We discuss the biggest questions: "what's real?", "who matters?" and "how to make a better world?" with scientists, celebrities, activists, writers and philosophers. The Sentientism worldview is "evidence, reason and compassion for all sentient beings." It's a simple, yet radical, philosophy that's grounded in reality (naturalistic epistemology) and has compassion for all sentient beings (mostly human and non-human animals). Naturalism & sentiocentrism combined.
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Zoe (https://twitter.com/ZoeWeil) is the co-founder & president of the Institute for Humane Education (https://humaneeducation.org/). She is considered a pioneer in the comprehensive humane education movement. She has authored seven books both for adults & children, including Most Good, Least Harm: A Simple Principle for a Better World & Meaningful Life. Zoe writes the Becoming a Solutionary blog at Psychology today. She has made numerous TV & radio appearances and has given six TED talks, including “Extending our Circle of Compassion.” In these Sentientist Conversations we talk about the two most important questions: “what’s real?” & “what matters?” Sentientism is “evidence, reason & compassion for all sentient beings.”
The audio is also here on YouTube – with full show notes.
We discuss:
– Humane Education: Human rights, animal protection, environmental sustainability
– Growing up non-religious in New York but with Jewish heritage
– Having the label “Jew” but not knowing what it meant
– Taking courses on Orthodox Judaism at NYU. Finding the questioning & debate fascinating, but the “proofs of god didn’t seem like proofs”
– Taking a sense that “what you do mattered more than what you believe”
– Semester at Sea, staying on an ashram, visiting Israel & Japan. Exploring religion & meaning making
– Choosing to study religion rather than a scientific veterinary track
– Doing a Masters in Theological studies at Harvard Divinity School, focusing on what religions taught about animals & environment
– “I still don’t believe in god – the way god is described in most religions”
– “The mystery of the universe is awe-inspiring”. Calling it “god” feels like it’s narrowing something huge into something small
– Is religion restricting wonder rather than revelling in it?
– Does religion constrain the concept of god as the “universe” into something that looks remarkably like a human male?
– Awe and wonder and connection within a naturalistic worldview
– Unitarian universalism & the power of numinous, communal experience
– And much more…
Sentientism is “Evidence, reason & compassion for all sentient beings.” More at https://sentientism.info/. Join our “wall” https://sentientism.info/wall/
using this form: https://sentientism.info/im-a-sentientist.
Everyone interested, Sentientist or not, is welcome to join our groups. Our main one is on FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/groups/sentientism.
Thanks Graham for the post-prod: https://twitter.com/cgbessellieu
Glenn Edney (https://oceanspirit.org/) is an Ocean ecologist, underwater naturalist, sailor and professional diver. He has been exploring the Ocean and interacting with Ocean life for more than 30 years. He has an MSc in Holistic Science from Schumacher College and …continue
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Jack Waverley is a senior lecturer in marketing at the University of Manchester. He uses marketing and consumer research to protect and promote the interests of all animals, including humans. Jack teaches on a range of BSc and MSc courses …continue
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