Godspeed Institute

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST WITH SUSAN STONESTREET

Rev. Dr. Susan Stonestreet is pastor of the United Christian Church in Lincolnville, Maine. The parish is affiliated with the United Church of Christ, and all faiths are welcome. This is a 200-year-old parish, an old New England church, crisp and clean and open, with a plaque by the door that reads, "Bidden or not bidden, God is present." Susan was ordained in the United Church of Christ in 1999. She holds a Master of Divinity Degree and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Bangor Theological Seminary in Bangor, Maine. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in American Studies and a Master of Science Degree in Personnel Counseling from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Topics in this hour include: Susan’s journey from being a Certified Financial Planner with American Express for fifteen years, to a new spiritual life as a pastor; why she was drawn to the United Church of Christ, an affirming, welcoming church; the denomination’s history, time frame and key figures; how “all are invited to the table”; social beliefs and matters of justice specific to UCC; a particular memory from parish life; the role of the church in contemporary culture; what the church offers today's seekers, whether of faith or disbelief; the commitment to tolerance and forgiveness; challenges to the church today, at large, and in the parish; UCC's relationship to other churches and other religions; political and peace efforts; and much more.

GLOBAL FUNDAMENTALISM

Carole Hallundbaek speaks with Peter Huff, the author of ‘What Are They Saying About Fundamentalisms?’ and a leading authority on global fundamentalism and the anti-modernist impulse in world religions. Currently the Besl Family Chair in Ethics/Religion and Society at Xavier University, he has also been the T. L. James Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Centenary College, where he taught Introduction to Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, World Religions, and Global Fundamentalism. Topics in this informative hour include: fundamentalism as a critical topic in matters of religion, politics, war and violence, even the threat of violence; how he defines Fundamentalism; how it has it grown over the years; some core beliefs / understandings of Fundamentalism; how it takes shape among the world religions; the anti-modernist impulse in world religions; how Fundamentalism works in similar fashion for Christians as well as Muslims and other faiths; misconceptions of Fundamentalism; the Fundamentalist concept of God, and the role of human beings; the future of Fundamentalism; and more.

EVANGELICALISM WITH RANDALL BALMER

Carole Hallundbaek speaks with Randall Balmer, Professor of American Religious History at Barnard College, Columbia University. A prolific writer and commentator on faith in America, he is the author of “The Making of Evangelicalism: From Revivalism to Politics and Beyond,” “God in the White House: How Faith Shaped the Presidency from John F. Kennedy to George W. Bush,” and "Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory: A Journey into the Evangelical Subculture in America." Topics in this hour include: the scriptural and historical origins and development of Evangelicalism in America - from the "Three P's" (Puritans, Presbyterians and Pietism) to Billy Graham; what is at the center of Evangelical faith and life; common misconceptions about Evangelicalism; the rise of other communities - Pentecostal, Fundamental, Holiness; the Religious Right; how and when Fundamentalism became politically motivated in the 1970s and "hijacked" the faith; what young Evangelicals respond to today; and much more.

AFRICAN RELIGION - FROM EDEN TO THE AMERICAS

Carole Hallundbaek speaks with Yvonne Chireau, a professor in the Department of Religion at Swarthmore College. A prolific writer, Chireau is the author of 'Black Magic: African American Religion and the Conjuring Tradition.' With a Ph.D. in religious studies from Princeton University, her work focuses on African based religions like Vodou, and the development of African American religion in America. Topics in this informative and engaging hour include: Pre-Colonial religion in Africa; original components of religion, including song, drumming, ritual; the importance of the myth of origin; the role of ancestors and divine beings; the perception of and connection to nature; openness between this world and the spirit realm; the slave religions; Vodou in Haiti; overlapping layers of African, European, naturalistic and Christian beliefs; yearning for a return to the Garden; magic and conjuring; the post-slavery era growth of Pentecostalism; and much more. For more information, visit Yvonne at: http://www.swarthmore.edu/x8163.xml

REINCARNATION

Poet, author and publisher, Dina Ripsman Eylon has a Ph.D. in Post-biblical Hebrew Language and Literature from the University of Toronto. She is the author of 'Reincarnation in Jewish Mysticism and Gnostism,' and examines the development of the concept of reincarnation in the first kabbalistic work that deals with the topic, the late-12th-century Sefer ha-Bahir (The Book of Clarity). Topics in this hour include: Jewish Mysticism - its beginnings and texts; what it offers and how it is experienced in Judaism; how the mystical tradition in Judaism is explored on a one-on-one basis and as part of general practice; how the soul makes a journey; her book, Reincarnation in Jewish Mysticism and Gnosticism; how this reincarnation differs from Buddhist reincarnation in that it is generational; how, according to the Book of Clarity, Israel's generations shall reincarnate and improve spiritually through good deeds toward others; how the soul has three elements in kabbalistic philosophy; the role of compassion and kindness; more.

GOING TO HEAVEN EVERY DAY, ABOUT 1:00PM

Frank Huguenard earned his degree in Computer Science from Purdue University and spent 30 years in high tech in Silicon Valley. About ten years ago he experienced personal losses so deep it cost him his job, his home, and his relationships. This experience of grief sent him on a journey of spiritual discovery that would transform his life, with the help of Krishnamurti meditation. For the past several years, he has been Executive Director of a non-profit organization that he founded, Bountiful Garden Foundation -- and he has become a filmmaker. Topics in this hour include: Huguenard's experiences of personal loss; the role of western psychology and treatment, or "managed misery"; why people suffer; the similarities between computers and human beings; how, like computers, humans can be corrupted -- at cellular, spiritual and mental levels; how maintaining a healthy human consciousness requires the same level of attention to system maintenance; the practice of meditation and how it works; yoga, breathing, nutrition; the breaking of the thought/emotion/thought/emotion pattern; methods of meditation and resources; mantras and breath; how the practice crosses all denominational lines; the importance of gratitude; how meditation helps him to "visit heaven every day"; his documentary 'Beyond Me,' the upcoming films 'Beyond Belief' and 'Beyond Reason,' and more.

GNOSTICISM

It can be said that the underlying spirituality that has fueled authors like Dan Brown, Philip Pullman, Philip K. Dick and even The Matrix movies is that of Gnosticism. Perhaps you have been drawn to and excited by their themes and interpretations and have not known why. Today we welcome Miguel Conner - author, Internet radio host, and commandeer of the site thegodabovegod.com. His latest book is Voices of Gnosticism. Topics in this informative and engaging hour include: a basic primer of Gnosticism; its origins; the timeframe of Late Antiquity and Early Christianity; how he came to study and create a radio program based on Gnosticism; how the sects of Gnosticism believed that we are already living in the post-apocalyptic world; misconceptions of Gnosticism; the beliefs, perspectives and understandings specific to Gnosticism; the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Judas; the rediscovery of Mary Magdalene and the original teachings of Jesus; his book Voices of Gnosticism; and much more. For more information, visit www.thegodabovegod.com

PETER KINGSLEY: A STORY WAITING TO PIERCE YOU

Often we have heard the saying that "Greece is the birthplace of western civilization." Perhaps we have heard of Pythagoras too, and his theorem, in the context of a long-ago math class in high school. But that is typically where our awareness ends today. According to Peter Kingsley, we in the west have forgotten our origins and the mystical tradition and instructions meant for western civilization – and out culture is suffering for it. Carole Hallundbaek speaks with Peter Kingsley, author and renowned scholar in the field of western civilization and spirituality. Kingsley earned his Master of Letters at King's College Cambridge, his PhD at the University of London, and has worked with many of the most prominent figures in the fields of classic and anthropology, philosophy and religious studies, ancient civilizations and the history of both healing and science. Described as "a successor to Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell," his work is to bring back to life, and make accessible again, the extraordinary mystical tradition that lies forgotten right at the roots of the western world. His latest book is “A Story Waiting to Pierce You: Mongolia, Tibet and the Destiny of the Western World.” Topics in this hour include: how we in the west have completely forgotten our original spiritual heritage and what we as human beings are actually capable of; how our culture has splintered what once was whole; how we no longer perceive the divine in all things as our ancient Greek predecessors had; how the fields they gave us – including science and the model of our legal system – were one with spiritual awareness and goals; the sacred source and destiny of western civilization; Parmenides, Empedocles, Pythagoras -- spiritual guides and experts in other states of consciousness, who laid the foundation for the world we now live in; Greece in relation to Christianity and the onset of the Judaic-Christian mindset; how time became eschatological - "in the beginning" to "the end times”; the concept of salvation; the god Apollo and his twin sister Artemis; approaching the Divine with sensitivity; how remembering will help to make our society whole once more. For more information: www.peterkingsley.org

THE URANTIA BOOK AND FOUNDATION

Gard Jameson bought a copy of The Urantia Book in 1972 in a California bookstore near Stanford University, where he was studying Comparative Religion. His first impression was that it was like no other book he had ever read in either philosophy or religion. It is a bestseller that "reveals the mysteries of God, the Universe, Jesus and Ourselves." In this engaging hour Carole Hallundbaek speaks with Jameson, now an author, professor of philosophy, and a trustee and treasurer of the Urantia Foundation - the custodian and publisher of The Urantia Book Topics in this hour include: what the Urantia Book is and how it affected Jameson's life; his faith tradition as a Presbyterian prior to discovering the book; how the book was received as a revelation or message from beings of another celestial body (Urantia) to guide human beings away from war and confusion; how it was written mostly by 1935 and published in its current form since 1955; how the Urantia Book speaks to and embraces all faith traditions on earth, but points to the life of Jesus with special focus; the perceived role of Jesus as sovereign of this universe; how Urantia addresses today's issues and challenges; the larger universal nature of love; prayer; worship; the Trinity; relationships; and more. For more information: http://www.urantia.org/

LATTER DAY SAINTS: SEPARATING TRUTH FROM HEARSAY

One of the goals of the Godspeed Institute is to foster religious tolerance through education of our neighbors' actual beliefs, rather than hearsay. We believe that hatred is quelled when people stop listening to inflammatory reports about religion and begin listening to each other. We know how partial and misinterpreted beliefs can be conveyed and misused in the world; imagine what takes place when misinformation travels worldwide instantly by high speed Internet. Scott Gordon has served as a bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon), holds an MBA from Brigham Young University, and serves as president of the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, or FAIR, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of Mormon doctrine, belief and practice. FAIR is staffed completely by students of the scriptures, ancient languages, early Christian history, early LDS history and doctrine. The team at FAIR has been involved in online services and Internet-based LDS apologetics for many years, and in this hour we explore why. Topics include: the development of FAIR and what the organization does; how it developed in response to misinformation and online attacks about LDS; the most common misconceptions of the Mormon faith; the most common attacks that FAIR staff encounter; how Mormons were persecuted in America; how Gordon can relate to other faiths that have been misconstrued, including Islam since 9/11; the origin of the Mormon faith – how Jesus Christ appeared in more places in the world following the resurrection, specifically his visit to the indigenous peoples of central America; how LDS has helped restore early Christian beliefs that were lost; LDS missionaries; how the concept and event of revelation does not end; and much more.