PURPOSE

“Where did we come from?”  “What is my purpose?”  “How do we flourish in the future?”

Children echo the questions that  adults have asked since humanity emerged.  Now, thanks to  major recent discoveries,  people finally have answers that make sense.

The Epic of Evolution offers the most comprehensive context for understanding the meaning of life and one’s purpose, as well as offering a framework for solving some of our planet’s most pressing challenges.   The goal of this site is to offer a taste of this exciting story and to inspire you to flourish in the future of this amazing journey.

 

To help people explore and understand the story of the universe, this site contains educational resources for teaching the science, history and philosophy of the Epic of Evolution. The goal is to teach this story in a fluid way that integrates physics, chemistry, geology, biology, paleontology, archaeology, history, and psychology. Due to cutting edge breakthroughs in biological evolution, this site features materials about evolutionary biology, emphasizing the role of DNA in evolution. This site also has links to books, videos and web sites about the Epic of Evolution.  This site also contains a growing selection of hands-on activities that effectively teach important concepts about the science of evolution.  
A goal of this web site is to help people celebrate a sense of belonging and purpose in the evolving cosmos.  By understanding evolution, people can create and enjoy more understanding, prosperity and compassion in their lives.

Both religious and secular people have been influenced by some of the destructive philosophies promoted in the name of evolution, such as eugenics, survival of the most ruthless, belief that life is merely random and meaningless, and notions that descent from slime gives license to behave like slime.  These ideas do not accurately depict reality and lead to various forms of existential angst, which in turn leaves people vulnerable to helplessness, depression and anxiety. In contrast to these ideas, this web site celebrates evolution because it gives us the clearest picture of reality, so that we may live more in harmony with this reality. 

Because humanity is such a powerful force for evolution, and because our thoughts, imagination and our emotions create our reality, it is our imagination and the passion of our hearts that will create the future.

The goal of this site is to offer a glimpse of our awe-inspiring past  that encourages  visions, possibilities and enthusiasm  for creating a hopeful and thriving future.

 

 

“What we think, we become.” ~ Gautama Siddhartha.

 

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”  Book of Proverbs, 23: 7

 

“Dreams are seeds for the future.” ~ anon

MAP OF TIME

The Epic of Evolution is like a map of time.  Like other maps, this map gives us context. Where a map shows the lay of the land, the Epic of Evolutions offers a map of time.  It shows the layout of the past and present, giving us information to navigate the future, so that we might thrive.

 

A CELEBRATION

Learning about this stuff is fun.  Beyond teaching the facts of evolution, a goal of this web site is to help people find their place in the evolving cosmos.  By understanding evolution, people can create and enjoy more understanding, prosperity and compassion in their lives.

Both religious and secular people have been influenced by some of the destructive philosophies promoted in the name of evolution, such as eugenics, survival of the most ruthless, belief that life is merely random and meaningless, and notions that descent from slime gives license to behave like slime.  These ideas do not accurately depict reality and lead to various forms of existential angst, which in turn leaves people vulnerable to helplessness, depression and anxiety. In contrast to these ideas, this web site celebrates evolution because it gives us the clearest picture of reality, so that we may live more in harmony with this reality.


Cathy pointing to iridium layer deposited 65 million years ago.  This iridium was from an asteroid that smashed into planet Earth, killing off the dinosaurs. So why is Cathy smiling? Because she knows that human imagination will protect us from what killed the dinosaurs (more).   She is hopeful that similar human resourcefulness can help solve global climate change, prevent species extinction and usher in a sustainable and joy-filled world.

 

 

DIALOG

Because the Epic of Evolution is a modern, scientifically informed creation story, it naturally involves religions, which traditionally have told creation stories.  One of the goals of this site is to foster dialog between science and religion.

 

AUDIENCE

The Epic of Evolution is everybody’s story.  This web site is for everyone who is curious about where they came from and where they may be going.  This Epic is for those who claim faith in a higher power as well as for those who do not and for those who are not sure. This web site is for everyone who wants to learn about the grand story of evolution from the Big Bang to the evolution of life to the evolution of our culture to the evolution of consciousness.

 

FUTURE OF THIS SITE

In the future, the Epic of Evolution web site is for teachers who want excellent, hands-on resources for teaching the science of the Epic of Evolution.   As it matures, this site will feature fun and engaging web-based games that teach the basic concepts of evolution.

AUTHOR

Cathy McGowan Russell is the weaver of this web and a teacher of the Epic of Evolution. She earned her Ph.D. with a dissertation on the role of gene transfer in evolution. She is passionate about promoting the Epic of Evolution because she believes that understanding this story leads to personal and planetary well being. Paul Hawken, author of Blessed Unrest, states one of her sentiments so succinctly: “We cannot save our planet unless humankind undergoes a widespread spiritual and religious awakening.” At the heart of this awakening is the realization of a meaningful evolutionary worldview and that each of us is contributes to the future with our imagination and action. (more about Cathy )