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Dr. Mike Sosteric

Associate Professor, Sociology, Athabasca University

I am an associate professor of Sociology at Athabasca University. My primary interests are in the areas of human development, human potential, and human transformation.

For full text of my academic papers, visit https://athabascau.academia.edu/DrS

Human Spirituality

When it comes to human potential and human transformation, I find human spirituality and, in particular, mystical experience (what I would call connection experience) a fascinating subject. I explore human mystical experience in four recent papers, one entitled "The Sociology of Mysticism," another entitled "Dangerous Memories: Slavery, Mysticism, and Transformation," a third entitled "The Science of Ascension," and a final entitled "From Zoroaster to Star Wars, Jesus to Marx: The Science and Technology of Mass Human Behavior."
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Human Economics

You can’t talk about human potential and human transformation without talking about money and the economy. Without sufficient money, there is no way for an individual to actualize their potential. Unfortunately, our current global economy is one where unfettered accumulation ensures the vast majority live without the resources required to live a full and transformative life. I examine our current global economic system, the cyclic global economic crises which regularly ensue, and the pain and suffering involved, in my book, "Rocket Scientists’ Guide to Money and the Economy." I also provide an educational video entitled Money Moksha to go along with the book, available on YouTube.

How the conservative right hijacks religion

Jul 09, 2019 23:29 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Democrats are beginning to challenge the Republican grip on the language of religion and faith in the United States. Democrat Sen. Chris Coons, a graduate of Yale Divinity School, recently wrote an essay for The Atlantic,...

The Catholic Church is a rich male collective

Sep 24, 2018 06:41 am UTC| Insights & Views Life

Im a typical sociologist, meaning I am skeptical about religion and human spirituality. Although I attended Catholic Church as a small child, I could see the hypocrisy, even as a child. I rejected that religion at an early...

Global Geopolitics Series

World War Three is being waged in cyberspace

Oct 05, 2017 03:35 am UTC| Insights & Views Technology

My introduction to advanced communication technology (i.e. the Internet and World Wide Web) came in 1999. Having grown up in the two-channel universe of the 1960s and 70s, I was agog at the power it represented. The...

Teen suicide is on the rise and this is why

Sep 11, 2017 15:17 pm UTC| Insights & Views Life

Every 40 seconds, another human life is taken by suicide, according to World Health Organization data. In Canada, a new report reveals that young people between the ages of 15 and 19, who are struggling with mental...

Economy

Bank of England Expected to Hold Interest Rates at 3.75% as Inflation Remains Elevated

The Bank of England is widely expected to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3.75% during its February policy meeting, according to a recent Reuters poll of economists. All but two of the 56 economists surveyed...

OCBC Raises Gold Price Forecast to $5,600 as Structural Demand and Uncertainty Persist

OCBC Bank has revised its gold price forecast higher, projecting that bullion could reach $5,600 per ounce by the end of 2026, up from its earlier estimate of $4,800 per ounce. The updated outlook reflects the banks...

Thailand Economy Forecast Holds Steady as Exports, Tourism Face Global Pressures

Thailand Economy Forecast Holds Steady as Exports, Tourism Face Global Pressures Thailands economy is expected to grow by 2.0% this year, according to the finance ministry, which maintained its previous economic growth...

China’s Lending to Developing Countries Declines as Debt Repayments Rise, New Data Shows

Chinas position as a major financier to developing nations has undergone a significant shift over the past decade, according to new analysis released by the ONE Data initiative. Once a dominant source of development...

Gold Prices Surge to Record Highs Amid Trade Fears and Geopolitical Tensions

Gold prices climbed sharply in Asian trading on Tuesday, extending a rally that has pushed bullion to a series of record highs. The surge reflects growing investor anxiety over U.S. trade policies under President Donald...

Politics

UK Politicians Call for Full Competition Review of Netflix’s Warner Bros Discovery Deal

More than a dozen UK politicians and former policymakers have urged the countrys competition watchdog to carry out a full and detailed review of Netflixs proposed acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, according to a report...

EU-India Trade Deal Offers European Carmakers a New Opening in India’s Competitive Auto Market

European carmakers facing mounting pressure from U.S. tariffs and intense price competition in China are set to gain modest relief from a landmark EU-India trade deal that significantly reduces import duties on cars. The...

Trump Raises Tariffs on South Korean Autos, Escalating Trade Tensions Despite Prior Deal

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a sharp increase in tariffs on South Korean autos and other goods, intensifying trade tensions with one of Washingtons closest allies. The move, revealed on Monday, raises tariffs from...

Philippines and U.S. Conduct Joint Naval Exercises at Scarborough Shoal Amid South China Sea Tensions

The Philippine and United States militaries conducted a joint sail and maritime exercises this week at the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, underscoring the growing defense cooperation between the two...

Israel Recovers Remains of Last Gaza Hostage, Advancing U.S.-Backed Plan to End War

Israel announced on Monday that it has recovered the remains of Ran Gvili, the last remaining Israeli hostage held in Gaza, marking a major milestone in ongoing efforts to end the war in the Palestinian territory. The...

Science

NASA and SpaceX Target Crew-11 Undocking From ISS Amid Medical Concern

NASA has confirmed that the agency, in coordination with SpaceX, is targeting no earlier than 5 p.m. Eastern Time (2200 GMT) on Wednesday, January 14, for the undocking of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission from the International...

Neuralink Plans High-Volume Brain Implant Production and Fully Automated Surgery by 2026

Elon Musks brain-computer interface company Neuralink is preparing for a major expansion, announcing plans to begin high-volume production of its brain implant devices and transition to a fully automated surgical procedure...

Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator, Becomes 15th Leader of U.S. Space Agency

The U.S. Senate has officially confirmed billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman as the new NASA administrator, making him the 15th leader in the agencys history. The confirmation, which took place on Wednesday, marks...

Senate Sets December 8 Vote on Trump’s NASA Nominee Jared Isaacman

The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee announced it will vote on December 8 on President Donald Trumps renewed nomination of private astronaut and tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman to lead NASA. Isaacman, known for his...

NASA Cuts Boeing Starliner Missions as SpaceX Pulls Ahead

NASA has significantly scaled back Boeings Starliner program after years of technical issues and delays, announcing that the next Starliner mission to the International Space Station (ISS) will fly without astronauts. The...

Technology

Alibaba-Backed Moonshot AI Unveils Kimi K2.5 to Challenge China’s AI Rivals

Alibaba-backed Chinese artificial intelligence startup Moonshot AI has officially released Kimi K2.5, the latest iteration of its flagship large language model, marking a significant step forward in Chinas fast-growing AI...

ASML’s EUV Monopoly Powers the Global AI Chip Boom

As artificial intelligence companies race to secure Nvidia chips to fuel the AI boom, Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASML has cemented its position as one of the most critical players in the global chip supply chain....

California Governor Gavin Newsom Launches Review Into Alleged TikTok Content Suppression After U.S. Ownership Deal

California Governor Gavin Newsom has accused TikTok of suppressing content critical of President Donald Trump, prompting a state-level review into the platforms content moderation practices to determine whether they...

Micron to Expand Memory Chip Manufacturing Capacity in Singapore Amid Global Shortage

U.S. memory chip maker Micron Technology is preparing to announce a major new manufacturing capacity investment in Singapore, signaling an aggressive expansion to meet surging global demand for memory chips. According to...

Microsoft Wins Approval to Build 15 New Data Centers in Wisconsin

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) has taken another major step in expanding its data center footprint after receiving unanimous approval from local officials in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, to build 15 additional data...