Symmetry of Soul Hosts

From Symmetry of Soul

Symmetry of Soul is a multi-person endeavor. The hosts of Symmetry of Soul may function as hosts or co-hosts, depending on the circumstance.

Dr. Chris Halvorson

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Chris Halvorson has a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Colorado Boulder and worked as a scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder from 1987 through 2013. He discovered The Urantia Book in 1990, started leading a weekly study group in 1995, and then in 2013 transformed it into a public discussion group of Perfecting Horizons Institute (PHI). PHI is the educational outreach of Perfecting Horizons, Inc., a nonprofit corporation that serves inquisitive-minded people from all over the world, challenging them to discover fresh big-picture insights and new ways of thinking for themselves, encouraging them to draw a personal living philosophy out of an expanding relationship with true science and true religion, and to apply it to everything they do. Writings by Dr. Halvorson, plus video and audio recordings of his public discussion groups about The Urantia Papers, are available in the PHI library. On Symmetry of Soul, Chris performs the role of "lead unpacker" of the text of The Urantia Book.

Brad Garner

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Brad Garner, MS, grew up with The Urantia Book; his mother and father raised him with it. He strives to apply it to his daily living—live the teachings—while trying to remain humble and avoiding any misdirected zeal. His professional background includes computer science and geologic science; he spent 15 years with a United States federal science agency authoring scientific publications and inaugurating changes on its websites. These days, Brad is on staff at Urantia Foundation as their Digital Programs Manager. Brad hails from Arizona and is married to Ruthie Wilde Wenger. On Symmetry of Soul, Brad administers the website, writes summaries, tries to ask helpful questions, and also participates in the Tuesday evening broadcast and shorter podcast.

Andrea Barnes

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Andrea Barnes grew up in Denver and discovered The Urantia Book in Ft. Collins, Colorado in 1977. She has been reading ever since. She attended study groups in Denver and then, after moving to California, continued to attend and host study groups for years. After raising her children her goal was to deepen her understanding of The Urantia Book and be of service. She was on the General Council for the Urantia Book Fellowship for 6 years. Most importantly for her she found the online study group, Symmetry of Soul, and her prayers for in-depth study were answered. She was an avid listener and sometime co-host over the years before joining full-time in 2018. While she still has much to learn about understanding The Urantia Book as a synthetic whole—as do all of us—she always brings probing questions to Symmetry of Soul. On Symmetry of Soul, Andrea runs operations of the live broadcasts, writes summaries, and asks helpful questions and provides her own insights into the text.

David Tucker

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David writes, “I am a father of six children, a husband, and I consider my contributions to the Symmetry of Soul ministry the most preconceived opinion busting, and personally developing experience of my life as I attempt to live what’s been revealed to me through my studies and reflections here. My motive for studying the revelation is to be revealed to by utilizing my coordinated essential knowledge, and Gods gifts of cosmic insight through the three cosmic intuitions. Come with me, and let’s expand our cosmic consciousness and enhance our spiritual perceptions.”

Justin Armstrong

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Justin Armstrong graduated with a BM in musical composition from the University of Oregon School of Music in 2005. His primary focus is on postminimalism. He is a second-generation reader of The Urantia Book. However, “all things were made new” after being introduced to Perfecting Horizons Institute and Symmetry of Soul through his friend Kermit Anderson. Justin joined as a regular co-host in January 2024.

Ruthie Wilde Wenger

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Ruthie "Wilde" Wenger joined Symmetry of Soul in 2023 after Kermit retired. She was part of the Tuesday evening broadcast for a few months, and now focuses on the shorter podcasts Symmetry of Soul offers.

Past hosts

Kermit Anderson (2010–2023)

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Kermit Anderson, M.Ed., MA, has been a student of The Urantia Book since 1969. Beginning in 1975 for forty years he and his wife Jackie hosted a Urantia Book study group in their Southern California home. During that time Kermit and Jackie were active in the First Urantia Society of Los Angeles (FUSLA) since re-named The Urantia Book Los Angeles Society (UBLA), serving in a number of leadership positions. In 2011, following retirement from 30 years of work in the fields of medical genetics, genetic counseling and genetic screening with Kaiser Permanente in Southern California, Kermit became one of the regular and original co-hosts of the Symmetry of Soul broadcasts. He retired from Symmetry of Soul in 2023.

James Woodward (2010–2018)

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James Woodward discovered The Urantia Book in 1973. In the early 90s he began attending study groups and social events in Southern California, joining Urantia Association International (UAI) in 1993. Following a variety of volunteer positions in UAI, James joined the staff of Urantia Foundation in 2000. He served in the Reader Services Department for five years and then became Executive Director of UAI, serving until July 2008. James is one of the original co-hosts of Symmetry of Soul and he retired from Symmetry of Soul in 2018.

Ann Garner (2010–2015)

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Ann was introduced to The Urantia Book in 1979. Over the years she has been a study group facilitator. During the 90s she was a member of The Fellowship General Council and Director of North America Area Coordinators. Her professional background includes executive-level marketing and management with national companies and non-profit organizations. Holistic approaches to living are of great value to her, as reflected in her work with whole life/health expos (where she has introduced The Urantia Book to attendees), certification with the Herrmann International Whole Brain Institute, and membership with Interfaith Councils. Ann is the original producer and founding member of Symmetry of Soul. She retired from the show in 2015.