Author Brendan Graham Dempsey and Dr. John Vervaeke discuss metamodern spirituality's role in renewing Christianity. They explore blending ancient faith with modern insights, addressing critiques of the Bible, the faith-science relationship, and psychological aspects of religion. The conversation aims to revitalize Christian understanding and deepen engagement with reality.

Jim talks with Brendan Graham Dempsey about his book Emergentism: A Religion of Complexity for the Metamodern World. They discuss the meaning crisis & its symptoms, reciprocal narrowing, the pre-modern & the modern, the emergence of reductionism, the meaning of complexity & emergence, sacralizing the scientific creation narrative, Prigogine's theory of dissipative systems, the universe as a process of endless complexification, marrying Bobby Azarian's Unifying Theory of Reality & Gregg Henriques's Unified Theory of Knowledge, consciousness vs sentience, Integrated Information Theory vs John Searle's biological functionalism, the odds that intelligent life evolved only once in our galaxy, tying complexification to the God concept, making the "religion that is not a religion" accessible through mythopoeia & storytelling, the Omega Point, whether approaching the Omega Point implies pushing for a techno-Singularity, Emergentist ethics & practices, and much more. Episode Transcript Emergentism: A Religion of Complexity for the Modern World, by Brendan Graham Dempsey "Awakening from the Meaning Crisis," by John Vervaeke - YouTube series JRS EP143 - John Vervaeke Part 1: Awakening from the Meaning Crisis The Emergence of Everything: How the World Became Complex, by Harold Morowitz The Romance of Reality: How the Universe Organizes Itself to Create Life, Consciousness, and Cosmic Complexity, by Bobby Azarian JRS EP 159 - Bobby Azarian on the Romance of Reality JRS EP105 - Christof Koch on Consciousness JRS EP 167 - Bruce Damer on the Origins of Life JRS EP 171 - Bruce Damer Part 2: The Origins of Life – Implications JRS EP40 - Eric Smith on the Physics of Living Systems Brendan Graham Dempsey is a writer whose work focuses on the meaning crisis and the nature of spirituality in metamodernity. He is the host of the Metamodern Spirituality podcast and the writer behind the six-volume (and counting) Metamodern Spirituality Series. He earned his BA in Religious Studies from the University of Vermont and his MA in Religion and the Arts from Yale University. He lives in Greensboro Bend, Vermont, where he runs the holistic retreat center Sky Meadow.

In this podcast, host Layman interviews Brendan Graham Dempsey, a writer focusing on metamodernism. They discuss the foundations of metamodernism, the structure of meaninglessness, the triple hermeneutic in sociology, cultural commentary, the relation between metamodernism and postmodernism/modernism, zetetic thinking and epistemology, and an oscillation model of metamodernism.

Brendan Graham Dempsey, director of Sky Meadow Institute and author of the Metamodern Spirituality Series, dives deep into the evolution of spirituality. He discusses how metamodern Christianity can revitalize ancient doctrines while integrating science and spirituality. Dempsey critiques traditional religious views and introduces concepts like Transcendent Naturalism. The conversation encourages exploring meaning within cosmic complexity and emphasizes dialogical relationships in spiritual understanding, merging personal growth with broader cultural themes.

In this episode, Brendan Graham Dempsey discusses the meaning crisis and spirituality in metamodernity. He explores emergentism and the meaning of meaning, emphasizing the history of cultural meaning-making systems. The episode also touches on unified theories of reality, cosmic evolution, information theory of individuality, and symbolic evolution. The conversation reflects on the intersection of spirituality and naturalism, distributed cognition, and the evolution of worldviews. It concludes with a discussion on navigating chaos with courage and wisdom.

Brendan Graham Dempsey discusses a metamodern version of Christianity, integrating tribal, imperial, traditional, modern, and postmodern conceptions of God. He explores the deepening relationship between God and man through a series of covenants/dispensations, highlighting the evolving understanding of the ever-transcendent Divine. The podcast covers the dynamics of learning, the revelation of God as a learning process, and the progression of divine relationships through different epochs in sacred history.

Dr. John Vervaeke and guests delve into transcendent naturalism, wisdom traditions, adaptive insight, animism, and the sacred in the modern world. They discuss collective intelligence, collective awakening, religious reconstruction, and the integration of religion and science. The episode inspires listeners to rethink reality, embrace harmony, and explore the future of faith.

Brendan Graham Dempsey, writer, poet, and farmer, along with Tomas Björkman, entrepreneur and financier, discuss the transition from postmodernism to metamodernism. They explore topics such as systems theory, integrating insights from postmodernism, the postmodern volitional move, understanding the postmodern individual, and the complexities of metamodernism. They also touch on the relationship between metamodernism and capitalism and how to navigate that relationship in the current economic system.

Brendan Graham Dempsey explores the evolution of cultures from pre-modern to metamodern era, explaining the importance of updating worldviews. He discusses the challenges of transitioning through cultural stages, the hero's journey concept, and the shift from modernism to postmodernism. The podcast provides insights on the relationship between individual mentalities and societal developments, emphasizing the need for cultural evolution to accommodate complexity.

Dr. John Vervaeke and Brendan Graham Dempsey navigate the intricacies of meaning, spirituality, and the human experience. They touch on Neoplatonism and Zen, delve into Brendan's work on meaning, discuss the influence of historical figures like Plotinus and Dante, and explore the synthesis between science and ancient wisdom. They also explore contemplation and insight, the symbolic meaning of the human face, and the interconnectedness of self-consciousness and relationships.