Transmission: Radical Spirituality in Uncertain Times

30/03/2024

Today I read an article in the Atlantic written by a student at Stanford about the situation on campus regarding ‘protests’ around the Gaza war. My son had told me about it. The link is below, it’s behind a paywall, but you can get a free trial to read it, that’s what I did.

As a life long activist, I found this article, and the situation it describes, to be incredibly depressing. The incidents discussed sounded like online social media rants run amok, with little purpose and little effect. I agree with all of the writer’s conclusions, which are similar to mine in terms of the worthlessness, and dangerousness of this performative nonsense, much of which is vile, hate filled, and violent.

For a long time, I have created very clear boundaries around social media discussions, rejecting the idea that screaming insults at each other online was somehow helpful. Of course, the algorithms don’t like this and they reward those who ‘go at it’ online; so many of the things I write, and the discussions that follow, occur in small backwaters of the internets. That’s just fine with me. Quite frequently, someone will message me about how nice it is to read discussions on my page and how intelligent and uplifted they are. I say I have a lot of smart friends.

The methodology behind what I do has to do with Wisdom and the ancient teachings regarding her. Listening to Wisdom and allowing oneself to be formed by her is the best thing humans can do and she can be found wherever we look.

The problem isn’t social media, or computers, or AI, or whatever, the problem is that humans do not seek Wisdom. This was the problem when we were subsistence farmers in small villages and it’s the problem now.

But she meets us in every thought and she is more precious than all the material wealth in the world.

May we seek her out more often.

I didn’t know that college would be a factory of unreason.

27/03/2024

It was a lot of fun talking with Shannon T.L. Kearns about creativity. Check out this episode of his new podcast, as well as the other wonderful conversations:

https://living-the-process-with-host-shannon-tl-kearns.simplecast.com/episodes/4-TvfsRcdm

01/03/2024

Another day, another war crime in Gaza.

08/02/2024

I'm excited to spread the news about the GNW 5 Day Academy for Spiritual Formation event in April. Amy Oden and I are the event faculty and we'll be exploring a topic that's very relevant for our time: the spiritual wilderness and the resources that are available to us in situations of crisis and apocalypse. There are a spots still available for the event and I'd encourage you to consider joining us. Message me for details. Registration link in comments.

18/01/2024

Still time to register for the course on the origins and manifestations of antisemitism. Message me or email: [email protected]. Picture for the algorithms. lol.

11/01/2024

Greetings! The BTS Center is offering group spiritual direction circles for people interested in reflecting upon issues related to climate grief, anxiety, and leadership in a world of changing ecology. I'm leading another group, and there are several other wonderful facilitators leading groups. Would love to have you join. Check it out:

Program fee: $200 A limited number of half scholarships are available. Please contact Program Director, Nicole Diroff at [email protected] to inquire.

02/01/2024

Greetings friends. Here is the full description of the upcoming antisemitism class:

Antisemitism: Understanding its Origins and Current Manifestations
A Five Week Course

The class will run from Jan 22 to Feb 19.
Cost $100

All materials will be online. The class can be done on your own. There will be live sessions Monday 10-11 PST and Thursday 3-4 PST on Zoom. All live sessions are recorded so you can catch one if you miss it. Each live session will cover a different topic.

Antisemitism (AS) is a significant and long standing historical problem. In our current era, despite the horrors of the Holocaust in the 20th Century, AS is still very much with us and again on the rise. In America, AS hate crimes are, per capita, one of the most common hate crimes in our country. The current war in Gaza has only made the issue and conundrum of AS even more significant.

The questions that we are going to examine in this class are the WHY of these trends and issues.

Why is AS such a fixture of the era since Christianity began?

What is it about Christianity that almost makes AS a necessary part of the Christian landscape?

In America, the cohort of non-Jews who are the most antisemitic are also among the largest supporters of Israel. What causes this paradoxical situation?

Why is it problematic in our current era to call Jesus a “Palestinian Jew”, as many progressive Christians have taken to doing?

Why did it take until the 1960s, not the 560s!, for the Pope to officially declare that the “Jews didn’t kill Jesus”?

What is problematic about Western Christians taking ‘sides’ in the current conflict in Israel/Palestine without reflecting upon Christian history?

If these questions are of interest, then this class is for you!

For questions, or to register, contact Daniel Wolpert at [email protected]

28/11/2023

Course Announcement: I've had a number of requests to offer my Antisemitism course again. Obviously considering what is going on in Israel/Palestine right now, and the variety of responses to that situation, many of which have been antisemitic, I believe this subject is very timely. My experience is that most expressions of Christianity are quite antisemitic, a reality that the majority of Christians do not understand. This, coupled with a very difficult geopolitical situation is a recipe for the ongoing disaster we are seeing every day.

So: This class will be 5 weeks from the week of January 22-February 19. Mark your calendars, more info to come. If you are interested please just message me or respond here and I will make sure you are on the mailing list.

08/06/2022

Alas friends (and enemies), this is our last episode together. We started Transmission early in the pandemic as a sort of experiment. But the time has come to bring the experiment to a close.

It has been an amazing and consequential couple of years. Societally and personally. Join us we reflect upon lessons learned and hopes for the future.

31/05/2022

Well, friends, it is time. Wednesday, June 8th at 10am Central will be the final episode of Transmission.

For this final episode, we will reflect over the project, which began as a sort of experiment and reflection. What have we learned along the way? We invite viewers (and listeners), whether you've followed from the beginning or joined in somewhere along the way to comment and reflect with us.