The Meaning Code

Peter Berkman and Karen Wong discuss the life and work of Romano Guardini, a 20th-century theologian. They explored Guardini's delineation of the difference between oppositions and contradictions, and the idea that some things, like truth and falsehood, cannot exist in the tension of opposites. They also discussed the philosophical and ethical implications of the contradiction between living and non-living things, and the need to understand and tame the technological advancements that surround us in order to preserve our humanity.The conversation then turned to the importance of context and attention in building things, and the intersection of attention in the works of various philosophers and thinkers. Wong and Berkman also delved into the concept of experiential DNA and how it affects our perception of the world, arguing that acknowledging our biases is crucial for scientific research.Peter's latest album with Anamanaguchi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqPETi21K8QThanks so much for having me, that was great

Pastor Phil Eubank of Menlo Church in Silicon Valley tells his life story and how he looks at The Great Story. Along the way, we covered a range of topics, including his experience at Moody Bible Institute, and his appointment as lead pastor at Menlo Church. We also discussed deconstructing faith, understanding God, and the dangers of finding identity solely in labels. Phil shared his reading list and discussed the liturgical approach to Menlo's worship service and the significance of life groups in church communities. At the end, he reveals his current reading list and his thoughts on the impact of politics on the church and the dechurching of America. Books follow timestamps. Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:15 Phil EuBank's Life Story and Experience at Moody Bible Institute 08:53 Deconstructing Faith and Understanding God 13:55 Identity, Introspection, and the Great Story 17:20 Teaching and Understanding the Bible and Science 26:54 Phil EuBank's journey to Menlo Church 29:50 Adjusting to a New Environment 31:30 Recent Books Read by Phil EuBank 37:12 Exploring Liturgical Approaches to Worship Services 39:43 Explore God and Community Building 42:43 Importance of Life Groups in Church Communities 47:04 Navigating Politics and RealityThe Reappearing Church by Mark Sayers (pertinent quote from this book: "The renewal pattern is composed of four stages through which we progress: Holy Discontent, which leads into Preparation, which then sets us up for the posture of Contending, which then moves into the formation of Patterns that center our lives around God’s presence. A group of people gathered around this process then finds each other, forming a Remnant. The process looks like this, moving in a clockwise direction.” and “In the post-Christian vision, progress replaces God’s presence as the engine of history” Live No Lies by John Mark Comer Genesis Unbound by John Sailhammer How Not to Read the Bible by Dan Kimball The Air We Breath by Glen Scrivener The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt The Great De-Churching by Jim Davis, et al The 4 Views Series, including Creation, Evolution & Intelligent Design (Stephen Meyer, Ken Ham, and others)

The meeting began with Haris Neophytou providing an update on his research and transition period, highlighting his focus on his own research and departure from EU funded projects. He discussed his progress on his monster group theory and an alternative method of calculating entropy, as well as his interest in cognitive science and interdisciplinary research. Karen and Haris discussed the importance of different domains of knowledge in offering perspectives on the whole, and the need for generalists in academia who can explore beyond their domain. They also delved into the world of interdisciplinary connections and unconventional cognition, discussing the work of Michael Levin and his ability to bring together people from different disciplines to have fascinating conversations. They also explored Richard Watson's idea of morpho space and its connection to palindromes and recollection, and how quasi experimentation can be used to study living systems through numerical analysis and simulations. Additionally, they touched on the history of science and the work of Galvani, and how his experiments with electricity and bioelectricity relate to the concept of galvanization in computer science. The group then discussed the concept of different types of knowing, including perspicacious, perfusive, and palindromic knowing, each with their own unique characteristics and examples. They explored the importance of these types of knowing in various contexts. They also delved into the concept of palindromic knowing and its connection to tradition and knowledge passed down through generations. The meeting concluded with a deep discussion about the nature of truth, beauty, and goodness, and how they relate to God's love. They explored the idea of running experiments in life to move towards the ultimate good, and how this can be seen as a personal journey towards becoming more like Christ. Haris shared a personal story about a wish he made at a church in Turkey, and how it relates to his theory of maximum unentanglement. They also touched on the concept of factorization in order to talk about different service spaces, and how this relates to quantum physics and communication.Turing's work on the chemical basis of morphogenesis: https://www.dna.caltech.edu/courses/cs191/paperscs191/turing.pdfDragon drone light show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G1KBu6H6BMYves Klein's art, the International Klein Blue https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/yves-klein-1418 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Klein_BlueA Critique of Integrated Information Theory (IIT) - Scott Aaronson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQa5cu7Ao9M&t=1sAnd the actual open letter, signed by 124 researchers https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/zsr78/

Lucas Van Os, a literary enthusiast exploring human connection, joins the conversation about C.S. Lewis's 'Till We Have Faces.' They dive into the transformative power of love and the nature of sacrifice, analyzing complex character relationships. The impact of perspective on self-discovery is also discussed, highlighting how personal experiences shape our views. Lucas shares insights on how technology influences genuine interactions and the importance of deep connections in a superficial world, all while showcasing his passion for insightful conversations.

Allyn is an ad copywriter by day, and uses his creative side in comedy and sketch writing. Here, we discuss the aspects of creativity that supersede boundaries among artistic endeavors.

Jesse shared his creative journey, discussing his struggles with dyslexia and his love for music and film. Karen and Jesse delved into the complex topic of symbolism in art and music, discussing how it can create a narrative and resonate with audiences. They explored the balance between technical skill and symbolism, and the dangers of losing the symbolic message in pursuit of technical perfection and also touched on the idea that beauty can be hard to define and appreciate, and the importance of authenticity in art. Additionally, they discussed the Pre-Raphaelite movement and its deeply romantic and symbolic paintings, contrasting them with the formulaic plots of modern rom-coms. Jesse is concerned that people have become addicted to the certainty and predictability in music and stories, and how this has led to a trap of authenticity where people want to feel like they are having an authentic experience rather than embracing uncertainty. He suggested that artists and creators should try to find new ways to bring back ambiguity and develop new paths, rather than continually subverting expectations, delving into the personal and societal implications of coping with uncertainty and novelty. They explored how it affects engagement with art and entertainment, and how intentional desensitization can impact audiences. Going deeper, they talked about the concept of carrying burdens and the importance of recognizing one's limitations. They referenced the movie "The Mission" and Jesse's track "The Place of No Return" as examples of this idea. They also touched on the idea of meeting the transcendent at the limits of one's knowledge and the importance of acknowledging one's need. They talked about the idea that it is possible to idolize the call to adventure or the leap of faith and the danger of reducing the size of God by bringing the transcendent down to a level that can be grasped.

Karen and Scott explored the concepts of context, anomaly, synthesis, dichotomies, and deep triads, delving into the complexities of each. They also discussed the principles of art and the impact of algorithms and social media on learning and life.

Matthew talks about his personal experience with adoption and how it has impacted his life, including the practical and spiritual aspects of adoption. They also discussed the concept of the spirit of adoption and touched on the topic of harmony and its relation to biology and the universe, all while exploring the deeper connections between art, science, and spirituality. Matthew shared his inspiring story of adopting four children in four years and how it has helped him embody high ideas and become a better person. He talked about his transformation from a Protestant, charismatic worldview to an Orthodox and symbolic worldview and how Jordan Peterson and Jonathan Pageau have been instrumental in his journey. He also discussed the challenges of adopting children who have experienced trauma and the importance of foster families in providing love and support. Matthew and Karen discussed the importance of commitment in pursuing the good and finding rest in God. They explored how committing to self-emptying can lead to creating a better reality, particularly in parenting.

Magnus shared his life story and explained the inspiration behind his vision for restoring beauty to our world. He believes that the Protestant evangelical tradition has neglected the potential of beauty and overemphasized reason. Magnus and Karen delved into the topic of beauty and creativity in art and spirituality, sharing personal anecdotes and insights. They discussed the struggle of artists to create beautiful art in a world that values edginess and darkness, and the negative impact of modern art galleries. They also touched on the need for a revival of classical values and the importance of balancing contrast and conflict in art. Finally, they emphasized the importance of learning from each other and using elements that create a sense of timelessness and above-the-world thinking in both art and spirituality. Magnus Gautestad discussed his personality trait of being a pilgrim and how it has influenced his life choices, including becoming an entrepreneur. He also talked about his tendency to dive wholeheartedly into new things and leave difficult situations, which has been a trait in his family. Gautestad shared his spiritual journey and how he found true peace of mind in a small International Baptist church in the south of Spain, which grounded him and took his spirituality to a new level. Magnus also discussed the importance of having a vision as an entrepreneur, and how he is trying to paint a couple of visions for people so they can move in that direction. Magnus is proposing a strategy to turn ugly, modernistic areas into beautiful places, starting with small art centers and eventually building bigger urban developments. He suggests that faith-driven entrepreneurs can come together to develop a synergy of businesses and the profit from that will help to pay for the real estate of the church, making it sustainable and easily paying for itself. This will allow the church to be planted in urban areas where it is needed the most. Gautestad believes that the project will work and can easily pay for itself, but in order to reduce risk, the plan is to start with small art centers. In the meantime, he hopes to explore the impact of beauty on environmental stewardship, moral character, and spiritual life through his show, Beauty and the Faith.https://www.youtube.com/@beautyandthefaith

Michael Sartori discusses his vision for encouraging careers in the trades, working with one's hands, building beauty and community.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction and Background08:31 Discussion on Carpentry and Aesthetics13:04. The Value of Repurposing and Connection to Objects20:39 Integrating Faith and Work in the Trades28:35 Applying Practical Knowledge to Bible Study32:10 The Importance of Essential Trades and Building Quality People43:46 Addressing the Trade Shortage and Lack of Male Involvement in Churches49:45 Creating a Ministry for Skillful Men in the Church1:01:34 Job Corps and its Training Program1:04:15 Importance of Practical People in Building New Institutions1:09:23 Discussion on Tectonic School and Michael Sartori's Youtube Channels