- Early Christianity in AsiaLink visible for attendees
SEA OF FAITH IN AUSTRALIA (SoFiA) - Melbourne.
Some of us are participating in SoFiA's online event.
John Noack (Carl Jung Society) will present the topic and lead the discussion.
Wikipedia's entry on Christianity in Asia
The ZOOM link will appear on this page for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 882 9853 4533 - - Passcode: 618213SoFiA promotes the open exploration of religion, spirituality and the search for meaning. They welcome ALL viewpoints, including Atheism.
Facebook: 'Sofiatalk' - Please join their ongoing discussions.
- Poetry and Philosophy: Heidegger and CelanLink visible for attendees
EXISTENTIALIST SOCIETY - Melbourne, Australia.
An online presentation, followed by discussion. All viewpoints welcome.
Dr. Desmonda Lawrence will present the topic and lead the discussion.
Abstract:
Todtnauberg: A meeting between Paul Celan and Martin Heidegger:
The tension between how poetry as art relates to our existence as citizens of a society is stretched to breaking point in Theodore Adorno’s famous pronouncement that there can be no poetry after Auschwitz. Paul Celan implicitly replies that after ‘that which happened’ to mankind and to language, poetry meant, more than ever, a reaching out; a handshake; a message in a bottle. He writes: “I went with my very being towards language”.
Martin Heidegger wrote some of his most influential work ‘almost within earshot of the death camps’ and his relations with Nazism, as well as his refusal to ever address the issue later in his life, has tainted his reputation and the reception of, if not the content of, his work. Paul Celan visited Heidegger in 1967, in Todtnauberg, in the Black Forest.In this talk I will briefly discuss Celan’s life and work, address his interest in Heidegger’s philosophy and open up a close reading of the poem entitled Todtnauberg that ‘records’ his meeting with Heidegger.
Following the talk, I would like to invite participants into a discussion of the poem, and of any issues of interest in relation to Celan’s and Heidegger’s work more broadly.
(View the poem in the Comments section, below):The Zoom Link will appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 881 9777 9874 - - Passcode: 611432Existentialist Society's Website
- Wokeism: The New Age ReligionLink visible for attendees
AGNOSTICS GROUP - Melbourne, Australia.
Some of us are participating in their online event.
Michael Sherlock will present the topic and lead the discussion.
Michael's Blog on Wokeism
The Agnostics Group discusses the pros and cons of Agnosticism.
They welcome ALL viewpoints, including criticism of Agnosticism.Agnostics Group's past topics
Agnostics Group FacebookThe ZOOM Link will appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 838 4774 8215 - - Passcode: 712274 - Maccabees and MessiahsLink visible for attendees
EXISTENTIALIST MEETUP - Melbourne, Australia.
Our monthly online Meetup presentation on the History of Religion.
The presentations are followed by questions, comments and discussion.
All viewpoints welcome.Early Religion: An Alternative History
What do the historians and archaeologists think of the veracity of religious legends? Legends are an amalgamation of history and mythology. But how much of each?"MACCABEES AND MESSIAHS"
The Maccabean revolt in 167 BC and its Hasmonean Dynasty eventually wrested independence for Judea from the Seleucid Kingdom. The Maccabees had gained almost everything land-wise that the Judean Messiah was meant to achieve. Nevertheless, the Maccabees weren't treated as Messiahs, and they didn't claim to be. The eventual revolts by the Judeans against their Hasmonean Kings, and the subsequent civil-wars between the Sadducees and Pharisees, caused both sides to appeal for support from the nearby conqueror of the Armenian Kingdom, the Roman General Pompey.
Eventually the Judeans gained Empire-wide notoriety because, despite the Roman conquest of Jerusalem, the Romans had failed to quell the internecine killings amongst the Judeans. However, for the Empire's slaves and lower-orders there was only one god who had promised to destroy their hated Evil Empire: the Judean God. But getting into an alliance with that God entailed converting to Judaism; which they didn't want to do, because of circumcision, etc. Luckily, Saint Paul had offered them Jesus the Christ as the Judean Messiah. They leapt at the chance in their thousands. Christianity became political dynamite!David Miller will present the topic and lead the discussion.
Background information for those interested:
Wikipedia's entry on the Maccabean RevoltThe Zoom Link will eventually appear for those who RSVP.
Existentialist Society's Website