Cosmos & Community (September 2018)
Cosmos & Community (September 2018)
Connecting With Our Past So We Can Craft The Future
Within the last 100 years, humanity has come to a radically new understanding of who we are and how we got here. This course will cover the 13.8 billion years of cosmological evolution that has brought us to today. How did we get here? Where are we going? What does it all mean? And, crucially, is there a way forward here on planet Earth? Cosmos & Community will trace our path to today so that we may help foster the community of life through to tomorrow.
Date: Wednesdays, September 5, 12, 19, 26
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Location: SE Uplift | 3534 SE Main St.
Tier A Pricing: $120 ($30/hr or above wage earners)
Tier B Pricing: $90 ($16-29/hr wage earners)
Tier C Pricing: $60 ($15/hr or below wage earners)
See our Pricing + Generosity Policy for more information on tiered pricing.
Week 1: Journey of the Universe: How We Got Here
We cover the 13.8 billion years of known history, from the Big Bang to today. We'll discuss the major arc of evolution and touch on the major events like the initial flaring forth, the birth of stars and galaxies, the creation of our solar system and Earth, birth of Life, and early humans. We'll be guided by Journey of the Universe by Mary Evelyn Tucker and Brian Swimme.
Week 2: The New Story: Teilhard and Berry
We'll grapple with the philosophical and theological implications of this relatively brand new story of cosmological evolution, this new understanding of ourselves and where we fit in. Is the Universe evolving toward something? If so, where or what or when? What does it all mean? We'll read and discuss selections from Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Thomas Berry, and other important thinkers who found their worldview on the primacy of this new Universe story.
Week 3: Resilience is an Attitude: Tactics for Transformation
The astounding, miraculous saga that has birthed planet Earth's current life community (including a species of apes who can reflect on the 13 billion year process of their own becoming) seems to be at a frightfully dire crossroads. 9 billion human beings in less than 30 years will be testing all ecological tipping points, if we have not already blown by them. How can we create the conditions that allow for our descendants to be existing and thriving with all of life on Earth in 500 years? We explore tactics of cultural transformation.
Week 4: Do Your Thing: Time to Act
We form into teams and and work to produce projects designed to hasten the Great Turning.
Working to create the greatest cultural revolution in the history of the planet is a lot more fun when you have a friend along. Use discount code YOUVEGOTAFRIEND for 33% off registration for Cosmos & Community.
Morgan Fitzgibbons has an M.A. in Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness. He is the creator of the underground dinner competition the Urban Eating League, director of Community Engagement at Outside Lands Music Festival, and has helmed organizations centered around neighborhood resilience, civic innovation, and community celebration. He has taught courses on community organizing, the history of the universe, and the Haight-Ashbury cultural movement in the Environmental Studies department at the University of San Francisco. He also manages operations at PUGS.