Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Neuroscience 2009: at the edge of brain research

Last week I attended the 39th annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in Chicago. So did more than 30,000 other interested people. The changes in the focus of neuroscience since I first attended this meeting in the 1980's have been astonishing. The implications of recent findings are important to everyone. The combined forces of modern genomics and brain imagery tell us more about ourselves than we may be immediately comfortable with. Here's what the description of one of the sessions on the societal impact of neuroscience had to say:

"New insights into the nature of the brain and mind can have great implications for such concepts as the self, soul, free will, or what it means to be human. Some of those implications are already causing discomfort in segments of the public, including some religious groups. This session discusses both the nature of those issues and ways the scientific community can best engage the public and find common ground, potentially minimizing potential tensions between the field and society and maximizing opportunity for progress." Social Issues Roundtable: Engaging the Public on Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications of Neuroscience Research Organizer/Moderator: Alan Leshner, Ph.D., CEO, American Association for the Advancement of Science

This Sunday, November 1, I'll show some of the findings this session was based on and we'll cover some of the implications.

Please join us at 9:45. The more the merrier. As always, free and excellent, loving childcare is provided.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

The Psychology of Domestic Violence

Today, Sunday October 25, Dr. Paul Gabinet gave an excellent presentation on the psychology of domestic violence. This is a chilling topic, but it is a reality we need to confront. Paul is the Excutive Director of the Shepherd's Inn in Elizabethton, Carter County’s only shelter for victims of domestic violence. You can learn more about the Shepherd’s Inn by visiting the Missions page at First Presbyterian. Most communities the size of Elizabethton don't have a similar facilty. the Shepherd's Inn is a blessing for Carter County and a wonderful initiative for social justice.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Edgar Casey

Next Sunday, October 18, our own John Morrison will speak to the Adult Forum on Edgar Casey. who taught I haven't spoken to John about the details of his talk, so I copied the introduction from Wikipedia.

"Edgar Cayce (March 18, 1877 – January 3, 1945) was an American who was believed to be psychic. He is said to have demonstrated an ability to channel answers to questions on subjects such as health or Atlantis, while in a self-induced trance. Though Cayce considered himself a devout Christian and lived before the emergence of the New Age Movement, some believe he was the founder of the movement and had influence on its teachings.
Cayce became a celebrity toward the end of his life and the publicity given to his prophecies has overshadowed what to him were usually considered the more important parts of his work, such as healing (the vast majority of his readings were given for people who were sick) and theology (Cayce was a lifelong, devout member of the Disciples of Christ). Skeptics challenge the statement that Cayce demonstrated psychic abilities, and traditional Christians also question his unorthodox answers on religious matters (such as reincarnation and Akashic records).
Today there are hundreds of thousands of Cayce students, more than 300 books written about Edgar Cayce, members of Edgar Cayce's A.R.E. worldwide and Edgar Cayce Centers found in more than 35 other countries."


Casey taught: "Through prayer we speak to God. In meditation, God speaks to us."

Please join us at 9:45. We'll be glad to see you. Free Childcare is provided.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Follow-up to Mark Peacock's presentation

I want to follow-up Mark's presentation by saying thanks Mark, for sharing your work. Also, I'm posting the link to his blog (click here) and his website (click here). Both sites have hundreds of stunning photographs of the region.

When Mark's 2010 calendars are available, I'll post the link.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Mark Peacock's Appalachian Trek

I can't remember exactly how I stumbled onto Mark Peacock's website, but I am happy that I did. Next Sunday, October 11, Mark is going to present to the Adult Forum a collection of his stunning photographs of the region. It is some of the best local photography I have seen. Mark wrote on his site that he enjoys showing his work to locals to let those familiar with our regional wonders see them through fresh eyes. (Personal aside: I've always thought that the expression, "to see through fresh eyes" was related to a form of being born anew.)

Here's Mark's synopsis:

Appalachian Treks: The Photography of Mark W. Peacock. Please join Mark and the Adult Forum Sunday School Class as he presents his photography highlighting the natural and scenic beauty of this region. His presentation will include photos and descriptions of waterfalls, overlooks and many other destinations -- which will hopefully inspire us all get out and explore our corner of Appalachia! You will also be introduced to some of the events and colorful personalities that have shaped our local history.

...and a brief bio:

Born and raised in Morris, Illinois, Mark Peacock moved to the hills of east Tennessee to Johnson City in 1995 to attend Emmanuel School of Religion following law school school and praticing law at his family's law firm. He began teaching part-time at Northeast State Community College and was eventually hired by Milligan College in 1998 to teach courses in business, law and ethics. This year he added digital photography to his list of courses offered. Mark's love for photography was instilled in him by his grandfather, who taught him about lighting and composition and that photography at its best is really storytelling. Most weekends, Mark is out hiking and exploring the area with friends and his dog, Duke.

Please join us. As always, we'll be glad to see you. Excellent and loving childcare is provided.