In this conversation, Darren Iammarino shares his journey into process philosophy and theology, describing how he was first drawn to Whitehead’s ideas and how these concepts have shaped his teaching and spiritual practice. Darren and Jared then turn to questions at the intersection of AI and process metaphysics, considering whether artificial intelligences can truly be conscious, how parasocial relationships with AI complicate our notions of self and society, and what Whitehead’s philosophy might contribute to these debates. Finally, they delve into theological questions about novelty, divine creativity, and the role of eternal objects, envisioning a cosmos where creatures participate in the ongoing creation of new possibilities.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- Darren’s efforts to connect process thought with yoga communities and other non-Christian spiritual practices
- The challenges of making process ideas accessible beyond academic contexts
- Reflections on AI, consciousness, and the nature of relationships with inorganic agents
- Darren’s critiques of Whitehead’s notion that God eternally contains all possibilities
- A vision of novelty and creativity emerging from the interplay between God and creatures
- Speculation on the cosmological function of quantum randomness
- Connections between process thought, interfaith dialogue, and ecological civilization
Guest Bio
Host Bio
Jared Morningstar is an independent scholar and public intellectual based in Chicago whose work explores philosophies and wisdom traditions that are attuned to our time of profound cultural, ecological, and spiritual transition. His research focuses especially on process philosophy and theology, classical and contemporary Islamic thought, metamodernism, comparative religion, and non-ordinary experiences. Across his writing and public scholarship, he explores how religious traditions can be articulated to respond constructively to contemporary challenges such as nihilism, interreligious conflict, ecological crisis, and the so-called “meaning crisis.” Jared’s work has appeared in a variety of publications including Metamodern Theory and Praxis, Process Perspectives, and Emerge alongside the edited volumes Open and Relational Theology and its Social and Political Implications: Muslim and Christian Perspectives and Amipotence: Expansion & Application. He is a frequent lecturer and conference presenter and has appeared on numerous podcasts and public forums to discuss religion, process thought, Islam, and metamodernism. He holds degrees in Religion and Scandinavian Studies from Gustavus Adolphus College and currently works with the Center for Process Studies and the Psychedelic Medicine Association.