DOCSLIB.ORG

A Purpose for Everything by L. Charles Birch

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

A Purpose For <I>Everything</I> return to religion-online 31 A Purpose For Everything by L. Charles Birch Charles Birch is a biologist specializing in genetics, and resides in Australia. He is joint winner of the 1990 International Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion.. His teaching career includes Oxford, Columbia and the Universities of Chicago and Minnesota, as well as visiting professor of genetics at the University of California at Berkeley and professor of biology at the University of Sydney. Professor Birch has blazed new paths into the relationships between science and faith. Published by Twenty-third Publications, Mystic, Connecticut, 1990. This material was prepared for Religion Online by Ted and Winnie Brock. (ENTIRE BOOK) Birch holds that post-modern scientific materialism is insufficient to explain the world. He proposes an ecological model in which all entities, from protons to humans, are ultimately related. Only this, he says, can deal adequately with the post modern world. Introduction The reformation of modernism into postmodernism involves a radical transformation of science, religion and culture that constitutes a revolution even greater than the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment. Chapter 1: Purpose in Human Life Future possibilities are real causes in our lives. If, as a society, we are to make a creative response to the overwhelming challenges of war, injustice and environmental destruction of our time, there need be agreement about purposes that are stronger than the differences that divide us. Chapter 2: Purpose in Nature The profound question evolution raises is why did atoms evolve to cells and to plants and to animals? Materialism (which itself is a metaphysic) provides no real answer to this question. The ecological model opens up a way to understanding this in terms of lure and response. In the ecological model we recognize in all entities some measure of responsiveness and freedom which we share. Chapter 3: Purpose in the Universe Materialism or mechanism does not explain the world. Rather, individual entities from protons to people are influenced, not only by their external relations, but are influenced, even constituted, by their internal relations with their environment. Internal relations have nothing to do with the laws of mechanics. The laws of mechanics have only to do with external relations. The ecological model of nature is a credible alternative to materialism and mechanism. http://www.religion-online.org/cgi-bin/relsearchd.dll/showbook?item_id=2283 (1 of 2) [2/4/03 2:19:25 PM] A Purpose For <I>Everything</I> Chapter 4: A Cosmic Purpose A faith in a cosmic purpose that is credible in an age of science and that could lead to harmony between human beings and between them and the rest of nature is the challenge. Another way of putting it is to ask -- is there divine love at the heart of the universe? Chapter 5: Purpose and Progress How can a postmodern worldview illumine the momentous problems of our time: peace, justice and ecological sustainability? There is more to enlightenment than the knowledge that science, technology, economics and politics bring. This the Enlightenment failed to recognize. Chapter 6: Dismantling the Tower of Babel Religion in the postmodern world will become relevant only insofar as it can once again find dialogue with all the disciplines and help to transform their divided house into some sort of whole. Chapter 7: New Wine in New Bottles Divided disciplines must be brought together again. An affirmation of the presence of the future life is essential. Human life feeds on purpose, on the richness of life, upon the purposes we freely choose. Viewed 312 times. http://www.religion-online.org/cgi-bin/relsearchd.dll/showbook?item_id=2283 (2 of 2) [2/4/03 2:19:25 PM] religion online religion-online.org Full texts by recognized religious scholars More than 4,500 articles and chapters. Topics include Old and New Testament, Theology, Ethics, History and Sociology of Religion, Communication and Cultural Studies, Pastoral Care, Counseling, Homiletics, Worship, Missions and Religious Education. Click on a Category. Or Search Religion Online. THE BIBLE THEOLOGY THEOLOGIANSSOCIAL ISSUESHISTORY OF CHURCHES AND Authority of the LiberalBible Augustine Abortion RELIGION SOCIETY Old Testament Post Liberal/ModernBarth Capitalism/CommunismHistory Before 1900Black Churches New Testament Evangelical /ConservativeBonhoeffer Church and State History After 1900Catholicism Bible CommentaryCatholic Darwin Drugs Civil Rights MovementChurch in Society Liberation Cobb Ecology/EnvironmentThe Religious RightChurch in the World LOCAL CHURCHWomen's - FeministNiebuhr. ReinholdGlobalization Communities Congregational LifeProcess Niebuhr, H. RichardHomosexuality Islam Ecumenism Denominations Indian and AsianPannenberg Law and Order Comparative ReligionsEvangelicalism Evangelism Judaic and JudaismTillich Poor and OppressedPsychology of ReligionFamily Life Inclusive LanguageDalit Tracy Pornography Fundamentalism Megachurch Science and TheologyWesley Public Education ETHICS Liberalism/Conservatism Christian Ethics Religious EducationMiscellaneous Whitehead Public Policy Palestine-Israel Death & Dying The Art of Preaching Other TheologiansTerrorism Religion and Politics Economic Justice Women Clergy Other Social Issues Genetics Worship/LiturgyPRACTICAL CULTURE THEOLOGY Religion and theRELIGIOUS Arts SOCIOLOGYSexuality COMMUNICATIONCounseling and MentalArchitecture Sociology of the ChurchViolence And Religion Health Radio, TV, MoviesSociology of the SocietyWar and Peace SEARCH RELIGION And Public PolicyAging Literature, Writers ONLINE In the Local ChurchIllness and HandicappedMusic, ComposersEDUCATION MISSIONS Media EducationNature of the ChurchPainting, PaintersLocal Church Education The Nature of Mission Prayer and SacramentsCultural CriticismHigher Education The Christian Life ABOUT RELIGION INDEX BY AUTHOR The Ministry RECOMMENDEDBOOK LIST (200INDEX online) BY CATEGORY ONLINE SITES http://www.religion-online.org/ [2/4/03 2:19:40 PM] A Purpose For <I>Everything</I> return to religion-online A Purpose For Everything by L. Charles Birch Charles Birch is a biologist specializing in genetics, and resides in Australia. He is joint winner of the 1990 International Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion.. His teaching career includes Oxford, Columbia and the Universities of Chicago and Minnesota, as well as visiting professor of genetics at the University of California at Berkeley and professor of biology at the University of Sydney. Professor Birch has blazed new paths into the relationships between science and faith. Published by Twenty-third Publications, Mystic, Connecticut, 1990. This material was prepared for Religion Online by Ted and Winnie Brock. Introduction In this phase of human history there is widespread conflict between our conception of ourselves and our conception of the world. We see ourselves as beings that are conscious, that are rational, have free will and are purposive. But we see the world as consisting of mindless, meaningless, totally determined physical bits and pieces that are non- purposive. A society that lives with this dichotomy is operating out of a profound error that is destroying much that is worthwhile both in ourselves and in the world. The general picture most of us have about the world is derived from Newton’s mechanics of the seventeenth century. The man in the street, whether he knows it or not, still lives in Newton’s world. A lot has changed since then, but the general picture for most of us hasn’t. In classical Newtonian mechanics, once the initial conditions and the force laws are given, everything is calculable for ever before and after. The system is governed completely by the laws of mechanics and of conservation of energy. It is totally determined. It has no freedom. By contrast, any human situation is quite different. Imagine a city street in which pedestrians and traffic are milling around. The flows of traffic and the movements of any pedestrian cannot be predicted using the laws of mechanics. If a pedestrian tries to cross the road against the traffic http://www.religion-online.org/cgi-bin/relsearchd.dll/showchapter?chapter_id=2137 (1 of 10) [2/4/03 2:20:10 PM] A Purpose For <I>Everything</I> lights he may meet an oncoming vehicle; the driver applies brakes and there is an accident. Newton’s laws are no help at all in describing that system. The situation is utterly dependent upon the decision of the pedestrian to cross the street at the wrong time and the decision of the driver to try to stop his vehicle. Planets, solar systems, atoms and molecules seem helpless slaves to the forces that push them around. Human beings are also pushed around. But most of us recognize something else in ourselves -- some degree of freedom to choose what we do. Purposes determine a great deal about our lives. Although this example has a modern ring to it, there is nothing really new about the problem it presents, which is: How is it that freedom and purpose that determine so much about us arise in a world that seems to run entirely on mechanical laws? The issue of two kinds of cause, mechanical ones and purposive ones, was set before his fellow Athenians by Socrates in 399 BC. as he sat in prison contemplating his death. Today it is the central issue in the battle between science and religion. It is also the central issue in the relationship of modern human beings to their environment. Whether we are aware of it or not, most of the problems of the modern
Recommended publications
  • 2003 Judges 1996 Dr

    2003 Judges 1996 Dr

    Plincipals Telllpleton Pdze Laureates Sir John Templeton. Cha irma n 2003 Prof. Holmes Rolston. III. philosopher. Colorado Springs. Colorado . USA John M. Templeton. Jr.. M.D .• President 2002 The Rev. Dr. John C. Polkinghorne. scientist and theologian, Cambridge. England 200 1 The Rev. Canon Dr. Arthur Peacocke. scien tist and theologian. Oxford. England Mrs. BsrlNJ,. Small. Executive Director 2000 Prof. Freeman Dyson. scientist. Princeton , New Jersey. USA 1999 Prof. Ian Barbour, sCientist and theologian . Northfield. Minnesota. USA 1998 Sir Sigmund Sternberg. businessman, Lo ndon. England 1997 Sri Pandurang Shastri Athavale, founder of the Swadhyaya movement, Bombay. India 2003 Judges 1996 Dr. William R. Bright evangelist , Orlando, Florida, USA Francis Cardmal AnnIe 1995 Prof. Paul Davies. sc ient ist. Adelaide. Austral ia Ramanath Cowski. PhD, 1994 Michae' Novak. philosopher and theologian. Washington. DC, USA Bruno Guiderdoni. Ph D 1993 Charles W. Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship. Washington, DC, USA Sir Brian Heap. CBE 1992 The Rev. Dr. Kyung-Chik Han. Presbyterian pastor. Seoul. Korea Srr John Houghton 1991 The Rt. Hon. The Lord Jakobovits. former Chief Rabbi of Great Britain and the Max Jammer. Ph.D. Commonwea Ith Monshu Koshin OMan! 1990 Awarded joint ly to Baba Amte, of the Anandwan community. India, and The Viscountess Brentford. OBE Prof. Charles Birch, biologist . Sydney. Australia Metropolitan John l il iaulas 1989 Awarded jointly to : The Very Rev. The Lord MacLeod, of the lona Community. Scotland. and Prof. Carl Friedrich von Weizsiicker, physic ist. Starnberg. Germany 1988 Dr. Inamullah Khan. forme r Secretary·General. World Muslim Congress. Karachi . Pakistan 1987 The Rev. Prof.
  • Aspects of Secularized Religion Within the Tradition of New South Wales Methodism Since 1930 Winifred Lily Ward University of Wollongong

    Aspects of Secularized Religion Within the Tradition of New South Wales Methodism Since 1930 Winifred Lily Ward University of Wollongong

    University of Wollongong Research Online University of Wollongong Thesis Collection University of Wollongong Thesis Collections 1988 Aspects of secularized religion within the tradition of New South Wales Methodism since 1930 Winifred Lily Ward University of Wollongong Recommended Citation Ward, Winifred Lily, Aspects of secularized religion within the tradition of New South Wales Methodism since 1930, Doctor of Philosophy thesis, Department of History and Politics, University of Wollongong, 1988. http://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/1422 Research Online is the open access institutional repository for the University of Wollongong. For further information contact the UOW Library: [email protected] ASPECTS OF SECULARIZED RELIGION WITHIN THE TRADITION OF NEW SOUTH WALES METHODISM SINCE 1930 All things are intertwined, the one with the other, and sacred is the bond: there is practically nothing alien the one to the other, for all things have been marshalled in order and constitute the one Cosmos. For there is both one Cosmos of all things, and one God through all, and one Substance, and one Law, and one common Reason of intelligent beings, and one Truth. Marcus Aurelius ASPECTS OF SECULARIZED RELIGION WITHIN THE TRADITION OF NEW SOUTH WALES METHODISM SINCE 1930 A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY from THE UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG by WINIFRED LILY WARD, B.A., (Hons., Wollongong) DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 1988 I hereby certify that the work embodied in this thesis is the result of original research and has not been submitted for a higher degree to any other university or institution.
  • We Are Trying to Persuade People That No Human Has Yet Grasped the First

    We Are Trying to Persuade People That No Human Has Yet Grasped the First

    “We are trying to persuade people that no human has yet grasped the first one percent YS25EAR of what can be known about spiritual realities. So we are encouraging people to start using the same methods of science that have been so productive in other areas, in order A to discover spiritual realities.”—Sir John Templeton JOHN TEMPLETON FOUNDATION CAPABILITIESJohn Templeton Foundation CAPABILITIESREPO REPORRT T “How little we know, how eager to learn.” Celebrating the Time, Opportunities, & Blessings of the first YEARS25 of the John Templeton Foundation & Laws of Life Essay Contest YEARS40 of the Templeton Prize 100YEARS since the birth of Sir John Templeton CONTENTS Letter from the President 2 The Vision of Sir John Templeton 6 History of the Foundation 14 2012 Anniversary Year Overview 32 Templeton Prize 36 Laws of Life 40 Templeton Press 42 Grants Around the World 44 Big Questions and Current Initiatives 46 Financial Data 58 60 Trustees John Templeton Foundation CAPABILITIES REPORT Letter from the ince the origin of the Foundation in 1987, how effectively have we addressed Sir John’s expansive vision and the core themes he established for the Templeton Foundation? How have we embraced President the critical role of contrarian perspectives? S Part of my father’s vision was that science can be a friend to spir- ituality rather than an adversary. Another part was that we know far less than we think, but not as much as we might. A third key princi- ple is that humility in the face of uncertainty, tied to mental rigor in the pursuit of new information, is the proper path to greater spiritual and empirical understanding of the universe.
  • PERSPECTIVES on Science and Christian Faith

    PERSPECTIVES on Science and Christian Faith

    PERSPECTIVES ON SCIENCE AND CHRISTIAN FAITHPERSPECTIVES VOLUME 60, NUMBER 4 DECEMBER 2008 on Science and Christian Faith JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SCIENTIFIC AFFILIATION In this issue … Sir John Templeton: Member and Patron of ASA Chiasmic Cosmology and Atonement Defining Undesign in a Designed Universe Intelligent Design and the State University: Accepting the Challenge A Response to Douglas Groothuis God’s Use of Chance Evangelical and Catholic Interactions with Science “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.” Psalm 111:10 VOLUME 60, NUMBER 4 DECEMBER 2008 (US ISSN 0892-2675) (CPM #40927506) Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith Manuscript Guidelines © 2008 by the American Scientific Affiliation The pages of Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith (PSCF) are open Editor to original, unpublished contributions that interact with science and Christian ARIE LEEGWATER (Calvin College) faith in a manner consistent with scientific and theological integrity. Published 1726 Knollcrest Cir. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 papers do not reflect any official position of the American Scientific Affiliation. [email protected] 1. Submit all manuscripts to: Arie Leegwater, Editor, Calvin College, Managing Editor De Vries Hall, 1726 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4403. E-mail: [email protected]. Submissions are typically acknowledged within LYN BERG (American Scientific Affiliation) PO Box 668, Ipswich, MA 01938-0668 10 days of their receipt. [email protected] 2. Authors must submit an electronic copy of the manuscript formatted in Word as an email attachment. Typically 2–3 anonymous reviewers critique Book Review Editors each manuscript submitted for publication. REBECCA FLIETSTRA (Point Loma Nazarene Univ.) 3.
  • The Environment Al Philosophy of Charles Birch

    The Environment Al Philosophy of Charles Birch

    THE ENVIRONMENT AL PHILOSOPHY OF CHARLES BIRCH. SIMON WINTER MASTER OF SCIENCE AND SOCIETY (HONOURS) 1993 Table of Contents Page Acknowledgements I Introduction 1 Bibliography of L. Charles Birch 15 Literature Review 26 Chapter 1. The Demise of the Mechanistic Model 36 Chapter 2. The Mind of Matter 49 Chapter 3. An Ethic of Intrinsic Value 62 Chapter 4. The Immanence of God 83 Chapter 5. A New Natural Theology 97 Chapter 6. An Ecological Model 119 Chapter 7. The Conclusion 132 References 136 Acknowledgments I would like to acknowledge the generous assistance given to me by my two supervisors, Dr Bruce Kaye and Assoc. Professor David Oldroyd. They have both provided valuable assistance throughout this project. The major burden of supervising my work, however, has fallen to Bruce Kaye and I am indebted to him for his patience, encouragement and wisdom. I would also like to thank Charles Birch for assisting me with his bibliography and for some helpful discussions at the beginning of the project. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the support of my wife, Christine, who provided me with the opportunity and the love to see this project to completion. Introduction The problems of global management are all connected. You can no longer do only one thing. Resource shortages, unemployment, inflation, environmental deterioration, population explosion and even crime are all interconnected. This network of problems won't be solved by any one expert or any number of experts. It is one problem and has to be tackled as one. Charles Birch, On Purpose. Charles Birch argues that the universe is more akin to a life than a machine.
  • Laureates 1973-2018 (2.447Mb)

    Laureates 1973-2018 (2.447Mb)

    e e z z i DISTINGUISHED PRIZE LAUREATES SIR John Templeton i r r P P 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 King Abdullah II of Jordan Alvin Plantinga RABBI LORD JONATHAN SACKS Jean Vanier Tomáš Halík Desmond Tutu the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso Martin J. Rees Francisco J. Ayala n n The Templet on Prize honors a livin g pe rson who has made o “How might humankind’s spiritual o 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 an e xceptional contribution Bernard d’Espagnat Michael Heller Charles Taylor John D. Barrow Charles H. Townes George F. R. Ellis Holmes Rolston III John C. Polkinghorne Arthur Peacocke information and advancement to affirming life ’s spiritual increase by more than a hundred fold? t t dimension, whethe r through This is the challenge presented by the e in sight , di sco very, or p ractical Templeton Prize. Just as knowledge in e science, medicine, cosmology, and 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 l wor ks. Establish ed in 1 972 by Freeman Dyson Ian Barbour Sir Sigmund Sternberg Pandurang Shastri Athavale William R. “Bill” Bright Paul Davies Michael Novak Charles W. Colson Kyung-Chik Han other disciplines has grown l the late S ir Jo hn Templ eton, exponentially during the past century, p the Prize a im s, in h is word s, the Templeton Prize honors and p encourages the many entrepreneurs to identify “entrepreneurs of trying various ways for discoveries m 1991 1990 (awarded jointly) 1990 (awarded jointly) 1989 (awarded jointly) 1989 (awarded jointly) 1988 1987 1986 1985 m the spirit”– outstanding Lord Jakobovits Baba Amte L.
  • 1137552425.Pdf

    1137552425.Pdf

    The Big Bang and God The Big Bang and God An Astro-Theology wherein an astronomer and a theologian offer a study of interdisciplinary convergences with natural theology both in the scientific researches of Sir Fred Hoyle and in the philosophical researches of Charles Hartshorne and Alfred North Whitehead, thereby illustrating a constructive postmodern trend Theodore Walker Jr. and Chandra Wickramasinghe THE BIG BANG AND GOD Copyright © Theodore Walker Jr. and Chandra Wickramasinghe, 2015. All rights reserved. First published in 2015 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN® in the United States— a division of St. Martin’s Press LLC, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010. Where this book is distributed in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world, this is by Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited, registered in England, company number 785998, of Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS. Palgrave Macmillan is the global academic imprint of the above companies and has companies and representatives throughout the world. Palgrave® and Macmillan® are registered trademarks in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries. ISBN: 978–1–137–55242–6 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Walker, Theodore, 1953– The big bang and God : an astro-theology / Theodore Walker Jr. and Chandra Wickramasinghe. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978–1–137–55242–6— ISBN 1–137–55242–5 1. Astronomy—Religious aspects—Christianity. 2. Religion and science. 3. Cosmology. I. Wickramasinghe, Chandra, 1939– II. Title. BL253.W35 2015 201.65231—dc23 2015009996 A catalogue record of the book is available from the British Library.

  • Narrative and Peace: a “New Story” to Address Structural Violence

    COPYRIGHT AND USE OF THIS THESIS This thesis must be used in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Reproduction of material protected by copyright may be an infringement of copyright and copyright owners may be entitled to take legal action against persons who infringe their copyright. Section 51 (2) of the Copyright Act permits an authorized officer of a university library or archives to provide a copy (by communication or otherwise) of an unpublished thesis kept in the library or archives, to a person who satisfies the authorized officer that he or she requires the reproduction for the purposes of research or study. The Copyright Act grants the creator of a work a number of moral rights, specifically the right of attribution, the right against false attribution and the right of integrity. You may infringe the author’s moral rights if you: - fail to acknowledge the author of this thesis if you quote sections from the work - attribute this thesis to another author - subject this thesis to derogatory treatment which may prejudice the author’s reputation For further information contact the University’s Director of Copyright Services sydney.edu.au/copyright Narrative and Peace: a “New Story” to address structural violence by Juliet Bennett SID: 308241576 Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy March 2014 Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences The University of Sydney 2 Abstract This thesis applies narrative as theory and method to explore a growing body of interdisciplinary scholarship that connects a holistic and process understanding of the world (a “New Story”) with social and ecological justice (or “positive peace”).
  • Introduction Chapter 1

    Introduction Chapter 1

    Notes Introduction 1. The Economist, December 23, 2006–January 5, 2007. 2. Charles Hartshorne’s own brand of process thought is basically a theistic meta- physics. Indeed it is natural theology. In our investigation, therefore, we will keep in mind the close connection between Hartshorne’s metaphysical concept of person and his idea of God. Hartshorne claims that wrong views about God lead to wrong views about human beings. This work therefore complements Santiago Sia’s God in Process Thought: A Study in Charles Hartshorne’s Concept of God (Dordrecht: Martinus Nijhoff, 1985). 3. Alfred North Whitehead, Process and Reality: An Essay in Cosmology, Corrected Edition, eds. David Ray Griffin and Donald W. Sherburne (New York: Free Press, 1979), 21n32. Henceforth cited as PR. Chapter 1 1. The distinction between strict and nonstrict theories of personal identity has also been referred to in the literature as the “nonreductionist” and “reductionist,” as well as the “simple” and “complex views.” Cf. Harold Noonan, Personal Identity (London: Routledge, 1989). See also: Richard Swinburne, “Personal Identity,” Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, 74 (1973): 231–7; Derek Parfit, “The Unimportance of Identity,” Identity: Essays Based on Herbert Spencer Lectures Given in the University of Oxford, ed. Henry Harris (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1995), 16–20. 2. Paul Ricoeur, Oneself as Another, Trans. Kathleen Blamey (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1992), 116–17. English translation of Soi-même comme un autre, Editions de Seuil, March 1990. 3. Cf. J.L. Mackie, Problems From Locke (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1976), 173. 4. Cf. Parfit, “The Unimportance of Identity,” Identity, 14.
  • TEMPLETON PRIZE for Progress Toward Research Or Discoveries

    TEMPLETON PRIZE for Progress Toward Research Or Discoveries

    TEMPLETON PRIZE For Progress Toward Research or Discoveries about Spiritual Realities including research in love, creativity, purpose, infinity, intelligence, thanksgiving and prayer The Templeton Prize is the leading religion prize and among the world's largest monetary awards. Announced each spring at the Church Center for the United Nations in New York City, the prize is awarded to a living individual who has shown extraordinary originality in research or discoveries to advance understanding of God and spiritual realities. Recent winners include Freeman Dyson, Arthur Peacocke, Sir John Polkinghorne and Holmes Rolston III. The Duke of Edinburgh presents the award at a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace. The monetary value of the Templeton Prize is always set to exceed the Nobels to underscore Templeton's belief that benefits from advances in spiritual discoveries can be quantifiably more vast than those from other worthy human endeavors. Years ago, Alfred Nobel endowed a series of now famous and generous prizes for breakthroughs in fields like physics, chemistry, medicine, literature and even peace. Nobel did not, however, endow a prize for religion, no doubt because he believed that no breakthrough in religion would merit such a prize. Sir John Templeton challenged the belief that there could not be breakthroughs or progress in religion in 1973 when he created the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion, awarded annually to “a living individual who has shown extraordinary originality in research or discoveries to advance understanding of God and spiritual realities.” The Prize, now much more than $1 million, is funded to provide recipients with greater financial rewards than does the Nobel.
  • ECA Office Bearers 2007-2008

    ECA Office Bearers 2007-2008

    ISSN 1836-6813 1 2 ECA Office Bearers Message from the President 2009-2010 Dr Stephen Ambrose 5th January 2010 President: A Year in Perspective Stephen Ambrose [email protected] In recent years I’ve used (a small) part of the Christmas/New Year break to reflect on the overall nature of ecological consultancy st 1 Vice-President: opportunities of the previous 12 months and, if necessary, how my Judith Rawling [email protected] own business can service those trends. I am sure that many of you do the same. nd 2 Vice-President: Martin Denny [email protected] As part of this year’s analysis, I’ve referred to some of the many ECA Information Emails that we received over the last 12 months, Secretary: as well as news and comments from other internet sources. One Deryk Engel [email protected] trend that seems to be growing is the number of community groups initiating court challenges against government approvals Treasurer: of seemingly controversial development or activity applications. Public Officer: Paul Burcher The community action group is alive and well! [email protected] Web Master: Some of the community challenges that were before the NSW Stefan Rose Land and Environment Court in 2009, and which had an ecological [email protected] basis for the challenge, included: Councillors: Red Gum Forest Action Inc –v- Forests NSW. Mark Couston [email protected] The Rivers SOS Alliance Inc –v- NSW Minister of Planning Michael Murray and Helensburgh Coal Pty Ltd. [email protected] Liz Norris Newcastle and Hunter Valley Speleological Society –v- Upper [email protected] Hunter Shire Council and Stoneco Pty Ltd.
  • 4 March 1998 Dear Sir Sigmund, I Want to Congratulate You on Being

    4 March 1998 Dear Sir Sigmund, I Want to Congratulate You on Being

    THE SECRETARY-GENERAL 4 March 1998 Dear Sir Sigmund, I want to congratulate you on being named the recipient of the 1998 Terapleton Prize for Progress in Religion. This is a great honour and recognizes your untiring efforts on behalf of tolerance and peace among people of all faiths. Your lifelong dedication to deepening this dialogue inspires us all. Thank you for your kind words of support for my recent mission to Baghdad. Your good wishes and prayers are deeply appreciated. Yours sincerely, Kofi A. Annan Sir Sigmund Sternberg O.St.J.KCSG JP London 27-FEB-1998 11:44 FROM STERNBERQ 0171 485 4512 TO 0012129631185 P.02 Slar House Sir Sigmund Stemberg Grafton Ftoad London NWS <IBD O. StJ. KCSG JP Telephone 01T1 485-2S38 Facaiinila 0171 485-4512 February 27,1998 H.E. Mr. Kofi Anan lUJJL Secretary-Genera! of the United Nations UN Plaza New York, New York I am sure that the overwhelming majority of what we call the civilised world stands in your following the ^rafJjLa^a||y_successFi£ outcome _ . BaghdigrTwould wish to add"my thanks and admiration to theirs. When we stood together a year ago at the unveiling of the Wallenberg Monument in London, I thought for a moment that it would also fall to you to save possibly thousands of innocent people from death and destruction. 1 will be in New York nex^week for the_anno^ncgrrierit that l^ami^tojgcejye this year jgropj?to£jgrcre^ I would like to refer jn^rny press conference statement to your mission as a prime exampie of how dialogue underpins true diplomacy and how open and honest exchanges can contribute to the betterment of mankind, on every level.