#30. Dr. Philip Clayton: Building an Ecological Civilization

#30. December 5, 2019. Dr. Philip Clayton is my next special guest. Philip and I discuss the concept of an ecological civilization. He and I have recently returned from Seoul, Korea where we were the guests of Seoul's Mayor Park Won-Soon presenting at a major conference to discuss how Korea might adopt the concept of an 'ecological civilization' which Philip along with John Cobb Jr. and others have been instrumental in advancing in China. Philip holds the Ingraham Chair at Claremont School of Theology and directs the Comparative Theologies PhD program. A graduate of Yale University, he has taught at Williams College and the California State University, as well as holding guest professorships at the University of Munich, the University of Cambridge, and Harvard University. His leadership roles in theological education over the last 15 years include serving as the immediate past dean of CST, obtaining funding for and launching the CST online program, and leading a Ford-sponsored program on “Rekindling Theological Imagination” and a Carpenter-sponsored program on “Reimagining Theological Education.” Clayton has been a leader in interreligious education and dialogue for more than two decades. He helped launch an early collaboration of Jewish, Muslim, and Christian scientists, expanding it into a global, seven-year program; organized conferences at Harvard on Judaism, Buddhism, and science; and has participated in programs on Islam and science and on Abrahamic partnerships in the Philippines, Indonesia, France, Turkey, Qatar, and the UAE. Currently he is working to organize the Justice track for the upcoming Parliament of the World Religions. Philip Clayton played a major role in conceiving and founding a multi-faith university, Claremont Lincoln University, serving as its first provost and Executive Vice President. He worked with religious leaders to set up administrative structures and to work toward accreditation for Bayan Claremont, a Muslim graduate school, as well as expanding the university’s programs to include the Dharma traditions of India and the religious traditions of Southeast Asia. Clayton has authored or edited 24 books and published some 300 articles. Dr. Clayton lectures widely, works with various religious and environmental organizations, and supports constructive partnerships across the world’s religious traditions. He is currently the president of EcoCiv.org, which works to lay the foundations for an ecological civilization, and a Chinese environmental organization, the Institute for the Postmodern Development of China, as well as serving on a variety of boards. Philip is married to Judy Kingsley, a teacher  and educational administrator, and father to their twins Adrian and Shawn. He enjoys cycling, refereeing children’s soccer, and wilderness camping with family and dog. Among his works are The Problem of God in Modern Thought; God and Contemporary Science; Explanation from Physics to Theology: An Essay in Rationality and Religion; Quantum Mechanics; Evolution and Ethics: Human Morality in Biological and Religious Perspective; Science and the Spiritual Quest; Religion and Science: The Basics; Transforming Christian Theology: For Church and Society; In Quest of Freedom: The Emergence of Spirit in the Natural World; and Adventures in the Spirit: God, World, Divine Action, and The Predicament of Belief: Science, Philosophy, Faith.