Re: [asa] Former creationist preaches gospel of evolution

Michael Spencer has an excellent review of Dowd's book at:

http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/review-thank-god-for-evolution-by-michael-dowd

Dowd joined the thread discussing the review. Here is my own response to
Michael Dowd after reviewing the essay he encouraged me to read:

> Hi Michael D.,
> I read through your essay "Evolutionary Christianity". First, let me say
> that I agree with you that biological evolution is the best explanation for
> the development of life on earth. Second, I too believe that the acceptance
> of biological evolution is compatible with an Evangelical expression of the
> Christian faith.
>
> However, I am concerned that the way you define Evolutionary Christianity
> is nowhere close to being compatible with Evangelical Christianity, or even
> Orthodox Christianity for that matter. I'm not sure I'd agree with Michael
> S. that your view is equivalent to pantheism, but there is certainly enough
> evidence in the short essay that I read for me to infer that your view of
> God is very different from the Triune God of the scriptures. I'm not sure
> there is much point in discussing the finer points of your theology or
> worldview until something as basic as this is addressed.
>
> I'm going to respond to one short point here. You stated above:
> *Reinterpreting the core elements of our faith: Original Sin, Salvation,
> the Trinity; the Incarnation, Life, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of
> Jesus; the Second Coming of Christ, Heaven, Hell, and so on is not only our
> responsibility, it is our Great Work.*
>
> I would agree the Church's theology cannot remain stagnant (after all,
> theology is only our limited, fallible, human view of an infinite God) but
> my fear is that you are not only reinterpreting / rearticulating the
> historic view of the Church, but rewriting it. And it is definitely NOT our
> Great Work.
>
> George Murphy, both an eminent scientist and theologian, has written an
> excellent book entitled "The Cosmos in the Light of the Cross". He discusses
> modern scientific concepts like cosmology and biological evolution from the
> standpoint of an orthodox Christian whose basis for reality is the
> incarnation, death, and resurrection of Christ. "Evolutionary Christianity"
> looks to me like it has things rotated 180 degrees from this. Ie. " "The
> incarnation, cross, and resurrection in the light of Evolution". It appears
> to usher in Teilhard's omega point, but not necessarily the Kingdom of God.
>

On 1/14/08, David Opderbeck <dopderbeck@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Sounds like process theism, not a Christian understanding of creation.
> Here's what his website says: *"Dowd proclaims something he calls
> "evolution theology" -- the understanding that the 13.7 billion year
> history of the universe is the story of an "emergent moreness" he considers
> God."
> *
> *
> *
> On Jan 14, 2008 6:55 PM, John Walley <john_walley@yahoo.com > wrote:
>
> > Former creationist preaches gospel of evolution Preacher travels
> > country urging all to embrace science
> >
> > *By **Eileen E. Flynn* <eflynn@statesman.com>
> > AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
> > Saturday, January 12, 2008
> >
> > The Rev. Michael Dowd gave up a permanent home to travel the country
> > spreading his gospel in the hope of reconciling disparate beliefs. But the
> > former pastor's gospel may shock many Christians.
> >
> > Dowd preaches "evolution theology," a view that promotes evolutionary
> > science and God as the ultimate reality.
> >
> > <http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/01/12/Michael-Dowd-EVOLUTION1.html>
> >
> >
> > The Rev. Michael Dowd travels U.S. urging all to embrace science.
> >
> > In Dowd's mind, you can have Darwin and the divine.
> >
> > Dowd is so committed to spreading his message that he offers his book —
> > "Thank God for Evolution! How the Marriage of Science and Religion Will
> > Transform Your Life and Our World" — as a free download on his Web site.
> >
> > The presentations that he and his wife give at churches and other venues
> > are also free. But DVD and book sales help finance their ministry.
> >
> > For more than five years, Dowd, 49, and his wife, Connie Barlow, a
> > science writer, have traveled the country in a high-top van that they named
> > Angel and asked audiences from many backgrounds to consider evolution
> > theology.
> >
> > Their work has drawn praise from Nobel Prize-winning scientists.
> >
> > The couple will speak at 9:45 a.m., 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday at First
> > Unitarian Universalist Church, 4700 Grover Ave.
> >
> > "We don't try to show evangelicals or young earth creationists or
> > intelligent design people that we're right and they're wrong," Dowd said.
> > "Evolution gives me a bigger God, an undeniably real God."
> >
> > Dowd believes that God's revelations didn't stop in biblical times but
> > continued in the form of scientific discovery, a worldview that he thinks is
> > important as public schools grapple with how to teach evolution, Americans
> > choose a new president, and the world faces environmental threats.
> >
> > "If somebody believes that Jesus, the cosmic janitor, is going to return
> > on a cloud and clean up the mess we made, they're more likely to have a less
> > responsible way of thinking about the future and handing on a healthy,
> > sustainable world," Dowd said.
> >
> > Dowd said that booking his talks at Unitarian churches is easier because
> > of the denomination's liberal theology but that he wants to spend more time
> > this year talking to evangelical Christians who either grudgingly accept
> > evolution or aggressively try to dismiss it as incompatible with Scripture.
> >
> > Dowd said he understands the fear of allowing science to trump faith
> > because he was once a biblical literalist who believed that the Earth was
> > 6,000 years old
> >
> > Over the years, though, he said, a Passionist priest led him to find a
> > more powerful narrative of God and discover a "God-glorifying,
> > Christ-edifying view of evolution."
> >
> > For more information on Dowd's work, go to www.thankgodforevolution.com.
> >
> >
> > eflynn@statesman.com; 445-3812
> >
>
>
>

-- 
Steve Martin (CSCA)
http://evanevodialogue.blogspot.com
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