SMN Annual Gathering
Widening the Evidence Base in Science and Spirituality Keynote: John Hands University of Plymouth 7-9 July 2017 Chairs Dr Peter Fenwick & David Lorimer Programme Two presentations from John Hands The 2017 Network Annual Gathering returns to the University of Plymouth, where we held the meeting some 10 years ago. The Programme will begin on […]
Dr. Ornella Corazza – The River of the Afterlife: the phenomenology of Near Death Experiences in Japan
The cross-cultural study of the Near Death Experience (NDE) is a relatively new field of investigation. Some researchers held the view that the NDE is a universal experience, although cultural/religious beliefs influence various details and the way the NDE is interpreted. On the contrary, others, reported cases where the content of the experience was actually […]
Dr Oliver Robinson – An introduction to sacred geometry and mystical mathematics
Geometry is a key foundation of science and technology, while also being an artistic form and contemplative focus within many spiritual traditions. This participative talk will introduce and explore some of the key figures and concepts of sacred geometry, and how they relate to key concepts in Pythagorean and Vedic mathematics, such as the golden ratio, […]
Science and Religion Forum – Mental Wellbeing, Neuroscience and Religion
There are signs that, after several decades of exploring traditional themes such as creation and divine action, a paradigm shift is beginning to take place in the dialogue between science and religion. The special questions surrounding the biological, mental, and theological significance of the human person have occupied centre stage for the last few years, […]
Continental Meeting – Shaping Influences: Fields, Archetypes and Living Systems
Date: September 7 – 11 Our lives and our psychology are shaped by influences of which we are often unaware. Our history, culture, people we meet, the Earth’s living systems and even planetary fields play a significant role in our lives. The idea of formative influences goes back at least to Aristotle, with his notion […]
Laurence Freeman OSB – The Rule of St. Benedict, a little Rule for Beginners
The Rule of St Benedict arguably had the greatest influence on western culture after the Bible. It still inspires the art of living for monks, married couples, business leaders and community builders. What is the secret of its access to a wisdom that offers convincing hope in our troubled world? LAURENCE FREEMAN OSB is a Benedictine […]
Prof. Tom Lombardo – Future Consciousness: The Path to Purposeful Evolution – An Introduction
How do we create a good future? This deceptively simple question is the central challenge of human life. Indeed, the question brings to center stage the most distinctive and empowering capacity of the human mind: to be able to consciously imagine, think about, and intentionally pursue preferable futures. Tom refers to this multi-faceted psychological capacity […]
Beyond the Brain XII – Further Reaches of Consciousness Research
Dr Rupert Sheldrake, Prof Chris Roe, Dr Cassandra Vieten, Dr Dean Radin, Prof Stuart Hameroff, Dr Diane Corcoran, Dr Penny Sartori The interdisciplinary Beyond the Brain conferences were initiated with Willis Harman and Edgar Mitchell of the Institute of Noetic Sciences at St John’s College, Cambridge in 1995. Over the years we have covered a wide range […]
Prof. Stuart Hameroff – The “quantum pleasure principle” – Did life evolve to feel good?
The standard view in evolution is that life developed through behaviors which optimize survival of species. But an organism’s behavior is driven by reward, by seeking conscious pleasure, or avoiding pain and fear. Evolutionary biology (like most neuroscience and philosophy) considers consciousness and feelings to have emerged from complex computation among brain neurons or simpler […]