The stunning ‘pause’ forced upon our modern world places an unprecedented challenge before the church: How do we remain faithful to God’s glorious dream of Shalom-making in the midst of a world in crisis?
Finding Peace in a Time of Pandemic
The Intelligence of Emotions: Philosopher Martha Nussbaum on How Storytelling Rewires Us
The stories we tell ourselves about who we are and what we feel shape our emotional and ethical reality, which of course is the great psychological function of literature and the reason why art can function as a form of therapy.
The Science of Stress and How Our Emotions Affect Our Susceptibility to Burnout and Disease, by Maria Popova
How your memories impact your immune system, why moving is one of the most stressful life-events, and what your parents have to do with your predisposition to PTSD.
This is your Brain on Beethoven! Daniel J. Levitin and Understanding the Neuroscience of Music
The relationship between music and science is more complicated (and beautiful) than we ever imagined.
Why has the Imagination been Sidelined in Literature? by Damien G. Walter
Einstein once famously proclaimed that “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.” Yet we find ourselves at the position today where any non STEM subject has seen a de facto obliteration of its status and funding. That’s not a criticism of STEM subjects or their creative potential, but as Einstein was trying to tell us, those subjects are at their strongest when honed by a powerful imagination.
Why Spiritual Transformation has a lot to do with the Brain, by Rob Moll
The attention required in spiritual practices like deep prayer, contemplation, study, and worship is what the brain needs to grow in lasting ways.
Empathy, Neurochemistry, and the Dramatic Arc, by Paul J. Zak
Why do our palms sweat as we watch James Bond fight for his life? Paul Zak’s research is uncovering how stories shape our brains, tie strangers together, and move us to be more empathic, generous and connected. Part 1.
Why Your Brain Loves Good Storytelling, by Paul J. Zak
We found that character-driven stories consistently cause oxytocin synthesis. Viewers will literally bond with the characters and share their emotions, and after the movie ends, they are likely to continue mimicking the feelings and behaviors of those characters.
After the Apocalypse: Our Love/Hate Relationship with Technology, by Barry Taylor, PhD
I have been thinking a fair bit about this fascination that there seems to be with the idea of post-apocalypse, post-technological collapse. It’s evident in things as diverse as The Hunger Games, The Walking Dead, and JJ Abrams produced, Revolution’s, exploration of a world without electricity. It seems to echo the on-going love/hate relationship we have with technology…
Searching for the Soul Film Festival Explores Humanity in a Technological World
Investigating the Meaning of Humanity in a Technological World A festival bringing together filmmakers, scholars, students, and the public to view and discuss three feature films asking important questions about science and the soul. Saturday, October 13, 2012 Sutherland Auditorium…
The Source of Creativity?
Our language determines our realities, not the other way around.