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Written by Flora Chia-I Chang
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Wednesday, 23 November 2005 |
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Opening remarks from Flora Chia-I Chang, President, Tamkang University, at the start of the three-day conference held there from November 5-7 2005.
What is unique about our time is three-fold. First, dramatic developments in technology are driving from genetics to artificial intelligence to breakthroughs in the body-mind arena. Second is the process of globalisation, not just at the economic level but more deeply in the capacity of humanity to reflect upon itself, to question its direction. This is different from the question 'why?': it is the question of 'where to next?'. What do we want the world to be like? Third is the notion of 'we' - who is asking this question? Is the 'we' that is exploring the future our individual selves, or is there a collective 'we'? If so, what is the appropriate language to describe this 'we'? Do we use the eloquent work of Pico Iyer, who talks about the new emerging global self? Or do we use the language of Willis Harman, who wrote about the global mind? Or H.G. Wells and the global brain? I leave this crucial distinction to you, learned scholars.
But as a university president, my concern is not just research and inquiry but global action. What do we do with our new knowledge, our new technologies and our collective consciousness?
And this becomes the crucial question. Can we make the shift from survival - the jungle - to the vision of thrival, of working together to create a new future for the planet? Using our collective wisdom to make different types of decisions; decisions that do not jeopardise future generations, that reduce environmental pollution, that do not create a divided world - a world in conflict with itself - and ultimately, a world that while keeping the dignity of the individual understands that our soul, our mind and our actions are, and indeed must be, global in scope.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 06 December 2006 )
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What is the future of religion? |
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Written by Jan Lee Martin
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Wednesday, 23 November 2005 |
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"...the search is on for agreement around a global ethic and instruments of inter-religious cooperation" The coming century is shaping as one in which religion will continue to play a central role, both in its interaction with the secular world, and in the way relationships among particular religions will shape events, writes Peter Stuart, an Anglican priest and theologian in New Zealand.
"At the heart of what is called ‘secularisation' in the west is the separation of Church and State. In the ensuing ‘secular states' religion may decline, but it may also be enabled to flourish more freely. The extent of secularisation is thus distinct from the question of whether or not religion is declining, anywhere.
"Globally, the scene is complex, with some fall-off from some particular religions in some places, and growth in others. It certainly looks as though religion will continue to shape the lives of individuals and societies."
Noting that particular religions come and go, he points out that the major religions show no sign of disappearing, though their geographical distribution is changing (for example, the strong growth of Christianity in Africa and China). Westerners, he says, are often unaware of these trends. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 01 December 2005 )
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Religion: why it's here to stay and what to do about it |
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Written by Mark Braidwood
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Wednesday, 23 November 2005 |
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"Ever since logic, reason and scientific enquiry emerged from the era
of the enlightenment, most have accepted that scientific reasoning was
a system of gathering knowledge that, while imperfect, was more
reliable than religion in describing and predicting the behaviour of
the world," writes Mark Braidwood. "We have had Nietzche's famous
proclamation that "God is dead" and watched the existentialist
philosophers grapple with choices in a universe devoid of meaning and
purpose. Since then, expectations have arisen that religion might
fade into history, as scientific enquiry continued to challenge for,
and win, the task of describing our reality.
"Yet despite these challenges from science, it is clear religious
belief has not become irrelevant at all, and in fact there is evidence
of a resurgence in religious fanaticism, particularly in the United
States. Witness also the discussions about placing ‘intelligent
design' on the school curriculum in the US and Australia and the
upsurge of Islamic fundamentalism.
"Why then, despite
centuries of enlightened scientific reasoning and the apparent
weaknesses in the religious narrative since revealed, is religious
faith not fading away? To answer this question, we can turn to
recent research that suggests we need look no further than within
ourselves. It is becoming apparent that religion is a very
natural phenomenon that is difficult to transcend. Insights in
brain biology and anthropology have provided an understanding of where
religious belief might originate in the brain, and why it is so
persistent. Here we use the definition of religion as
supernatural concepts that matter. We shall see what we mean by
‘matter' below."
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 06 December 2006 )
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