. "With or Without God" by Gretta VosperGretta Vosper is pastor of West Hill United Church in Toronto, and founder and chair of the Canadian Centre for Progressive Christianity, an organization that provides resources and support to those exploring the boundaries of Christian thought both within and outside of their congregations. In a thoughtful and passionate discourse that speaks to a wide audience, Vosper tackles the issue that concerns so many of us today: how to find spiritual fulfillment, comfort and connection in the here and now. In the vein of Tom Harpur’s The Pagan Christ, this is a book that dares to discard old doctrines but does so with respect and dignity. Vosper imagines a new church that leads in ethics—fostering relationships, meaning and values that are solidly rooted in our own best selves. A CD set is available here. The Geering Lecture Series: June 1, 3, 5, 8 and 10The Geering Lecturer for 2010 has been announced. Details are here and others will be posted as they become available.Events In 2009"The Wisdom Jesus"Tuesday 24th MarchA Public Evening Talk with Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault Ph.D on the topic of her new book: 'The Wisdom Jesus', Transforming Heart and Mind – A New Perspective on Christ and His Message.. Cynthia is a hermit with over 30 years as an Episcopalian priest, writer, and internationally known retreat and conference leader, particularly in contemplative spirituality and centering prayer (a form of Christian meditation). She divides her time between solitude and writing on Eagle Island, Maine and as Principal Teacher for the Contemplative Society of Canada offering retreats and wisdom schools within North America. Her writing is on the spiritual life and she has authored six books including; Mystical Hope, Centering Prayer and The Wisdom Jesus. Cynthia is passionately committed to the recovery of the Christian contemplative path and has worked closely with Thomas Keating, Bruno Barnhart, Richard Rohr and other Christian contemplative teachers; she is also committed to working with teaches within other religious traditions. While in New Zealand, Cynthia will talk from her understanding and experiences and her talks will be of interest to people involved or interested in contemplative spirituality or centering prayer.
Ecclesiastes: A Biblical Heretic Speaks to Our DayIn four conversational lunchtime lectures, Lloyd Geering lead us through this fascinating bible text and gave his interpretation of its inherent message on wisdom and its use for the 21st Century.These lectures are excerpts from his new book Such Is Life, My Encounter with Ecclesiates, in which Lloyd Geering dialogues with Ecclesiastes about the chief issues that concern him, showing how relevant they are to our current human problems, even though they were written some 2,300 years ago. Because the lectures are excerpts from the book they are not published by SATRS. The Jesus we Never KnewThe Scholars' ViewDr. Greg Jenks who is an Anglican Priest and is currently serving as Academic Dean and Lecturer in Biblical Studies at St Francis Theological College in Brisbane spoke to the title Putting Jesus in his Place. His lecture asked "What we are learning about the places where Jesus lived and how we keep alive the dangerous memory of Jesus in the places where we live."David Boulton wrote Who on Earth was Jesus? The Modern Quest for the Jesus of History which was credited by Marcus Borg as "The best and most thorough account of the breadth and variety of historical Jesus scholarship. Lively, informed, fair, and highly recommended." His lecture asked "Is Jesus still worth standing up for? What can a pre-modern Iron Age teacher have to say to a post-modern Space Age generation? Does Jesus matter any more?" A CD is or sale. Details here. The View from IonaJohn Bell is a hymn-writer, a Church of Scotland minister, a member of the lona Community, a broadcaster, and former student activist. He works throughout the world, often lecturing in theological colleges in the UK and the US, but is primarily concerned with the renewal of congregational worship at the grass roots level. His seminar was titled: "Things They Never Told Me About Jesus: exploring his attitude to women, family life, humour, etc."A CD set is or sale. Details here.
The
venue will be St Andrew’s on The Terrace, 30 The Terrace
The guest presenters will speak to the theme:
“A Recession is a terrible thing to waste:
The CD of this address is available here.
The CD of this address is available here.
For details of the CD set see here.
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