Michael Dowd
Documentary: How I See Evolutionary Christianity
This morning in an email I received notice of a 27-minute documentary which aired last week on New Hampshire Public Television, on the “evolutionary good news” I share with virtually all religious and secular audiences. Connie and I both consider it to be a fabulous introduction to my particular (evangelical naturalist) flavor of Evolutionary Christianity. Many of my guests in this teleseries have a different view, I am quite sure. I see this as a good and healthy thing. There are many ways to be an evolutionary Christian, but what we all seem to share are deep-time eyes, a global heart, and a hunger for evidence as divine communication and divine guidance.
The documentary centers on an interview that was conducted by Phil Vaughn and the NHPTV film crew just before an evening program I delivered in late November at the Friends Meeting in Dover, NH. Interspersed are fragments of my actual presentation, along with excerpts of an Evolutionary Christianity dvd made years ago (an obviously younger me!) that is available here.
You can freely access online the entire, hour-long digital program used as the content for this presentation, with my voice overlaid, here:
Evolutionize Your Life: Heaven Is Coming Home to Reality
Alternatively titled, “Deep-Time Wisdom: An Inspiring Vision of Humanity’s Future“, this has become the main presentation I’m now delivering in all religious, non-religious, and even anti-religious settings. So far at least, these ideas have been well received wherever I’ve presented them.
I delivered an early version of the same at the United Nations in April 2009.
The best written articulation of how I see Christianity evolving (and why I believe that if it doesn’t it will become irrelevant or go extinct), is my recent public debate with Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, over what I see as the radical difference between evolutionary faith and literalist faith. (Connie thinks it’s the best thing I’ve written since TGFE):
Biblical Christianity Is Bankrupt
The NY Times iNewp service: “The People’s Press” even picked up on it and ran it as a series. Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. The most readable version, however, is this printable PDF.
Finally, just a few hours before I received notice of the documentary I wrote the following blog post that speaks to why I am so passionate about sharing with Christians and others what I like to call, “the gospel according to science”:
Evolution Isn’t About Darwin; It’s About Salvation Before You Die
Please read this!! It’s short, it’s important, and it’s absolutely central to any understanding of Good News worthy of the name.
If you are so led, please do let me know what you honestly think of any (or all) of the following in the comments section below: (1) the documentary, (2) “Evolutionize Your Life” program, (3) “Biblical Christianity Is Bankrupt” article, or (4) “Evolution Isn’t About Darwin…” blog post, even if you consider me a heretic!
If you prefer to offer your feedback privately, you can email me here: feedback(AT)evolutionarychristianity.com
Don’t spare my feelings, please! After all, radically honest feedback may be the most effective tool of all in helping any of us to evolve, personally, professionally, or relationally.
Thanks for helping me (and, indeed, all of us) to evolve.
Sincerely,
~ Michael
PS. For those interested in how I think about what typically gets called “the afterlife”, see here: “What Happens When We Die?“
look deeply at reality – what do I see and know through my whole being? things are changing for all time but in reality somethings remain absolutely true, full of grace and lasting. ‘me/I’ = you/us = All. O Come Emmanuel.
let me be so
flame
rose
diamond
to say “i love you”
if and when I am so:
joy, bliss
Love burns as Love is
true, full of grace and lasting
for
blessed humanity where everything belongs
to see and surrender all I grasp and all that clings to me
yet, to see thro’ with kindness first
and then let go with gratitude
everything in my humanity is secretly blessed
who am I to judge and reject what I am?
what are all things if not blessed?
a rose full-bloom – thornēd and flowering
in beauty perennial
for
behold, a son of man
like a person stands before you
strength and stay
embodied and shining forth
diamond-studded clay:
visible and lasting
Wow, Gabrielle, thanks for this!!
you are welcome, michael
Michael,
Excellent summary of the material covered in your book!
On the subject of the supernatural. An alternative to theism is deism, the latter being the belief that some Supreme Intelligence (God) created the universe and then withdrew to let things take their own course. Even well-known atheists such as Richard Dawkins and E.O. Wilson have provisionally accepted the possibility and/or likelihood of such a God. (Einstein’s God, as Dawkins puts it, and indeed Einstein spoke alot more ambiguously about God than Dawkins cared to concede in his book The God Delusion). But if we posit deism, isn’t it logical to assume in principle that such a supreme intelligence COULD intervene supernaturally in the world whenever He/She/It chose to? After all, the ability to create the universe in the first place suggests powers that we can’t even begin to fathom.
I am NOT trying to suggest in any way that this proves the existence of some supernatural entity that intervenes in the world. I just wonder if it’s crazy to assume the possibility once you’ve conceded that you are a deist.
Best regards,
Jim
Jim, the best response I can offer to the questions you raise is the aforementioned article, “Biblical Christianity Is Bankrupt“.
Let me know what you honestly think!
Michael,
Before I refer to your views regarding the supernatural, allow me to briefly comment on your article and overall work.
Your synthesis of science and religion is the most compelling I’ve come across until now. I was so intrigued by it that I ordered your book TGFE to go to three friends (for the record, all of them are of different dispositions…..one a traditional Christian, the second a deist, and the third an atheist). Personally I’ve been dealing with a crises in faith for some fifteen years, and your work has offered me hope that I’ll be able to regain a proper perspective on the basis of “what matters and how things are.” That’s the good news.
The bad news is there are a couple issues that I’m still struggling with, despite your best efforts at addressing them: That of a personal God, and the question of transcendence vs. immanence. (And, of course, there’s the reality of death, but I imagine I’d get some grip on that if I found a resolution to the other questions). I suspect I’ll eventually be able to resolve the trancendence/immanence question. You confront the topic wonderfully in TGFE, and I probably just need more time to arrive at a synthesis. The question of a personal God seems more intractable to me, again despite your best efforts. You stated elsewhere on this blog that you’d address the question during your session, so I’ll put that aside until then.
Regarding the supernatural and my question. I’m well aware that you don’t adhere to any supernatural beliefs, so my intention wasn’t to argue for their veracity in any way but only to ask you for your opinion on my hypothesis. So please allow me to restate the question: If a deist posits a Supreme Intelligence (God) that got everything started and then withdrew, doesn’t it logically follow that such an entity COULD intervene supernaturally in the world whenever He/She/It chose to, by virtue of the awesome powers required to create the universe? I know you’re not a deist or a theist per se (but a creatheist/emergentist as you put it elsewhere) so I’m not asking you to compromise any of your beliefs.
Consider it just another link in my personal need to figure out “what matters and how things are.”
From Athens, Greece, wishing Connie and you a Merry Christmas!
Jim
Jim, I’m happy to address your questions.
I suggest we talk via skype. My skype name is michaelbdowd
I think in a 15-20 minute live conversation we could easily cover what would take me 4 or more hours to try to write.
Then, if you are so led, you could type up what you took away from our talk and post it here (if you didn’t want to do that, of course, that’s okay too).
Michael,
That’s very thoughtful of you and I appreciate it. Unfortunately I’m probably one of the very few people online who doesn’t have either a skype connection OR a webcam! But I’ll tell you what, once I get around to fixing that I’ll take you up on your suggestion. Perhaps a good time would be after your session in January.
Thank you!
Jim
I have lived 78 years, been a priest for 50 years, realized within the last year that all language is metaphore, the only word that represents itself is the word, “word”.
I realized that each person, each age has the challange of forming systems of metaphore that makes sense at that time.
I realized that the only metaphore that needs protection is a lie.
You are doing an excellant job of presenting a metaphorical system to make sense of reality and God with the advantage of knowledge of our time. It is beautiful.
Amen David, well said.
the only metaphor that needs protection is a lie – wow
brilliant comment. so much is said in that one statement
thanks
Thanks, David!
Mr. Dowd,
After listening to your documentary it has become very clear that you have created a god in your mind that you feel comfortable with. I am concerned for you because this is called Idolatry, The second of the 10 Commandments, which is God’s standard of right and wrong. You have concocted and philosophized an image that is unlike the God of the Bible, whom you must give an account too.
Let me ask you this. Have you ever told a lie? What do you call someone who tells lies? Have you ever taken something that didn’t belong to you? What do you call someone who steals? Have you ever looked at someone to lust after them? Jesus said, ” Whoever looks at a women to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Michael, we just looked at four of the 10 Commandments. The Law leaves us all sinners in God’s sight. On Judgment Day, would you be innocent or guilty? Would you go to heaven or hell? Does it concern you?
Charles Spurgeon put it this way: “There is a war between you and God’s Law. The 10 Commandments are against you. The First (Command) comes forward and says, “Let him be cursed, for He denies me. He has another god besides Me. His god is his belly and he yields homage to his lust.” All the 10 Commandments are pointed at you today… Soul, you will find it a hard thing to go at war with the Law. When the Law came in peace, Sinai was altogether on a smoke and even Moses said, “I exceedingly quake!” What will you do when the Law of God comes in terror; when the trumpet of the archangel shall tear you from the grave; when the eyes of God shall burn their way into your guilty soul; When the great books shall be opened and all your shame and sin shall be published? Can you stand against an angry Law in that Day?
Apparently your Doctor had some bad news to share with you a year ago. I am sorry to here this.
Unlike your physical Doctor who may not have a cure for you physically, however, there is ONE who does have a cure for you Spiritually! 2000 years ago God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Then He rose from the dead, and defeated the power of the grave. Do you know how to receive the cure spiritually? The Bible says it comes through repentance and faith. Have you repented from your sins and put your faith in Christ alone to save you?
Dear truthmatters,
Thanks for caring about me enough to post such a thoughtful comment. Before you write me (and Evolutionary Christianity) off entirely, I invite you to read and pray about this:
Evolution Isn’t About Darwin; It’s About Salvation Before You Die
May God richly bless you and your family.
Sincerely,
~ Michael
masterful reply!
We have made some progress in our acceptance of science and new ideas. Consider the two Dominican priests, Giordano Bruno and Francisco Ayala.
At age 17 Giordano Bruno entered the Dominican Order in Naples, Italy. He completed his novitiate and became an ordained priest in 1572. When he discovered that proceedings we being initiated against him for new ideas such as his vision of the stars as suns circled by innumerable new worlds like our earth, he fled to Protestant Geneva. His search for freedom of thought led him to France, England, and Germany. When he returned to Italy, the
Roman Inquisition condemned him as he was burned to death at the stake in 1600.
In contrast to Bruno, Francisco Ayala was born in Spain in 1934, educated and ordained as a Dominican priest in 1960. The next year he came to the US where he earned a Ph. D. at Columbia University in evolutionary biology. He has been President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and was recently awarded the Templeton Prize for progress in spiritual reality.
Progress, indeed! Thanks, Paul.
i agree wholeheartedly, that it is time for our fundamental friends to be inlivened and awakened that this amazing Universe unfolded over 14 billion years. i was first taught this New Cosmology at the former University of Creation Spirituality, where Matthew Fox was the founding president. i had been taught the literal 6 days of creation as a child, and although i was walking in a new spiritual reality at that time, i had no ‘story’ to replace the old one. Honestly, i didn’t -see- why it was so important at first. i had to take the course twice to let it deepen. Now i have a stained glass piece that tells the Universe story, and have just completed a book (A Story to Live By) that weaves science and spiritual in a beautiful tapestry of compassion. this sstory leads into the awakening that everything is sacred – should i say everyone. “The Universe is a community of subjects, not a collection of objects.” Thomas Berry
I agree with God as the evolutionary process…the pro-cession of God into annd as creation itself. many levels of That, of course. . To think any other way is to limit “God-ness” to a very circumscribed, human human picture. If you put God in a box you put humanity in a box, and vice versa. Our anthropomorphic pics of Deity can kick start our identification with this ever unfolding God (if we allow it to do so) but break down at some point. As we mature and grow so must God. And, well, It’s already doing thet!
Haven’t read any of the above yet, but I agree that anyone, especially a Christian, without some knowledge of the universe and its evolution is truly missing out on something ecstatically wonderful. For myself, I believe that in Jesus God has shown us the way of the universe. As his life unfolded, so does the world.
I, as so many other who write you, was raised in a conservative Christian environment where the traditional theology and literal interpretation of the Genesis story held sway. Both my wife and I have had a long and varied spiritual journey that has taken us a long way from those understandings. Your book “TGFE” solidified many issues for us and gave some beautiful insights.
I recall my first tentative steps outside the bounds of orthodox theology when it occurred to me that God just had to be much bigger than getting perturbed over things such as whether I went to dances or attended movies. Looking up at the sky at night and contemplating the “visible” heavens just confirmed that for me.
I find it sad that the “young earth” view still holds sway with so many people. The alternative view is so much more exciting and (if folks allow it) so much more compelling.
I am most impressed by the discussion series although have heard only a couple yet, so far, and find them fascinating.
All the best to you in the New Year.
Thanks, Nick. You’ll enjoy the rest too, I predict.
I added my initial “P” to my name since I notice another “Carol” adding comments.
I am grateful for the exposure you have created to provide another way of thinking about reality. My dear ones might be open to it. I would love to explore it with them.
Over the Christmas weekend I read a story from another site that reported scientists have now discovered a THIRD species of human being that co-existed with Neanderthals and early humans. This species is being called Denisovans after the cave where the remains were foun. It was discovered by a German lab that examined the DNA of a 30,000-year-old human finger bone found in a cave along with Neanderthal remains. Here’s a quote from the article at http://tinyurl.com/2823rgt
“Genomics expert Richard Edward Green worked on analyzing the Denisovan DNA. In an email to io9, he explained:
” ‘The genome of the Denisovans is more diverged from modern humans than any two humans are from each other. It’s almost exactly as diverged as the Neanderthal genome was. That’s one of the reasons that we think the Denisovans and the Neanderthals are descendants of a single migration event into Eurasia.’ ”
To me, this is more exciting than the idea that God created humans once and for all in a miraculous (magical?) manner. Human beings’ greatest gift is the ability to adapt to their environments. Rather than creating beings of a single kind (like a closed system that leads inevitably to entropy and death), the Creator devised an open-ended interconnected system that can adapt as its surroundings change.
In other words, God created life that always finds a way to continue living (with apologies to “Jurassic Park”). THAT is the creation story that strikes me with profound awe.
Thanks for the heads up on this, Cynthia! I fully agree!
i just want to close this year by saying a huge thanks to you Michael for leading these discussions. it brings me so much comfort and encouragement that there are so many awakening to the beauty of science and spirituality.
i look forward to the new year
and to all who participate in these discussions – enormous thanks
nancy
You’re most welcome, Nancy.
I couldn’t be more pleased myself!
~ M
Thank God! Someone with brains speaks!