From the Director

In this issue of Conversations we offer two contributions by regular participants in Sophia Center projects. Our hope is that this newsletter will become a place - along with on-going projects of the Center - in which the dialogue crucial to living as believers in contemporary culture will grow deeper and more inclusive.

The long essay by Jim Marley represents some of his reflections on the Forum we held last April on how believers ought to participate in discussions of public policy. We are also printing a letter from Jack Whelan about September 11, and a letter from Claire Nicolas White responding to the essay on Imagination in issue #5 of Conversations. (All the previous issues of the newsletter can be found on our web site: www.sophiacenter.net)

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The visit of Alicia Suskin Ostriker was the third in our series of readings and discussions exploring the role of imagination in the spiritual experience of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions. Her visit included both a public reading of her poetry and an evening of conversation bringing together scientists, theologians and professors of literature to explore similarities and differences in the uses of creative imagination by writers and scientists.

Ms. Ostriker’s poetry and essays have a remarkable range from explorations of Jewish mystical and biblical traditions to evocations of the most ordinary things of contemporary life. Those who heard her reading, I’m sure, are already looking for more of her books. For those who did not have a chance to hear and speak with her, discovering her work will introduce you to someone whose company you will treasure. Her comments on inspiration in the work of the poet have raised important questions for us to pursue in our thinking about the role of creative imagination in human activities, especially in the spiritual life and in the necessary conversation between science and religion.

We will be announcing soon the next poet to be invited to the Sophia Center in this on-going series.

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I would like to get some initial reactions to a proposal that has been made that we develop a project for people who are interested in deepening their own spiritual practice through creative writing. We would offer workshops at different locations on Long Island, led by teachers of creative writing who themselves belong to different religious traditions, for participants to explore through their own work the role of imagination in the spiritual life. The workshops would be for people who are interested in serious, though not professional, creative writing. Each workshop would be limited to five or six participants and would meet for about six two- hour sessions during the Spring of 2002.

Is this a realistic and valuable suggestion for us to pursue? Let me know your thoughts: SophiaRVC@aol.com or Sophia Center, PO Box 525, Huntington, NY 11743