About Us
The stories we tell shape human experience and behavior. Deeply rooted fundamental narratives, embedded in culture and language through centuries of religious and societal conditioning, are especially influential. They are ingrained in our neural pathways, engineering how we ascribe values to our internal and external worlds. If social, environmental, and psychological phenomena can be traced to particular belief systems, then there is hope for creating positive change by addressing and transforming these beliefs. Incorporating the findings of neuroscience, psychology, sociology, and anthropology, we can suggest alternative narratives that can be scientifically demonstrated to lead to greater cooperation and conflict resolution between people and societies, as well as promoting personal well-being and mental health.
The Open Mind Project, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation, is founded on the principle that science and spirituality can be complementary. The majority of the world's population today have deeply held cultural and religious attachments to beliefs that stem from a radically different era of human experience and understanding. Yet these ancient beliefs have power to affect our modern world in profound and often unconscious ways. When science conflicts with religion, it is frequently the result of religious beliefs being experienced out of their original context and creating cognitive dissonance. The goal of the Open Mind Project is to examine the consequences of particular religious beliefs and culturally embedded narratives. We want to empower people and societies to make informed decisions about which ideas and beliefs will be most likely to produce beneficial outcomes for them and for future generations, and we aim to make sure they have the conscious freedom to participate in those beliefs.
Andrew Scott, MDiv., Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA. Director, Founder, Manager.
Board of Directors:
Andrew Scott, President. Founder of the Open Mind Project, Andrew Scott received his Master of Divinity at the Pacific School of Religion at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA. His studies include Christian Theology, Islamic Philosophy and History, Buddhist meditation, theory and history, anthropology, and the psychology of religion.
Bill Caldwell, Vice President, Treasurer. Bill is a Certified Public Accountant, with over 30 years experience. He is also an active member of his Church in Golden, Colorado.
Rev. Horace L. Griffin, PhD., holds a Masters Degree and PhD. from Vanderbilt University Graduate Department of Religion, is an ordained priest in the Episcopal Church USA, and is Professor of Pastoral Theology at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA. He is the author of many published articles, a number of books, and specializes in African American religious history, and pastoral care and counseling.
James Pellegrin holds a Master of Business Administration from Wharton School of Business, Philadelphia, PA. He lives in Newport Beach, California, and works in Mergers and Acquisitions and Corporate Development at Horiba Corporation.
Special thanks to the film-makers who have worked on our videos:
Encke King: Camera and Editing
Jonathan Kloberdanz: Camera and Editing
Andrew Scott: Camera and Editing
We appreciate your financial support, please give if you can.
Your financial contribution to the Open Mind Project will ensure the expansion of our activities to help reduce fundamentalism of all kinds, through contextual education on the history of world religions; will expand our facilitation of inter-religious dialogue; will enable us to bring awareness to the psychological and environmental consequences of particular religious narratives; and will help us continue to provide a valuable educational resource through the spiritual database (The Faith Portal).
Contact Us:
Open Mind Project
PO Box 565
Snowmass, CO 81654
970-927-0989
