Common Ground

Welcome Common Ground is a center for inquiry, study, and dialogue. Our primary concern is the human quest for understanding and the human pursuit of significance. While our endeavor began with the study of world religions and the commitment to inter-faith dialogue, our range of program offerings has been greatly expanded over the past several years. Today, our primary focus is on the world's great cultural, philosophical, religious, and spiritual traditions and their implications for every dimension of human experience. Our course offerings include a tremendous variety of topics, including, but not limited to: history, literature, art, science, psychology, business, relationship, health, and personal growth. Our programs are shaped to meet the needs of all who are excited by ideas and serious about the quest. Common Ground is for those who are already deeply grounded in their own traditions and for those who are still searching. It is a place for all who are fascinated by the convergence of the ancient with the modern, of East with West, and of spirituality with planetary reality. Common Ground brings together a knowledge of the past and a vision of the future for a better understanding of the present. Common Ground is a fully registered not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation.

Welcome

Common Ground is a center for inquiry, study, and dialogue. Our primary concern is the human quest for understanding and the human pursuit of significance. While our endeavor began with the study of world religions and the commitment to inter-faith dialogue, our range of program offerings has been greatly expanded over the past several years.

Today, our primary focus is on the world's great cultural, philosophical, religious, and spiritual traditions and their implications for every dimension of human experience. Our course offerings include a tremendous variety of topics, including, but not limited to: history, literature, art, science, psychology, business, relationship, health, and personal growth. Our programs are shaped to meet the needs of all who are excited by ideas and serious about the quest.

Common Ground is for those who are already deeply grounded in their own traditions and for those who are still searching. It is a place for all who are fascinated by the convergence of the ancient with the modern, of East with West, and of spirituality with planetary reality. Common Ground brings together a knowledge of the past and a vision of the future for a better understanding of the present.

Common Ground is a fully registered not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation.

WELCOME Welcome to the Common Ground web site. We hope you'll take the time to explore a bit and to discover the many features that will enhance your CG experience. And watch for changes. Some exciting new features are being added. Your comments and suggestions are always appreciated. Just click "Contact" in the menu bar and send us your responses, questions, or ideas. We think you'll enjoy CG's occasional E-Mail Newsletter about upcoming programs, special events, and important developments.You can subscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of the Archive page. Note: Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) may be blocking our emails. We're noticing a number of "bounces" each time we send an email. Some ISPs block "mass mailings" as potential spam. If you have subscribed to the CG email list and are not receiving our Newsletter, send an email to Jim Kenney. He will respond with instructions for clearing this up with your ISP. And please note the Common Ground Annual Campaign is ongoing. We need your help to try to balance our budget as we begin our fiscal year (July 1) and look forward to a new season of programs in the fall! We work hard to keep tuition low. Your generosity makes that possible. And now, if you're "one of those", you can get regular very short CG updates on Twitter. Click the birds and you'll find our new Twitter page. If you're a member you can "follow" us, receiving updates ("Tweets") automatically on your Twitter friends page. If not, it's free and easy and fun. Sign up on the Twitter web site.. Peace, Jim Kenney and Ron Miller

WELCOME

Welcome to the Common Ground web site.

We hope you'll take the time to explore a bit and to discover the many features that will enhance your CG experience. And watch for changes. Some exciting new features are being added.

Your comments and suggestions are always appreciated. Just click "Contact" in the menu bar and send us your responses, questions, or ideas.

We think you'll enjoy CG's occasional E-Mail Newsletter about upcoming programs, special events, and important developments.You can subscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of the Archive page.

Note: Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) may be blocking our emails. We're noticing a number of "bounces" each time we send an email. Some ISPs block "mass mailings" as potential spam. If you have subscribed to the CG email list and are not receiving our Newsletter, send an email to Jim Kenney. He will respond with instructions for clearing this up with your ISP.

And please note the Common Ground Annual Campaign is ongoing. We need your help to try to balance our budget as we begin our fiscal year (July 1) and look forward to a new season of programs in the fall! We work hard to keep tuition low. Your generosity makes that possible.

And now, if you're "one of those", you can get regular very short CG updates on Twitter. Click the birds and you'll find our new Twitter page. If you're a member you can "follow" us, receiving updates ("Tweets") automatically on your Twitter friends page. If not, it's free and easy and fun. Sign up on the Twitter web site..

Peace,

Jim Kenney and Ron Miller

Recent news

6/18/2009 GLOBALIZATION FOR THE COMMON GOOD CONFERENCE • LOYOLA UNIVERSITY

The 2009 Globalization for the Common Good conference – "Globalization: the Challenge to America" – was a huge success. Held at Loyola University's Lake Shore Campus, May 31-June 4, the conference brought 99 renowned speakers – representing a wide range of expertise – to address the problems and opportunities posed read more »

4/1/2009 MEET CG'S RESOURCE PERSONS FOR SPRING-SUMMER 2009

We're proud to introduce the faculty and staff for the Winter 2009 program at Common Ground. They're terrific. Get to know them all!

resource persons

Jim Kenney, Doctoral work, Comparative Religions, Northwestern University; Executive Director, Common Ground; Executive Director, Interreligious Engagement Project (www.iep21.org); Trustee, the Peace Council.

Ron Miller, Ph.D., read more »

3/30/2009 SPIRITUAL PRACTICE AT COMMON GROUND

Common Ground now offers three different programs focused on spiritual practice. Meditation Every other Monday, 7:00-8:30 pm Laura Bernstein Free-will offering goes to CG. Eknath Easwaran was one of the 20th century's great meditation masters. Our ongoing satsang (spiritual community) studies his profound, pluralistic teachings (known as the 8-point program) read more »

1/25/2009 COMMON GROUND BOOK TABLE AT THE DEERFIELD BARNES & NOBLE

Thanks to the hard work of Board member Pat Connery and the good people at the bookstore, the Deerfield Barnes and Noble has a new CG Book Table. You'll find in on the second floor, near the Religion section. It will feature 8-10 books recommended by CG resource persons. Now, read more »

12/20/2008 THE FUTURE OF COMMON GROUND

It’s hard to believe, but 2009 will mark Common Ground’s 34th year of creative educational service to the greater Chicago area. People who know the not-for-profit world will tell you that this is an extraordinary testimony to the quality of our offerings and the loyalty of our extended family.

Every read more »

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Upcoming Events

7/7/2009	7:30 PM - 9:30 PM	100 Days: FDR in 1933	Common Ground Deerfield
7/8/2009	9:30 AM - 11:30 AM	Help in Walking Your Spiritual Path	Common Ground Deerfield
7/14/2009	9:30 AM - 11:30 AM	From the Bottom Up?	Common Ground Deerfield
7/15/2009	9:30 AM - 11:30 AM	Barriers and Bridges to Interreligious Dialogue	Common Ground Deerfield
7/17/2009	thru 7/19/2009	CG Summer Weekend: "First Steps–Finding Our Path to 2025"

View all events »