Next Gen of Social Science Researchers Sheds New Light on Democracy
The Fetzer Institute has long held an interest in the lived experience of democracy. So rather than focusing on issues, challenges, or policy, our work in this area addresses questions like How are we expanding the idea of “we” the people? What does it mean to build mutual respect and relationships across difference? How can we get better at sharing power?
Reserve your retreat for 2023!
"Welcome to GilChrist, a place where natural beauty strengthens our human capacity for compassion, gratitude, reverence, and creativity." So states our home page, which invites you to explore a
Decision-Making Factors for Group Retreats
Scheduling group retreats for GilChrist and making decisions about what we can accommodate is a monumental task each year. The process is a complex overlay of practical, philosophical, and relational considerations. You should see our gloriously chaotic poster of sticky notes!
Biologos and the Center for Christogenesis: Love at the Intersection of Faith and Science
Biologos and the Center for Christogenesis might appear to be on opposite sides of the spirituality and science debate. Yet both organizations exist principally to help people of faith reconcile the two disciplines—positing that science and spirituality are not in opposition; but that they, in fact, complement each other. And that to understand the world in which we live, each must be taken into account. Both organizations describe this necessary reconciliation as “bridging.”
An App Helping to Build a More Loving World Through Meditation
One of the ways that people deal with the stress of their everyday lives is through meditation. Globally it is estimated that 200 – 500 million people engage in this practice. In the United States, more than 14% of adults have tried meditation at least once, and since 2012, the number of people that has embraced this practice has more than tripled.
Belonging, Bridging, Becoming: An Immersive Residency for Young Adults
Humanity and the planet are going through a rite of passage where we’re being compelled to learn to live in new ways and get a sense of what matters most to us.
—M. Rako Fabionar, Program Director,
Innovative Living and Learning Institute
Our Spirituality Has Implications for Healing Our Democracy
Findings from the 2020 launch of our Study of Spirituality in the United States revealed a stunning fifty percent of respondents said that they desire to be more spiritual. Respondents also identified peace and love as the top two benefits of a spiritual life. This narrative—that people are open to, and yearning for, a more spiritual way of being that is grounded in love and care for one another—is far different than what is in the headlines.
Group retreats return to GilChrist
We are excited to welcome group retreats back to GilChrist! Group gatherings of all types have been a hallmark of the hospitality we provide, and over the past two years, we’ve missed the connection and renewal they offer to guests. While solo retreats give much-needed respite from the rigors of daily life, a group retreat has a special way of building community through shared contemplative practices. In January, it was so good to see participants gathering again in WindHill – safely and joyously!
February Practice: Feeling Spiritual
Our free, downloadable “Guide to Exploring Spirituality & Civic Life” includes key findings from “What Does Spirituality Mean to Us? A Study of Spirituality in the US,” related activities, questions, and actions to help you explore your own spirituality and how it relates to your civic life. We invite you to use the following prompt from the guide for this month’s practice.
Is Spirituality an Indicator of Human Flourishing?
What does it mean to live well? To be truly healthy? To thrive? Researchers and clinicians have typically answered these questions by focusing on the presence or absence of various pathologies: disease, family disfunction, mental illness, or criminal behavior. But such a “deficits” approach tells only so much about what makes for life well-lived, about what it means to truly flourish.
That’s all about to change.