Dr. Kurt Johnson has worked in science and spirituality for over 40 years. This dual career in science and spirituality is detailed at WIKIPEDIA. In spirituality, Kurt is co-author of the recently published book The Coming Interspiritual Age, with David Robert Ord, the Editorial Director of Namaste Publishing (publishers of such spiritual teachers as Eckhart Tolle and Michael Brown). As a New Release, the book has been in Amazon’s Top Ten in Spirituality.
Kurt was originally a Christian monk and founded, with Br. Wayne Teasdale and others, the InterSpiritual Dialogue Association for discussion of contemplative experience across traditions. Ordained in three spiritual traditions, he works also with The Contemplative Alliance and Integral Communities.
In science, Kurt is the co-author of the best-selling Nabokov's Blues: The Scientific Odyssey of a Literary Genius, with Steve Coates of The New York Times, which was a Top Ten Book in science in 2000. Kurt’s PhD is in evolution, ecology, systematics and comparative biology. Associated with the American Museum of Natural History (30 yrs.). He published 200+ articles on evolution and ecology, including the 2011 Harvard DNA sequence study vindicating Vladimir Nabokov’s views of evolution. He is currently completing another book on Nabokov’s science and art for Yale University Press. However, Kurt’s primary interest is the simplicity of nondual spiritual practice.
Kurt now hosts The CONVERGENCE SERIES on VoiceAmerica, a series joining the millennial message of the Wisdom Traditions and the many passion areas of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, spirituality and science. Ken Wilber frames the Series and guests well known to BATGAP include Deepak Chopra, Rob Bell, Brian McLaren, Karenna Gore, Michael Dowd, Duane Elgin, Gregg Braden, Fr. Thomas Keating, Steve Farrell, Karuna, Patricia Albere, David Nicol, Loch Kelly and Grammy Nominees Pato Banton and Ras I Ray. The website provides information on every episode including additional materials from the co-hosts and guests.
New book: Interspirituality: The Heritage
Other organizations with which Kurt is involved:
UNITY EARTH
The Interspiritual Network
Light on Light Magazine
Interspiritual Dialogue 'n Action
The Coming Interspiritual Age
From Self-Care to Earth-Care
Convergence Magazine
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded 1/12/2013
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to "The Coming Interspiritual Age"
00:05:03 - The Shift towards Non-Duality and Holism
00:09:00 - The Evolution of Human Capacities
00:13:09 - The Shaking Out Period
00:17:01 - Experimenting with Structural Change and New Ways of Doing Things
00:21:14 - The Unfolding of Patterns and Idealism
00:26:08 - Embedding Awakeness in Everything
00:30:34 - Overlapping Movements: Activism and Spirituality
00:34:14 - Creating a Welcoming Space for Conversation
00:37:29 - Divine Guidance and Conscious Choices
00:41:37 - Taking Radical Risks for Change
00:44:38 - The Embodiment Movement and the Non-dual World
00:47:43 - The Simultaneous Embodied and Transcendent Experience
00:51:14 - The Significance of Different Perspectives
00:54:47 - The Urgency to Avoid Extinction
00:58:18 - The Inter-Spiritual Movement and Universal Spirituality
01:01:47 - Inter-spirituality and the Universal Understanding
01:05:44 - Connecting the Dots and Implications of the Heart Sutra
01:08:50 - The Oneness of the Spiritual World
01:12:44 - Exploring the Subtler Realms of Reality
01:16:21 - Non-Dual Fundamentalists and the Mellowing Process
01:20:25 - A Cataclysmic Shift in Perception
01:23:26 - Connections and Dream Interpretations
01:27:02 - The Feeling of Completion and Moving On
01:29:53 - Stability in Monastic Life
01:32:55 - Curiosity without Investment
01:36:10 - The Universality of the Human Experience
01:39:50 - Welcoming the Holistic Gestalt
01:43:49 - Shifting from Religion to Spirituality
01:48:22 - Visitations from Perfected Beings and the Spiritual Side
01:52:06 - Closing Remarks and Future Updates