Background+on+the+Study

**Living Epiphany: Insights from Cosmology and Ecology** will be a discussion group that will examine “The Tao of Liberation: Exploring the Ecology of Transformation” by Leonardo Boff & Mark Hathaway. We will meet for 6 Sundays during adult Sunday school at REMB from January 6 - February 10. People are welcome to come just for the discussion if they do not have time to read the book.

__**Discussion Group Rough outline** __

Jan. 6th, Week 1: Forming and Introductions -Seeking Wisdom in a Time of Crisis, pg 1-15  Jan. 13th, Week 2: Insights into our World - A Pathological System pg 15-16,52-61  Jan. 20th, Week 3: Renewing the Psyche 113-126  Jan. 27th, Week 4: Insights into our Faith, the role of religions pg309-311,317-335  Feb. 3rd, Week 5: Special Topics: Transcending Matter, Complexity, Chaos, Creativity, Memory, Morphic Resonance, Emergence, Cosmogenesis  Feb. 10th, Week 6: Living Epiphany – Bringing it all together pg 344-366

__**Goals **__


 * To explore how we walk in the world using the “Tao of Liberation” as a guide
 * To critique this with our own personal viewpoints and narratives as informed by our faith
 * To explore opportunities to revise how we think and move through our day to day lives in regards our effect on ourselves, others and the environment we find ourselves in

__**Rough Meeting Format** __

- Gathering (5-10) - Brief review of previous thoughts (5) - Close reading of selected text (15-25) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">- Discussion, Questions, Comments, Activities (15-20) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">- Additional resources to peruse/Quotes & Questions for the week (take home) (2) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">- Closing Prayer (1)

__**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Desired Atmosphere **__

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">One of respectful questions where we do not make judgements of people but of actions and processes. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Where revision, renewal are emphasized over perfection. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Where we commit to holding each other safe to share what we truly think without fear in a respectful way. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">We will talk about what we talk about and even the act of talking is transformative– there is no pressure to solve large difficult issues or change the world in an hour.

__**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Background: **__

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">In protestant Christian tradition, the season of epiphany is the time from Christmas, the birth of Christ, to Lent, the preparation for the cross and resurrection of Christ. Epiphany celebrates the incarnation of God in humanity through Jesus Christ. Epiphany, the gift of Christ’s life realized as God incarnate in humanity, can open us up to new insight to live as Christ modeled and God intended.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">"Today we may be standing at the most important crossroads in the history of humanity, and indeed of the Earth itself. Deepening poverty and accelerating ecological degradation challenge us to act with insight and maturity: How can we move toward a future where meaning, hope, and beauty can truly flourish?” What insights can we draw from the incarnate Christ and creation to help us live out God’s transforming vision for creation?

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">“The Tao of Liberation is a search for this path, the wisdom needed to effect profound transformations in our world. Hathaway and Boff describe this wisdom using the ancient Chinese word Tao, meaning a way or path leading to harmony, peace, and right relationship. The Tao can also be understood as the wisdom that lies at the very heart of the flowing structure of the universe, encapsulating the essence of its purpose.”

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Quotes from http://www.taoofliberation.com/Home.aspx