SGTI is pleased to announce its first guest in the "Interspiritual Luminary" webinar series. Dr. Duane Bidwell, author of the groundbreaking new book, When One Religion Isn't Enough: The Lives of Spiritually Fluid People.
Tuesday June 4, 1:oo PT, 4:00 p.m EDT
This free webinar is open to the public and pre-registration is required.
(This webinar is now complete. Listen to the archived interview below.)
Duane Bidwell works to reduce suffering and promote abundant life in all of his teaching, writing, and research.
Rev. Dr. Duane Bidwell is a Professor of Practical Theology, Spiritual Care, and Counseling at Claremont School of Theology.
His experiences as chaplain, pastor, spiritual director, pastoral counselor, HIV/AIDS professional, and non-profit director inform his work as teacher-scholar-clinician. CST students have given him teaching and mentoring awards three times since 2014. He is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and practitioner of vipassana (insight meditation) in the Theravada Buddhist tradition.
Rev. Dr. Duane Bidwell is a Professor of Practical Theology, Spiritual Care, and Counseling at Claremont School of Theology.
His experiences as chaplain, pastor, spiritual director, pastoral counselor, HIV/AIDS professional, and non-profit director inform his work as teacher-scholar-clinician. CST students have given him teaching and mentoring awards three times since 2014. He is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and practitioner of vipassana (insight meditation) in the Theravada Buddhist tradition.
His most recent book, When One Religion Isn’t Enough: The Lives of Spiritually Fluid People (Boston: Beacon, 2018), examines complex religious bonds–the experience of being formed by more than one religious tradition at the same time. The book builds on his work in transreligious pastoral theology and in Buddhist-Christian studies. Library Journal named it a Best Book 2018.
We will be talking with Dr. Bidwell about his research and new book and, most importantly, how to offer empathetic care to people who are experiencing spiritual and theological changes. The Pew Foundation reported in 2015 that 27% of American's were "Unaffiliated" religiously. Until now, we have identified this population as "Spiritual but Not Religious" or "None," but Bidwell puts forth terms that are more concise and compassionate, rooted in deep understanding of the contemporary nuances of spiritual views and practices in changing times.
Dr. Bidwell uses the terms "Multiply Religious" and "Spiritually Fluid" to capture the essence of the inner lives of many people today and, as he states in the Introduction to his new book, "I've written this book to reduce the suffering of spiritually fluid people. I want their families, friends and employers, co-religionists, and others to understand them better, to listen to their voices without first rejecting the possibility or morality of multiple religious bonds." (p. 9)
The Spiritual Guidance Training Institute supports Dr. Bidwell's perspective and uses his text in its training program for interfaith/interspiritual guides (directors, companions). We encourage all individuals to open their minds and hearts to people of all spiritual persuasions and forms to promote dialogue, goodwill and healing— personally and globally.
Dr. Bidwell uses the terms "Multiply Religious" and "Spiritually Fluid" to capture the essence of the inner lives of many people today and, as he states in the Introduction to his new book, "I've written this book to reduce the suffering of spiritually fluid people. I want their families, friends and employers, co-religionists, and others to understand them better, to listen to their voices without first rejecting the possibility or morality of multiple religious bonds." (p. 9)
The Spiritual Guidance Training Institute supports Dr. Bidwell's perspective and uses his text in its training program for interfaith/interspiritual guides (directors, companions). We encourage all individuals to open their minds and hearts to people of all spiritual persuasions and forms to promote dialogue, goodwill and healing— personally and globally.
Archives
Watch the video of our webinar with Dr. Duane Bidwell on You Tube..
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Listen to the audio version here. (60 min.)
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