“Pathways to Transcendence” with Dr. Ursula Goodenough

Spiritual experience occurs in two contexts: the “numinous” perception of a divine force or supernatural power that is different and separate from the self; and the “mystical” perception of the self as being at-one with all there is. Transcendence commonly connotes an upward, vertical experience that is accessed in numinous frames. Religious naturalists join Asian and Indigenous traditions in seeking horizontal transcendence, accessed in mystical frames. Soprano Jessica Goodenough Sanseverino will join me in singing two chants from the numinous mystic Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179).
Ursula Goodenough is Professor of Biology Emerita at Washington University who lives in Chilmark and is a member of the UUSMV. She taught cell biology and molecular evolution and engaged in research that focused on Chlamydomonas, a green soil alga. Her honors include election to membership in the National Academy of Sciences. She and others are developing what we call a religious naturalist orientation, and she co-founded the Religious Naturalist Association (www.religious-naturalist-association.org) A new edition of her book  (www.sacreddepthsofnature.com), The Sacred Depths of Nature, describes her understandings of this orientation. She has five children (including Jessica) and ten grandchildren (including Luca and Leo).
Jessica Goodenough Sanseverino holds a B.A. in Music from Washington University in St. Louis, pursued advanced studies in Baroque performance at Early Music Vancouver, Longy School of Music, and the University of North Texas and has performed solo soprano works at numerous churches and concert venues. She currently teaches Vocal Music to K-8 students at the Tisbury School and is director of both the All-Island Youth Chorus and the Martha’s Vineyard Stars. She is a passionate educator dedicated to nurturing young voices and enriching communities through music.
She lives in Chilmark with her two sons, Luciano (12) and Leonardo (9).

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