Higher Purpose Forum Schedule of Upcoming Meetings: Feb. 13 to Aug. 13, 2024

Tuesday, February 13 7:30 PM EST via Zoom Co-Hosted with HJI Graduate School for Peace & Public Leadership Topic Area: Economic Democracy “The Quest for Justice” Thomas G. Walsh, PhD. President, HJ International Graduate School

Introduction by James B. Edgerly, Director of the Higher Purpose Forum

“Justice” is often used as a term with gravitas. However, its meaning is not always well understood or agreed upon. Philosophers from Aristotle to John Rawls have sought to clarify the meaning of justice as a basis for building a good or just society. Still, concepts such as “economic justice” or “social justice” remain highly complex and therefore topics of robust disagreement. Often communities form around particular theories of justice, standing in contrast with other communities. In some respects, the Cold Wars, I and II, have roots in contrasting theories of justice; likewise, our polarized political parties.

In this program, we will discuss the concept of justice, seeking at least to arrive at some advanced clarity about the complexity of the concept and its application to economic, political, and social contexts.

Followed by moderated participant discussion _______________________

Saturday, March 2 5:00 PM EST via Zoom “The Implications of God as ‘Heavenly Parent’” Barbara Robertson, Pastor Mid-Hudson Valley Family Church Justin Okamoto, Pastor Belvedere Family Community Respondent: Kaeleigh Moffitt, President, Womens’ Federation for World Peace

Established Christian tradition is to refer to God as “our Father” or “our Heavenly Father”. This masculine characterization of God seems to be confirmed in our understanding of the translated opening words of the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). Mother Hak Ja Han Moon, who presides over the worldwide Unification faith, teaches that the term“Heavenly Parent” reflects more fully God’s ontological role as both our father and our mother. This revised terminology is in fact a profound and

challenging recharacterization of who God is and how we relate to Him/Her. Our speakers will address the implications of this semantic, conceptual, and relational progression.

Followed by moderated participant discussion _____________________

Tuesday, March 12 (tentative) 7:30 PM EST via Zoom Co-Hosted with HJI Graduate School for Peace & Public Leadership Topic Area: Unity of Science and Religion

“The Unity Between Science & Religion: Past, Present and Future” Henry Christopher

The history of science goes back to Mesopotamia and Egypt over 6,000 years ago. The history of “religion” might be said to have begun with Neanderthals who were perhaps were the first to perform ritual burials.

As these two paths towards truth advanced over the centuries, scientific thinkers began to be confronted with increasing pressure to not contradict Church doctrines such as the sun revolving around the earth; the earth being 6,000 years old; or that we were made in the image of God, not descendant from apes. The clash between religion and science grew bigger and bigger, until the 1800s when Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution blew it wide open.

This presentation will outline the history of science and religion and the eventual conflict between the two. We will consider possibilities for resolving this conflict, with the hope of the two joining forces to prevent our own self-destruction and that of our planet, and of bringing about peace and prosperity for all.

Followed by a respondent and moderated participant discussion _____________________

Tuesday, March 26 7:30 PM EST via Zoom Co-Hosted with HJI Graduate School of Peace & Public Leadership Topic Area: Unity of Science and Religion

”The Principle’s Perspective on Science According to the Wolli Wonbon” Dr. Andrew Wilson HJI Professor of Scriptural Studies

Wolli Wonbon, Rev. Moon’s first manuscript of Divine Principle, which he wrote in his own hand in 1951-52, devotes more than 100 pages to science. It covers topics ranging from astronomy to evolution, from electro-magnetism to animal behavior to psychology.

In the background of Wolli Wonbon is Rev. Moon’s own life experience, first as a student of electrical engineering at a school connected to Waseda University in Japan, and then as aprisoner in North Korea where he was subjected to many hours of indoctrination in Marxist dialectical materialism. Rev.Moon saw a need to put forward the Principle, in order to put religion on a solid theoretical foundation where it could defeat Marxism’s pretensions to be scientific and then begin a productive dialogue

with science.

In this presentation, Dr.Wilson will cover just a few aspects of the Principle’s treatment of scientific topics as conveyed in the Wolli Wonbon: 1) Gravitation and planetary motion as the result of give-and-receive action, 2) The colors in an incandescent lamp and the diversity of phenomena resulting from give and receive action that unite for the whole purpose, 3) Electromagnetic phenomena as an explanation of the activity of God in the creation, and 4) The universal structure of core entities and complementary entities as applied to human psychology. Followed by a respondent and moderated participant discussion _____________________

Tuesday, April 2 (tentative) 7:30 PM EST via Zoom Topic Area: Race & Providence in America

”Building a Racially Integrated Culture: A Unificationist Perspective Jeffrey Kingsley & Christine Edwards

In observing the many divisions which seem to be widening in our society today, it may be hard to envision a culture which embodies racial harmony. In this presentation, we will focus on what a more racially integrated culture might entail, and how we as Unificationists can contribute our unique perspective to its realization. A specific emphasis will be placed on the role of the arts in creating an environment conducive to achieving greater racial harmony.

Followed by a respondent and moderated participant discussion _____________________

April 11-13 1st HJI Graduate School Conference on Peace and Public Leadership: “Addressing Challenges of our Time” Session IV: Friday, April 12 8:00 – 9:30 PM EST via Zoom HPF Session on Economic Democracy Speakers: Alan Jessen, IADP Professor Robert Ashford, SyracuseUniversity Dawn Brohawn, Center of Economic andSocial Justice We hope you can join us for these upcoming meetings of the Higher Puprose Forum. Sincerely, James Edgerly Steering Committee Higher Purpose Forum