Godspeed Institute

Godspeed Institute - 04/15/12

Matthew Alper and His Book 'The God Part of the Brain' 94% of human beings in the world believe in God, or a form, or forms, of a Supreme Being. Could it be scientifically proven that human beings are built to have a spiritual nature as a survival function, just as we are designed to develop fingers and toes? Matthew Alper is the author of The God Part of the Brain: A Scientific Interpretation of Human Spirituality and God. Part of the emerging fields of biotheology and neurotheology, his book has been called “an essential book for those in search of a scientific understanding of man’s spiritual nature.” Topics in this hour include: whether human beings are hard-wired to develop spirituality and religions as a survival mechanism; the struggle with mortality that set Matthew off to find answers; the spiritual nature as a developed and adapted evolutionary trait; developing this survival trait to quell our fear of death; how science can measure the real effects of prayer and meditation in the human brain; religion as delusion and imagination; the role of ethics and morality therein; whether human life has a purpose; Caer's Spiritual Tip for your Spiritual Toolbelt; more. For more information visit www.godspeedinstitute.com.

The Godspeed Institute - 04/01/12

DAOISM, HEALTH AND LONGEVITY, WITH LIVIA KOHN Livia Kohn is Professor Emerita of Religion & East Asian Studies at Boston University. Her specialty is Daoism and the study of Chinese longevity practices. A long-term practitioner of taiji quan and meditation, she is also a certified instructor of yoga and qigong. One of the world’s foremost scholars, Livia is expert at placing each practice in its historical and cultural context, relating its current application and efficaciousness to modern Western living. Topics in this hour include: the Daoist Tradition – its basic principles; the Three Jewels of the Tao; the Three Pure Ones; how Daoism is practiced; how Daoism relates to our health; energy; taiji quan, meditation, yoga and qigong; Daoism in the West; Chinese longevity practices; Dr. Kohn’s books; how Daoism help us relate to others;  Caer’s Tip for your Spiritual Toolbelt that you wrap around yourself each day. For more information, visit www.godspeedinstitute.com.

The Godspeed Institute - 03/25/12

“There is No Religion Higher than Truth.” This is the motto of The Theosophical Society in America, founded in New York in 1875 with three main purposes: to form a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood of Humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste, or color; to encourage the study of Comparative Religion, Philosophy, and Science; and to investigate the unexplained laws of Nature and the powers latent within the human being. The Society is composed of lifelong students belonging to any religion - or to none. Rooted in Ageless Wisdom, and engaging knowledge that is religious, scientific and esoteric, their bond is not the profession of a common belief, but a common search and aspiration for Truth. Joining Caer Hallundbaek to discuss theosophy is Tim Boyd, president of the Theosophical Society in America. Topics in this hour include: what Theosophy is; the beginnings of the Society in America; Oneness of all things; the nature of Divinity; wisdom through the ages; reconciling humanity's scientific, philosophical, and religious disciplines and practices into a unified worldview; how the Theosophical movement inspired the New Age; ‘the unexplained laws of Nature and the powers latent within the human being’; remembering; truth; how 'all souls are identical with the Universal Oversoul'; study, meditation and service; how Theosophy helps us relate to others and effect religious tolerance; Caer's Tip for your Spiritual Toolbelt; and more. For more information, visit www.godspeedinstitute.com.

The Godspeed Institute - 03/18/12

QUAKERS AND THE LIGHT WITHIN, WITH BARRY CROSSNO

There are many great quotes out there, by Quakers and about Quakers, by people from Harriet Tubman to Woody Allen – but this is one that caught my attention this week: “A good End cannot sanctify evil Means; nor must we ever do Evil, that Good may come of it” – this by William Penn, Quaker leader and founder of the state of Pennsylvania.

Today Caer discusses Quaker beliefs and practices with Barry Crossno, General Secretary of Friends General Conference, exploring the Quaker’s spiritual core – the Light Within – which can offer an experience of faith, and worship, without rituals, clergy or other church structures.

Topics in this hour include: Friends General Conference; how he learned of Quakers at age 21; how like many Friends, he came into Quaker practice feeling "wounded by traditional Christianity"; his experience of Buddhism; Barry's blog "The Quaker Dharma”; Quaker history; rejecting the hierarchy and rituals of existing churches, and challenging all people to encounter God directly; Christianity, ‘cleaned and polished down to its very essence'; the subordinate role of scriptures, church authority, tradition, reason, and formal religious education; dispensing with 'rites and ceremonies, ritualized sacraments, sacred books and buildings, creeds, clergy, and holy days'; "leadings," or the spiritual call to action; FGC programs & services; interfaith relations and religious tolerance; Caer's Tip for your Spiritual Toolbelt; and more.

For more information, visit godspeedinstitute.com.

The Godspeed Institute - 03/13/12

AN HOUR WITH THOMAS G. WALSH, PRESIDENT OF UPF INTERNATIONAL “The teacher with whom we have the closest relationship is our heart," writes the Rev. Sun Myung Moon in his current autobiography. In 1954 he founded The Unification Church - officially the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity. In this millennium, Rev. Moon and his wife, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon have founded the Universal Peace Federation, working with the United Nations, with members in every corner of the globe. In this program Caer Hallundbaek speaks with Dr. Thomas G. Walsh, president of UPF. Topics in this hour include: The life and experience of Rev. Sun Myung Moon, now 92; his Christian ministry; founding of the Unification Movement after WWII; his goals as a minister; misconceptions of Rev. Moon; cults in the 1970s; what led to the development of UPF; the principles of the organization; family - the "school of love and peace"; the sacred core of marriage; how ‘love must have a partner’; peace through cooperation beyond the boundaries of ethnicity, religion, and nationality; the organization's work with the U.N.; Caer's Tip for your Spiritual Toolbelt; and more. For more information, visit www.godspeedinstitute.com

The Wisdom of Daoism with Dr. Norman Girardot

Joining Caer in a conversation on Daoism is Norman Girardot, University Distinguished Professor in Religion Studies at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. His special research areas include Chinese religious tradition, especially Daoism, popular religious movements, the rise of the discipline known as “comparative religions,” and the relation of religion and outsider or visionary art. He is the award winning author of The Victorian Translation of China; Daoism and Ecology; and Myth and Meaning in Early Daoism: The Theme of Hundun. Topics in this engaging hour include: Girardot’s course on Jesus, Buddha, Mao, and… Elvis; the First Church of Elvis the Divine; humor; where religions come from; creation from a Daoist perspective; the Three Pure Ones; the Triune God in Christianity, or the Holy Trinity; yin and yang; when Daoism emerged; Lao Tzu; the Dao Te Ching; the word Dao translated as "way" or "path”; how Daoism is practiced; Daoist views on ecology; the growth of evangelical Christianity in China; philosophical and religious Daoism;  the unity of spirit and matter; humility; Caer’s Tip for your Spiritual Toolbelt that you wrap around yourself each day; and more. For more information, visit godspeedinstitute.com

An hour with Steve McSwain and Stewart Bitkoff

Struggling with organized religion? Still searching to feed your soul?   As millions turn away from the churches, what spirituality is emerging, and what tools can help you?

Dr. Steve McSwain is the author of The Enoch Factor: The Sacred Art of Knowing God. He was a Christian minister for over 20 years, but, as he says, didn't receive his spiritual awakening until he quit going to church.

Dr. Stewart Bitkoff grew up in New York City. An avid student of Sufi Mysticism and the Perennial Philosophy, he wrote A Commuter's Guide to Enlightenment and the new book 'Sufism for the Western Seeker.'

www.stevemcswain.com/

http://www.facebook.com/ExcellenceinGiving

http://www.stewartbitkoff.com/

Godspeed Institute

Anne Scott is founding director of DreamWeather Foundation, which focuses on bringing the feminine principle back into everyday life by cultivating and respecting the relationship women have to themselves and to each other, so that women trust and follow the innate wisdom they have for healing, leading, and social transformation. She has been developing and leading workshops and retreats for women for over 20 years in the United States and other countries. From her experience she has come to understand that women and the feminine way are critical for the health and well-being of all life – families, communities, societies and the earth. Topics in this hour include: ‘who we are’ compared to ‘what we do’ – or, tasks; how culturally this has it affected women; DreamWeather Foundation, and how it began with a dream;  a formative spiritual experience including a Buddhist chef; how she came to know Sufism; the Divine Feminine and women’s spiritual connection; how knowledge of the feminine became buried deep within us; dreams – what they are, and how they work; dream work; keeping a dream journal; Caer's Tip for your Spiritual Toolbelt; and much more.

A New Spirituality, with Steve McSwain and Steward Bitkoff

Struggling with organized religion? Searching for an alternative to feed your soul? Caer explores a new spirituality with Dr. Steve McSwain, author of The Enoch Factor: The Sacred Art of Knowing God, and Dr. Stewart Bitkoff, author of A Commuter's Guide to Enlightenment and the new book Sufism for the Western Seeker. Topics in this engaging hour include: What drew Steve McSwain to be a Baptist minister for 20 years, and the events that made him leave the church; feelings of anger and life unraveling; Stewart Bitkoff's feeling of emptiness in his family's tradition of Judaism; how they found their spiritual awakening; making life a prayer; moving beyond the trappings of religion; the figure of Enoch; his presence in Jewish, Christian Islamic texts; how  churches have come to mimic material culture, rather than model spiritual values; fear and reward; the difference between religion and spirituality; the form spiritual living will take; the effect of mysticism on religious tolerance; Caer's Commentary on Viktor Frankl; and more. For more information, visit www.godspeedinstitute.com

Essential Oneness with Alex Warden

Alex Warden is a Sufi mystic who was born in Argentina and now oversees the Essential Oneness project in Northern California. Its mission is 'to foster a consciousness of the fundamental unity of everything.' Sounds like a daunting task in this seemingly fragmented world - but a spiritual solution is exactly what's needed in our time. Since 1985 Alex has been sharing with groups and individuals the knowing of the infinite unity and relatedness of life through her work in the fields of spirituality, education, dream study, women's wisdom, and energy dynamics. An educator and spiritual counselor, she has recently written about the Occupy movement from the spiritual point of view. Topics in this engaging hour include: a favorite Sufi story; her early life in Argentina; two intense spiritual periods in her life that helped form her; her childhood as a Roman Catholic and discovery and experience of Sufism; her experience of Sufism as a woman; education and children's minds; the ‘New Era’; the Occupy movement; awakening the citizenry, at home and abroad; how Oneness works through these issues; Caer's Tip for your Spiritual Toolbelt; and more. For more information, visit godspeedinstitute.com