Presence: A Global Conversation for a New Earth.

In episode 2 we begin to dig deeper into the common threads and connections between science and spirituality. Here are some thoughts from author Joe Masterleo: From small beginnings, God makes things that make other, more complex things. Like a tiny mustard seed, all created things uncoil and evolve from an invisible dynamic center point at their innermost. Appearing as if out of nowhere ( ex nihi...

This is the first episode in our series and I'm very excited to explore an integral approach to this subject. We begin by talking with Joe Masterleo, author of " Ambient Christ ." His book looks at the ways both science and spirituality are converging. The book goes in depth on models of science that point to a universal field that holds all things together. This, of course, is what we see in term...

The Trinity is at the heart of most Christian denominations. In fact, it is one of their most important creeds or doctrines. But humans are becoming tired of religious dogma and creed. This approach to Christology is no longer satisfying to people and we'll explain why. An integral approach to Christology always recognizes its two-fold nature. Christology is both the individual and the collective...

We have examined the Christian creed of the Trinity as it has been handed down since the earliest centuries. Our previous episode focused on the historical decisions that affected this doctrine beginning with the Roman Empire. In this episode we discuss the Trinity from the Biblical Narrative. Our integral approach to the Narrative interprets Identity in relationship with theology not Christology....

In this second episode Cody and I discuss the historical context of the Trinity. Spiral Dynamics informs us regarding the Traditional level of consciousness which dominated during the Roman empire. In the Traditional era a person did not question authority. So no one could question the Caesar who represented ultimate authority. The empire saw Christianity as a way to consolidate its citizens under...

In this episode we introduce our series on the Trinity. It's great to be back with Cody as we continue to deal with all of the challenges of 2020. We begin by using the same integral approach to this topic that we've used throughout our study of the Biblical Narrative. This approach also takes into consideration the Theology Without Walls movement. We've spoken quite a bit about this movement in o...

Our first 3 episodes have traced the evolution of Christological hermeneutics over the last 2,000 years. The 3 world views of Traditional, Modern and Postmodern have all contributed to thousands of denominated, separated groups who share one common theme. When Theology has encountered Christology it resulted in a world religion.  But those who write and research in the field of Integral Consciousn...

This session will focus on the role and function of Christology as it relates to the movement from Form to Formlessness. Life is synonymous with growth and transformation. We experience transformation both individually and collectively.  We are currently experiencing a pandemic on a global level as we create new ways to communicate and meet as groups. As individuals we have been isolated and force...

Christianity is the world's largest religion. Therefore, its walls are higher than any other religion. But can there be a path forward that takes down this wall of arrested development? Can we move beyond Christology as a religious form? It's time to consider the history of Christology and the ever changing/evolving hermeneutics that have defined it.  We already know from Social Science and histor...

About 5 years ago I attended a meeting of the American Academy of Religion in San Antonio, Texas. This group meets once a year and averages about 10,000 people in attendance! Attendees are theologians from different world religions who look at current issues in literally hundreds of break out groups over 3-4 days.  The Christian tracks have theologians from numerous backgrounds and areas of expert...

Ever felt like your tribe had shrunk the Divine down to manageable size?  Ever felt like God has to be bigger than this?  Ever felt like God is doing something beyond your people and your religion?  In this episode we talk with Doug about both the compelling vision and unworkable moment that led him to take his first step out of Christianity. 

Do you currently identify as a Christian? Have you ever identified as a Christian? Is the world's largest religion what Jesus came to create? In this series we will take a deep dive into the growing rise of the "nones" and explore why many folks are walking away and perhaps what they are walking into. In this episode we follow Doug's childhood story of growing up in the church and becoming a Chris...

Cody and I wrap up this series on Romans 9-11 by discussing the doxology of Paul. One cannot help but notice its tone of celebration about the nature of God. Why was Paul so ecstatic? What does the doxology have to do with his understanding of universal acceptance after universal disobedience? How do you see God? Thanks for joining us today!

Paul makes it undeniably clear that God's answer to human frailty is mercy. He uses the word mercy 4 times in his concluding remarks. He emphasizes God's grace toward all those who did not believe like the Gentiles. All have been found under disobedience that He might have mercy upon all. This includes their enemies (11:28)!! What does our planet need to awaken to? What is our way forward? Thanks...

Paul draws his conclusions about God's universal love and acceptance in chapter 11. God's work in Christ was to take down the wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile. God identity belongs to the realm of the formless. There are no boundaries separating our global family with regard to value and identity. Everything and everyone is one. Paul lets the Gentiles know they have misunderstood their ro...

The Narrative tells us that Jesus arrived on the historical scene in the "fullness of time." In what sense does this fullness show up in the story? Paul explains that one element of fullness was the world-centric message of God identity that brought the Gentiles into the promises of God made long ago. Identity would break out and beyond the ethnocentric world into the universal nature of God. But...

Paul begins Romans by saying, "the righteousness of God is being revealed from faith to faith." God's righteousness is fidelity to the promises. The revelation of how God keeps those promises has 2 elements: justification by faith and unbelief/condemnation. We continue our discussion of the necessary revelation of human consciousness that leads to condemnation and failure. Our failures were never...

The evolution of God identity came through a two-fold process culminating in both justification as well as condemnation. Paul explained to the Galatian gentiles that the bondwoman, representing those under law, would be cast out. Therefore, do not give in to the Judaizers who were attempting to subject them to circumcision as part of their new identity.  Paul now explains to the gentiles in Rome t...

Romans 10 cannot be understood apart from Romans 11. Sound simple? Well, it wasn't for the gentiles in Rome and it hasn't been for Christians during the last 2000 years. Today we discuss the 2 concurrent themes running through the last days: justification and condemnation. Both had a role in the universal reconciliation of the world and the restoration of all things. The role of condemnation is wh...

Paul goes into detail in chapter 10 about the current state of Israel with regard to faith and belief. We have to remember that Israel also had those of great faith and deep belief (see Jesus, apostles, etc.!) The Narrative reveals how we humans will always have the potential for growth. Faith can always be deeper. Belief can always be stronger. In this sense our past represents a time of less fai...

In this episode we finish our discussion of Romans chapter 9. There are 2 aspects of our human nature that are being revealed in Paul's time. One aspect relates to our self-centered instincts and brings about wrath. But wrath is a term in the Narrative indicating the removal of what stands in the way of our growth in spirit. Wrath is never the final word in this amazing story of our life's journey...

Today we wrap up our conversation on the wrath of God in Romans 9. This subject will come back up in chapter 11. We will be able to fill out our understanding of wrath in its role once we complete Paul's line of thought. Ultimately, Paul understood that the story of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob pointed to a revelation of wrath and reward that would be fulfilled through Christ. 

There are two elements of salvation running side by side in the transformation period or what is called the last days. Those that remained attached to the passing world of religion as inaugurated by Moses were going to experience wrath. Those that followed the faith of Christ would be rewarded. However! We continue to discuss the role and function of wrath as that which sets the stage for restorat...

Abraham symbolizes two aspects of the integral trajectory in the Biblical Narrative. The first aspect relates to his grandson Jacob who later became Israel. This aspect is biological through genealogy and lineage. The second aspect relates to Abraham's son Isaac. Paul notes that ultimately Abraham's descendants would be through his seed singular - meaning Christ. The birth of Isaac and the resurre...

Today we compare Paul's use of Romans 9:6 (a very controversial verse) with his writing in Galatians 3:16. His motivation for writing both groups was to emphasize the source of salvation and the source of our identity. The gentile struggles with this have been handed down through the centuries from the days of the Holy Roman Empire! We look at why an integral approach to Paul is so vital to moving...