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Online registration for the Vosper Lecture is closed. You can register at the door for $70

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Sponsor registration for the fall lecture will open on 20 September

Welcome

With our County being so polarized on issues today, Mountain Top Lectures is committed to providing a safe space to discuss how we might better bridge our differences and make a positive impact on our lives. This lecture will help us on that journey, I hope you will join us.

Our mission is to foster a better understanding of religion, theology, spirituality and science
and how that impacts our lives in the 21st century.

"Our lectures are designed to affect the sprit, engage the intellect, and transcend religious dogma"

Mountain Top Lectures in collaboration with the University of North Georgia host scholars and authors on a wide range of issues of religion and spirituality in a north Georgia setting. We host three lectures per year, one in the spring, one in the summer and one in the fall at the Hoag Auditorium at the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega, GA.

Since we began in 2010, we have been very fortunate to host some of the most prominent authors and speakers on religion: Dr. Amy Jill Levine, Dr. Marcus Borg, Dr. Robin Meyers, Dr. Bart Ehrman, and the Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault, Dr. Brian McLaren, Bishop John Shelby Spong, Dr. John Dominic Crossan and Rabbi Rami Shapiro. We hosted Dr. Owen Flanagan, Dr. Kirby Godsey and Rev. Dr. Barbara Brown Taylor, Rev. Michael Dowd, imam Enchassi, Rev. Dr. John Phillip Newell. In 2017 we have hosted Pastor Phillip Gulley, Dr. Mark Muesse and Sister Ilia Delio.

If you have an interest or curiosity about how Christianity and other religions developed and the challenges they face in the 21st century, you will want to join us at Mountain Top Lectures.

Our recent post lecture surveys have indicated a strong interest in spirituality, the connections between science and religion and understanding other religions. Our future speakers address these issues.

We limit the number attending our lectures to provide an intimate setting for questions and discussion.

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2018 Lecture Series speakers -

April 6-7 - Dr. Justin L. Barrett

August 25 - Rev. Gretta Vosper

November 10 - Rev. Brian McLaren

2019 Lecture Series speakers -

April 6 - Dr. Bart Ehrman

August 24 - Professor Karima Bennoune

November 2 - Chaplain Greg Epstein

Summer Lecture Series

Saturday August 25, 2018

Rev. Gretta Vosper

Rev. Vosper is the Minister of West Hill United Church (“West Hill”), located in Scarborough and within the Toronto Conference of the UCC (United Church of Canada).

Rev. Vosper is a self-described atheist who believes in a metaphorical god instead of the traditional theistic vision of god. Rev. Vosper has openly applied her views throughout her ministry since 2001 and has the full support of her Congregation.

"My United Church has celebrated the exploration of the concept of god, acknowledged the contrivances of ancient church leadership, and consistently held the Bible and all human documents subordinate to the ideals of love and justice. That is the United Church I and my congregation will continue to champion and the one to which I remain committed.”

BACKGROUND

Rev. Vosper was ordained in 1993 and became the Minister of West Hill in 1997.

In 2001, Rev. Vosper preached a sermon deconstructing the traditional theological concept of god. Rev. Vosper openly stated that she did not believe in a theistic, interventionist, supernatural god.

In 2013, Rev. Vosper began using the term “atheist” in solidarity with persecuted atheists around the world and to better describe her non-belief in a theistic, interventionist, supernatural being called god.

Rev. Vosper’s beliefs and the application of her beliefs to her ministry have long been a matter of public record.

Rev. Vosper has published two books (“With or Without God: Why the way we live is more important than what we believe” and “Amen: What prayer can mean in a world beyond belief”).

Lecture topics -

1. The Promise of Progressive Christianity

We will explore the experiment that has been the progressive movement in liberal Christianity, its roots, our passion for it, and its coming of age.

2. Babies and Bathwater: Which Should We Really Throw Out?

This lecture will wrestle with what went wrong in the great progressive experiment in liberal Christianity. Why is the liberal church still dying despite all the work we've done?

3. Planning Our Legacy

When we lose the liberal church, we lose so much more than just a Sunday morning gathering. This will look at the important connection between the liberal Christian tradition and a vibrant, engaged citizenry.

The Genesis Library

A great resource to enhance your book club, start a small discussion group or support your Sunday School class.

Mountain Top Lectures is offering free access to a resource library of DVD 's and CD's to registered groups to help facilitate local discussion on topics of religion and spirituality.

This program will be available only to registered groups under the Genesis Project guidelines. The only cost to the group will be the cost of return postage to material back to the Genesis Project. The Genesis Project will pay for the outbound postage.

To participate in this program you must register your group. Please click on this link to download the Registration Form. You need to complete and sign the form and mail to us.

Genesis Project Group Registration Form.docx

Review the current list of resource materials available through the Genesis Project

Inventory by Title - Oct. 2016.pdf

Inventory by Author - Oct. 2016.pdf

After your group has registered and you may order materials from our resource library.

To order material, please submit a Genesis Project Material Request Form.

Genesis Project Request Form .docx