In February 1999, the Ottawa Corpus Cosmology Group had its first gathering of seventeen people who were interested in seeing the first video of a twelve part series entitled “Canticle to the Cosmos”, a masters level course on the evolutionary dynamics of the cosmos by Brian Swimme. At the end of the two hour session the group made the decision to meet on a monthly basis to view a video, reflect and discuss the same.
Nine or ten of the original group continued to meet and at present there are fourteen. Because St. Joseph’s Center on Laurier Avenue was central for all, it has become our meeting place. We meet on a Sunday once a month at 1:00 p.m., look at a video for an hour, break for a snack and socialize while doing so, then discuss until 3:00 p.m. On occasion there might be other material relevant to Cosmology presented and discussed.
We have finished the series of twelve videos “Canticle to the Cosmos” and are now viewing a set of six videos entitled “Earth’s Imagination”, also by Brian Swimme.
The above is an outline of the practical side of our Cosmology meetings. Following is a extremely brief overview of some of the scientific and theological issues raised by the videos and on which we reflect and discuss.

NOTE: Brain Swimme holds a Ph.D. in mathematical cosmology from the University of Oregon and is Director of the Center for the Story of the Universe. Dr. Swimme is author of “The Hidden Heart of the Cosmos” (there is a video of the same title), “The Universe is a Green Dragon”, and co-author with Thomas Berry of “The Universe Story”.

Left to Right: Virginia Lafond, Sandra Dietrich, Joe McIntyre, Mary Beth, and Dennis Nolan