One of the goals of this web site is to promote dialog between religion and science, so that we all might benefit.
Evolution Weekend
A wonderful dialog between religion and science is being fostered by the Clergy Letter Project, the sponsor of Evolution Weekend.
One of the purposes of religion is to orient people to the cosmos in a meaningful way. Since the publication of Darwin’s “Origin of Species” many people have felt disoriented because evolution seemed to contradict what people had known, which, for many people, was contained in the Bible. Some, who found the Bible to no longer be a “scientific” document, abandoned religion, while others stuck with religion for social reasons.
Yet for a growing number of other people, the science of evolution adds depth and richness to the poetic story of Creation outlined in Genesis. The Epic of Evolution enriches their faith by reorienting them to a grander vision of the unfolding universe.
The Epic of Evolution, although not a religion, does help to reorient people to the cosmos. This Epic tells the story of the universe from the perspective of science. For some people, the Epic of Evolution has helped them find their way back to their faith. Along the way, the Epic of Evolution also gives people greater appreciation of other religions and philosophies.
the central problem in teaching evolution:
“is that people confuse evolution with atheism. They believe that they have to choose between evolution and God, between science and religion. ~ Eugenie Scott
What is the biggest barrier to people accepting the science of evolution? It’s not lack of evidence. The research of thousands of scientists produces ever more compelling evidence for evolution every year. Yet despite the overwhelming evidence, evolution is still doubted by many in the public and still not taught in many schools. According to Eugenie Scott, Executive Director of the National Center for Science Education, who has studied this problem for many years,the central problem “is that people confuse evolution with atheism. They believe that they have to choose between evolution and God, between science and religion.”
Because the culture in which I live is primarily Christian, I write primarily from this perspective. Just as an evolutionary world view can enrich Christianity, it can enrich all religions and philosophies and can be the basis for mutual understanding.
Many people consider themselves spiritual but not religious. This site is for them as well. Many spiritual people have embraced evolution. Links to their web sites are included here as well.
Following are links to other web sites that discuss evolution and religion:
- Evolution and Christianity
- Evolution and Judaism
- Evolution and Buddhism
- Spirituality
- Religious Naturalism
Evolution and Christianity
- Thank God For Evolution!
- If Darwin Prayed: Evolutionary Spirituality and the Path to Christ – Bruce Sanguin
- Evolution Weekend – Sponsored by the Clergy Letter Project, showing support among clergy for the scientific view of evolution.
- Evolutionary Christianity
- The Center for Progressive Christianity
- American Scientific Affiliation
- Center for Process Studies
- God After Darwin:A Theology of Evolution
- Finding Darwin’s God – book by cell biologist and Catholic
- John Templeton Foundation– pursues new insights at the boundary between theology and science.
- Evolution and Christianity
Evolution and Judaism
- In a Beginning: Quantum Cosmology and Kabala by Joel R. Primack and Nancy Ellen Abrams
- Wikipedia
Evolution and Buddhism
- The Universe in a Single Atom: the Convergence of Science and Spirituality
- Evolving Mind : Buddhism, Biology and Consciousness by Robin Cooper
Evolution and Spirituality
- What Is Enlightenment: Redefining Spirituality for an Evolving World – a spiritual, cultural, philosophical, and otherwise category-busting magazine committed to bringing a new perspective to politics, business, science, the arts, and the environment.
- Institute on Religion in an Age of Science(IRAS) – “Working for a dynamic and positive relationship between religion and science.”
- Evolve– web site for Barbara Marx Hubbard and Conscious Evolution.
- Open Source Theology
- Integral Institute– both science and mysticism (or spirituality) are necessary for complete understanding of humans and the universe.
- Institute of Noetic Sciences –
- Science and Spirit – Journal and web site explores how science and religion can work together to address the vital issues of our time. Looking at them through the lenses of both science and religion offers insight neither discipline provides alone. The October 2005 issue was about relationship of evolution to spirituality.
- Science and Theology News – International newspaper reporting the latest research findings, funding opportunities and discussions on the relationship among religion, science and health.
- California Institute of Integral Studies
- Meaning of Life TV– Robert Wright interviews scientists about the meaning of life.
- Foundation for Global Community–
- Meta-Religion– their goal is “..to promote a multidisciplinary view of the religious, spiritual and esoteric phenomena.” They have thousands of links to religions, cults, and science sites.
- LifeWeb: Biophilosophy by Elisabet Sahtouris – web site of the author of “Earthdance: Living Systems in Evolution.”
Religious Naturalism
- Religious Naturalism.org
- Religious Naturalism Wikipedia
- PaGaian – “PaGaian Cosmology brings together a religious practice of seasonal ritual based in a contemporary scientific sense of the cosmos and female imagery for the Sacred.” This work is influenced by Thomas Berry and others in The Great Story.