BEYOND VIOLENCE | MIRACLES & HEALING
December 2003 – February 2004
Articles in this Magazine
BEYOND VIOLENCE?
edited by Barbara McNeill
It’s chronic. It’s pervasive. It’s almost normal. But is violence a necessary part of the human condition? One school of thought sees violence as a natural factor in evolution, pushing the dynamic of diversity between and within groups. In this lead feature, Shift’s editor McNeill presents a variety of perspectives, and asks us to consider the possibility of a world beyond violent conflict
THE WAY OF AN EXPLORER
by Doris Lora
Thirty years ago, he had a transformative vision: On his return trip from the moon, Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell looked out and saw our lonely blue planet suspended like a jewel in the infinite blackness of space, and knew we are part of a living, conscious universe. In this profile, freelance writer Lora tells the story of this “mystic-scientist” who founded the Institute of Noetic Sciences.
THINKING ON THE EDGE
by Lorraine Filipek
Is dualistic thinking inherent in the human mind? Certainly, we often tend to see the world in terms of black or white, good or bad, right or wrong—and this divisive way of thinking has contributed to a long-standing split between science and religion. But the next stage in our evolution, Filipek believes, will involve a more flexible kind of mind where “opposites” open up new creative possibilities.
ARE ROCKS CONSCIOUS?
by Christian de Quincey
There’s no such thing as a “consciousness meter,” so how would we ever know if rocks, or plants, or other animals tingle with the spark of spirit? Philosopher de Quincey tells a story of one student who could not accept the possibility that rocks may be nonconscious. He points out that science aims to tell us about the actual world, while philosophy explores possible worlds.
