The New York Salon at The New School - What Does It Mean to Be Human: I'm Not Religious, I'm Spiritual
The New York Salon and The New School collaborate on a four-part series investigating key areas of contemporary life. The first two events-"I'm Not Religious, I'm Spiritual" and "Can We Still Have Faith in the Academy?"-are part of the Battle of Ideas International Satellite Festival, based in London.
"I'm not religious-I'm spiritual" is a statement frequently heard on both sides of the Atlantic. But what does it mean? Is self-styled "spirituality" simply a different form of religion, or does it represent a fundamental departure from or even a threat to traditional religion? Some argue that humans have a psychological, biological, and emotional need for a connection with the divine, positing environmentalism as a new form of secular religion and psychotherapy as an attempt to handle sin and confession in a scientific way.
These issues are discussed in a panel moderated by Jean Smith, a director of The New York Salon. Panelists include:
- Matt Hutson, a former editor at Psychology Today. Hutson has a BS in Cognitive Neuroscience from Brown University and an MS in Science Writing from MIT. He has written for numerous publications, including Wired, Discover, and the New York Times. His first book, The 7 Laws of Magical Thinking: How Irrational Beliefs Keep Us Happy, Healthy, and Sane, was published in April 2012.
- Courtney Bender, a specialist in contemporary American religion. Bender received her PhD in Sociology from Princeton University and her BA from Swarthmore College. Bender's works include The New Metaphysicals: Spirituality and the American Religious Imagination (2010) and Heaven's Kitchen: Practicing Religion at God's Love We Deliver (2003).
- Alan Miller, a director of The New York Salon, a forum for open interdisciplinary debate. Miller co-founded the Old Truman Brewery, a site dedicated to cultural activity in London, and served on The Arts Council's London Arts Board for several years. He is also a film director whose work has been broadcast internationally. Miller writes on cultural issues for several publications, including Spiked, Culture Wars, The American, and the Huffington Post.
- Sally Quinn, editor-in-chief, On Faith; journalist, Washington Post
The New School for Public Engagement is a division of The New School, a university in New York City offering distinguished degree, certificate, and continuing education programs in art and design, liberal arts, management and policy, and the performing arts. THE NEW SCHOOL FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ' http://www.newschool.edu/public-engagement
For more information, visit http://www.nysalon.org or http://www.battleofideas.org.uk
Bio
Courtney Bender
Courtney Bender, a specialist in contemporary American religion. Bender received her PhD in Sociology from Princeton University and her BA from Swarthmore College. Bender's works include The New Metaphysicals: Spirituality and the American Religious Imagination (2010) and Heaven's Kitchen: Practicing Religion at God's Love We Deliver (2003).
Matt Hutson
Matt Hutson, a former editor at Psychology Today. Hutson has a BS in Cognitive Neuroscience from Brown University and an MS in Science Writing from MIT. He has written for numerous publications, including Wired, Discover, and the New York Times. His first book, The 7 Laws of Magical Thinking: How Irrational Beliefs Keep Us Happy, Healthy, and Sane, was published in April 2012.
Alan Miller
Alan Miller is Director of The NY Salon. He also is the co-founder of London's Truman Brewery and Vibe Bar.
Miller is also a film director and writer.
Sally Quinn
Sally Quinn, editor-in-chief, On Faith; journalist, Washington Post
Jean Smith
Jean Smith is a fund raising director for a major health care institution in New York. Before settling in Brooklyn, Jean was based in London and Birmingham, England where she co-founded and directed a major volunteer led arts charity providing a platform for artists to show their work which otherwise might be ignored by mainstream venues.?Her work to challenge the perceptions about people who suffer mental health problems has provided an open platform for debate on the issue and she has developed practical strategies to enable more productive, independent living.