This conference consisted of a small invitational gathering
of scholars of the world’s religious traditions as
well as a number of scientists and educators. The conference
began on Monday evening (July 19) and continued until
Thursday evening (July 22). We envisioned this as largely
an opportunity to explore how the creation stories of
the world’s religions intersect with or react to
the epic of evolution as it is emerging in the thought
of Thomas Berry and Brian Swimme. Our conversation was
centered on the ideas of a working paper written by Brian
Swimme which was sent to all participants in early July.
The conference was held at the Whidbey Institute on
Whidbey Island off the coast of Seattle. This is a beautiful
Learning Center situated in the dramatic forested landscape
of the Pacific Northwest. It is an ideal venue for such
a conference and it provided a setting that was relaxing
but also conducive to rigorous thinking regarding this
enormously challenging topic.
The conference was sponsored by the Forum on Religion
and Ecology with special support from the Center for
Respect of Life and Environment. It arose from the work
of the Epic of Evolution Society which was formed after
the conference on the Epic of Evolution held at the
Field Museum in Chicago in November 1997.
At the conclusion of the three day discussion, an open
conference was held on Saturday, July 24. Brian Swimme
was the lead speaker of that conference. Stuart Cowan
also told the Universe Story. John Grim and Mary Evelyn
Tucker spoke on the work of the Forum. In addition,
the conference hall at the Whidbey Institute was named
the Thomas Berry Hall.
|
|
| Scientists |
| Brian Swimme |
California Institute of Integral
Studies |
| Ursula Goodenough |
Washington University |
| Larry Edwards |
California Institute of Integral
Studies |
| Stuart Cowan |
Whidbey Institute |
| |
|
| John Grim |
Bucknell University |
|
| David Abram |
Author, The Spell of the Sensuous |
|
| Nancy Wright |
Director, Earth Ministry, Seattle,
Washington |
|
| Karim Ahmed |
World Watch Institute |
|
| Brian Brown |
Iona College |
|
| Mary Evelyn Tucker |
Bucknell University |
| Michael Kalton |
University of Washington, Tacoma |
|
| Eric Weiss |
California Institute of Integral
Studies |
|
| Audrey Chapman |
American Association for the Advancement
of Science |
|
| Charlene Spretnak |
California Institute of Integral
Studies |
|
| Bokara Legendre |
San Francisco, California |
|
| Fritz Hull |
Editor, Earth Spirit |
| Vivienne Hull |
| Sharon Parks |
Co-author, Common Fire |
| Larry Daloz |
Co-author, Common Fire |
| Danny Martin |
| |
| |
|
