Nature: Science and the Sacred

STUDY CIRCLE

Nature: Science and the Sacred
Meets Tuesday Evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 pm
January 4th through February 25th, 2020

Please feel free to join anytime.
“If we want to stop pathological behavior, pollution, destruction, violence, discontent, and exploitation, if we want to share real things, communicate meaningfully, live in harmony with the biosphere, and nurture the world around us, we have to recognize our true Nature: The Nature within us, the Wilderness that still lays deep in our heart, and the Nature and the Wilderness that are still around us, the biosphere, at the edges of the wastelands we’ve created and in between the cracks in the asphalt and the concrete we’ve coated the living Earth with, and that they are actually the same.”  – David B. Lauterwasser

The Institute of World Culture offers on-going Study Circles based on topics of interest to its members and based on the Institute’s aims as presented in its Declaration of Interdependence (see IWC website: http://www.worldculture.org).  Meetings are held every Tuesday evening, unless otherwise notified, from 7:30 – 9:00 pm, at 1407 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara.  Please join us at any time.  A brief summary will precede each discussion.  The Study Circle for January and February 2020 will be on Nature: Science and the Sacred.  Topics for each meeting are listed below.  See the website for suggested readings to help you prepare for each meeting.  For more information: donna@worldculture.org.

Jan 7             The Mystery of Nature

Discussion will be based on: “Reclaiming the Honorable Harvest”, a TED talk by plant ecologist Robin Kimmerer, and a clip from the National Geographic video “Before Time and Space.

Jan 14          Soil, Soul, Society

Discussion will focus on the chapter on “Soil, Soul, Society” from “You Are therefore I Am” by Satish Kumar, founder of Schumacher College and Resurgence & Ecologist magazine.

Jan 21           The Impact of Technology on Nature

Discussion will focus around an essay by David B. Lauterwasser on the problems          associated with the third industrial revolution.

Jan 28             The Secret Wisdom of Nature

“Our Role in Nature”, a chapter in Peter Wohlleben’s book, “The Secret Wisdom of Nature” will be discussed.  Wohlleben is also the author of “The Hidden Life of Trees”.

Feb 4             Science and Indigenous Wisdom

Themes from Robin Kimmerer’s book “Braiding Sweetgrass” will be discussed.

Feb 11            The Intelligence of Animals
Discussion will focus on the fascinating and often overlooked intelligence of animals.

Feb 18            Science and Nature
Discussion will focus on two articles by Vandana Shiva: “Science and Politics in the Green Revolution” and “The Seed and the Earth”.

Feb 25            Deep Ecology

An article on “The Ecology of Wisdom” by Arne Naess will be the focus of discussion.

Free and open to all, check website for suggested readings and last minute cancellations: http://www.worldculture.org