Join John Vervaeke, a cognitive scientist and professor, as he dives deep into the complexity of spirit and unity. He explores how consciousness and community interact, reshaping our understanding of existence. Vervaeke discusses the intersection of AI and spirituality, offering insights on personal transformation and collective identity. He critiques modern dichotomies, advocating for a holistic view of being, while emphasizing the vital role of in-person fellowship in a digital age. Get ready for a thought-provoking discussion!
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insights INSIGHT
Neoplatonic Community as Being
Neoplatonic ontology recovers relationality over substance ontology, avoiding dualism and nihilism.
Ontological community is the enacted icon of being, grounding fellowship deeply beyond social or cultural terms.
insights INSIGHT
Unity and Multiplicity as Call and Response
The union of unity and multiplicity is like a call and response, transcending simple hierarchies.
Humans naturally prioritize unity as a way to identify and name beings.
insights INSIGHT
Smashing Dichotomies to See Spirit
Modern dichotomies (natural/supernatural, mind/body) block understanding of spirit and sacred.
To see spirit anew we must smash these dichotomies and emerge with a phenomenology-informed sensibility.
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Catherine Pickstock's "Aspects of Truth: A New Religious Metaphysics" offers a profound critique of modern philosophy's tendency to fragment reality. Pickstock argues for a relational understanding of truth, challenging the traditional subject-object dichotomy. She draws on theological and philosophical traditions to develop a metaphysics that emphasizes the interconnectedness of all things. The book explores the limitations of purely analytical approaches to understanding reality and proposes a more holistic perspective. Pickstock's work is a significant contribution to contemporary metaphysics and theology.
What is spirit? This was one of my most meaningful conversations with John Vervaeke yet. As we prepare for the Midwestuary 2025 conference in Chicago, we explore how beings come into existence, the mystery of unity and multiplicity, and what’s really going on with AI, angels, and the spirit of community. John shares some powerful personal transformations as well. I hope you enjoy this deep dive into spirit, ontology, and meaning.
YouTube version: https://youtu.be/hqmSW3SgzHs
Register for the 2025 Midwestuary Conference in Chicago, August 22-24: https://www.midwestuary.com/
NEW COURSE: Scripture: The Key to Reality, presented by Seraphim Hamilton This course is designed to help students appreciate the unique role the Bible plays in helping us step into the world as it truly is: a symbolic revelation of the Infinite God. Scripture is symbolic because it is a revelation of Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ is the Archetype of the World. In a way, then, Scripture enfolds within itself the totality of the world, guiding its hearers to see an icon of Christ in each of God’s creatures: from trees to beasts to priests. - Live classes are on Tuesday at 2 - 4 pm Eastern Time, starting June 10th through July 22nd, 2025 - Class Length: 5 sessions, 10 hours total - Cost: 120 USD (108 USD for Involved patrons) - Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/scripture-the-key-to-reality
- Get early access to Rapunzel and the Evil Witch: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/rapunzel-and-the-evil-witch - Symbolism Masterclass course by Jonathan Pageau: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/symbolism-masterclass - John Vervaeke's course on the Symbolic World, The Cognitive Science of Ritual: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/the-cognitive-science-of-ritual
00:00 - Intro by Jonathan 01:25 - Intro music 01:50 - Midwestuary conference details 03:42 - What is Spirit? 05:21 - John's response 08:22 - Fellowship 11:00 - Jonathan's response 13:34 - Why it's hard to think about unity and multiplicity 16:35 - Dualism in spirit 18:32 - Modern false dichotomies 24:19 - Jonathan: Spirit outside of minds? 30:57 - Are there non-psychological spirits? 33:42 - Gathered in man 35:55 - Reduction can go both ways 37:35 - The seat of self-consciousness 42:01 - A human centered view 43:36 - John: The standard of realness 49:30 - An embodied world for everyone 56:17 - Porosity between science and myth 01:00:39 - Breath 01:02:05 - A post-Kantian vision 01:05:52 - Exampting and group identity 01:10:40 - Liturgy and team spirit 01:17:48 - Are spirits just psychological? 01:20:26 - Prophesy 01:27:43 - How do we use technology? 01:34:01 - AI
🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
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