The Paradise Project
The Paradise Project is a non-profit organization founded in 2004 that is "dedicated to celebrating and connecting diverse independent free thinkers who are deeply spiritual about science and nature."[1] The organization hosts pantheism.com and aims to spread awareness about pantheism through social media, meetings, meditation gatherings, and book borrowing programs.[2] It hosts a Facebook fan page about pantheism with over 300,000 fans and group pages with over 15,000 members.[3][4]
![](../I/LuminariesofPantheism.jpg.webp)
In addition, the organization works to create artistic displays and spiritual centers for free thinking non-dogmatic individuals. In 2015, notable Los Angeles muralist Levi Ponce was commissioned by The Paradise Project to paint the 75-foot long mural Luminaries of Pantheism for its headquarters in Venice, California. The mural was conceived by The Paradise Project's founder, Perry Rod, and designed by graphic designer Peter Moriarty. The painting depicts Albert Einstein, Alan Watts, Baruch Spinoza, Terence McKenna, Carl Jung, Carl Sagan, Emily Dickinson, Nikola Tesla, Friedrich Nietzsche, Ralph Waldo Emerson, W.E.B. Du Bois, Henry David Thoreau, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Rumi, Adi Shankara, and Lao Tzu.[5][6][7]
A documentary of the Paradise Project mural entitled “Luminaries” by film director Ed Moy was awarded the Audience Award at the Marina Del Rey film festival. It features The Paradise Project’s Chairman Perry Rod, mural designer Peter Moriarty, muralist Levi Ponce, and Paradise Project board members Nika Avila and Chuck Beebe.[8]
References
- Pierre, J. "Pantheism". Not Two. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- Rod, Perry. "About the Paradise Project". The Paradise Project. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- Rod, Perry. "About the Paradise Project". The Paradise Project. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- Wood, Harold, "New Online Pantheism Community Seeks Common Ground", Vol 34, No 2: Pantheist Vision, Summer 2017, pg 5: "Pantheism.com is a new Pantheism community... established by The Paradise Project, a 501(c)(3) organization founded by Perry Rod in 2004 in Venice California...the 'Pantheism Community' has a strong social media presence, with a Facebook 'Group' with 14,690 members and a Facebook 'Page' for organization-sponsored posts with 362,947 'Likes' - both far larger than any other Pantheist 'group' or 'page' on Facebook."
- ""Luminaries of Pantheism" (2015) by Levi Ponce". Public Art in Public Places. May 13, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- "Pantheism in Full View". Travel With Intent. 11 January 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- "These Latino Street Artists Are Transforming Los Angeles' Walls Into Meaningful Street Art". Mic. 13 November 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- "Pantheism Short Documentary Wins Audience Award". Pantheism.com. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2018.