
Thank God for Evolution
How the Marriage of Science and Religion Will Transform Your Life and Our World
Table of Contents
Author’s PromisesPrologue: Personal Journey
The Marriage of Science and Religion
Itinerant Evolutionary Evangelism
Introduction
From “Adam and Eve” to Us—and Beyond
Science and Religion Spurring Each Other to Greatness
In Context
Overview
PART I. THE HOLY TRAJECTORY OF EVOLUTION
Chapter 1. Our Big Picture Understanding of Reality
Stories Within Stories
What Is the Great Story?
Shape-Shifting Story to Unchanging Scripture
Meaning-Making
Chapter 2. Evolution is Not Meaningless Blind Chance
Interpreting Our Immense Journey
The Mythopoeic Drive
Time’s Arrow, Time’s Cycle
The Role of Strife
The Role of Cooperation
The Role of Initiative
Chapter 3. Evolution and the Revival of the Human Spirit
The Universe Can Be Trusted
You Are Part of the Universe
Accept What Is and Be In Integrity
Grow in Evolutionary Integrity
Trusting the Universe Means Welcoming Challenges, You Really Can’t Get It Wrong!
PART II. REALITY IS SPEAKING
Chapter 4. Private and Public Revelation
Beyond Belief
The Birth and Maturation of Public Revelation
Flat-Earth Faith versus Evolutionary Faith
Toward an Evolutionary Christianity
Facts Are God’s Native Tongue
Religious Knowers
Chapter 5. The Nested Emergent Nature of Divine Creativity
Thank God for the Hubble Telescope!
We Are Made of Stardust
The Gifts of Death
Chapter 6. Words Create Worlds
Experiencing God versus Thinking about God
The Split Between Religion and Science
From Clockwork “It” to Creative “Thou”
Day and Night Language
Chapter 7. What Do We Mean by the Word “God”?
No Less Than a Holy Name for the Whole
Prayer in a Nestedly Creative Cosmos
A Personal, Undeniable God
God or the Universe: What’s in a Name?
Creatheism
The Role of Humanity in an Evolving Universe
Being “Faithful to God”
PART III. THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO EVOLUTION
Chapter 8. Growing an Evolutionary Faith
Genesis in Context
Don’t Throw Out the Apple
Chapter 9. REALizing “The Fall” and “Original Sin”
Lessons from Evolutionary Brain Science
Lessons from Evolutionary Psychology
Resurrecting “The Fall”
Your Brain’s Creation Story
Reclaiming “Original Sin”
Chapter 10. REALizing “Personal Salvation”
The Challenges of Our Lizard Legacy
Furry L’il Mammal to the Rescue
Thank God for Our Higher Porpoise!
Salvation Through Evolutionary Integrity
The DNA of Deep Integrity
Christ-like Evolutionary Integrity
REALizing “Saving Faith”
REALizing “the Gospel”
PART IV. EVOLUTIONARY SPIRITUALITY
Chapter 11. Evolutionary Integrity Practices
Taming Our Monkey Mind
Taming Our Lizard Legacy
Growing in Trust: Nurturing Humility and Faith
REALizing “Love Your Enemies”
Growing in Authenticity: REALizing “Remove the Plank”
Growing in Compassionate Responsibility: REALizing “Judge Not”
Growing in Gratitude: REALizing “Love God and Your Neighbor”
Chapter 12. Evolving Our Most Intimate Relationships
Touch and Tenderness
Respectful Communication
Playfulness and Humor
Meaningful Songs and Rituals
Synergy and Service
Chapter 13. Transformed by the Renewal of Your Mind
Deep Integrity Affirmations
Imagination Matters! Upgrading Your Mental Software
PART V. A “GOD-GLORIFYING” FUTURE
Chapter 14. Collective Sin and Salvation
Wrongdoing in a Nestedly Emergent Universe
Collective Sin in an Age of Information
Confronting Institutional Sin
Chapter 15. The Wisdom of Life’s Collective Intelligence
On Earth As It Is in Heaven
Collective Deep Integrity
Conversation and Creative Emergence
Co-Intelligent Social Technologies
The Core Commons
Cultivating Discernment within the Whole
Co-Creating Our Evolutionary Spiritualities
Chapter 16. Knowing the Past Reveals Our Way Forward
The Cosmic Century Timeline
Aligning Self-Interest with the Wellbeing of the Whole
Who and What Are We, Really? And Why Are We Here?
Our Sense of Self and Our Role in the Body of Life
Evolutionary Revivals
Chapter 17. Beyond Sustainability: An Inspiring Vision
Major Challenges in the Next 250 Years
Wildcards
Long-term and Short-term Positive Trends
Likely Good News in the Next 250 Years
Chapter 18. Our Evolving Understanding of “God’s Will”
Responding to Critics Who Reject Religion Because of Scripture
Transcending Biblical Values and Scriptural Morality
REALizing “Holy Scripture” and “Divine Revelation”
Public Revelation: “The Ever-Renewing Testament”
REALizing Godly Morality and Ethics
Wider Circles of Care, Compassion, and Commitment
REALizing “Jesus as God’s Way, Truth, and Life”
Conclusion
Epilogue
Testimonial
Vision
Appendix A. “Good and Bad Reasons for Believing” by Richard Dawkins
Appendix B. REALizing the Miraculous
Miracles Through the Ages
REALizing “the Virgin Birth”
REALizing “Christ’s Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven”
Resources
Acknowledgments
Quoted / Referenced
Index