Thank God for Evolution: How the Marriage of Science and Religion Will Transform Your Life and Our World

by Michael Dowd

Book Overview

Few issues have revealed deeper divisions in our society than the debate between creationism and evolution, between religion and science. Yet from the fray, Reverend Michael Dowd has emerged as a reconciler, finding faith strengthened by the power of reason. With evidence from contemporary astrophysics, geology, biology, anthropology, and evolutionary psychology, Thank God for Evolution lays out a compelling argument for how religion and science can...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0452295343
• ISBN13: 9780452295346
• Release Date: April 2009
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 4.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.4" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

mind-expanding, heart-opening, grace-giving

Michael Dowd draws on the wisdom of religion and the revelations of science to make sense of the world in a way that is a gift to me. I have heard Michael Dowd speak several times, and am thrilled that he has put these ideas into writing. I have found the integration of evolution and religion to be the most mind-expanding, heart-opening, grace-giving idea I have ever experienced. At the risk of sounding corny, I am just plain effusive about improvements in my life that have happened as a result of understanding the ideas presented in "Thank God For Evolution!" Since reconciling evolution with religion, all the important relationships in my life have improved. I experience more joy in my life and have more moments of grace than ever. I also have a realistic and grounded hope that gives me courage to meet the social and ecological challenges facing our society and the Earth. Through this new understanding of evolution that Dowd presents, religion finally makes sense. For years, as a molecular biologist who studied evolution, I "believed" that evolution meant there was no God and worse, that the universe was unfriendly. A closer examination of growing amounts of evidence helped me discover that the universe is a friendly place. What scientists of all disciplines (and all faith traditions) are revealing about evolution is convincing me more and more that the universe is on a trajectory toward greater complexity, cooperation and consciousness. Michael Dowd beautifully articulates this in "Thank God for Evolution!" Another of my favorite things about Dowd's teachings is how he finds universal spiritual/evolutionary impulses in specific Christian metaphors. This gives me the double blessing of having far greater appreciation for my own Christian roots, but also the appreciation to know that other religions have their own specific symbols that represent the same universal truth. I like the "evolutionary integrity practices" that Dowd includes in his book. In the light of evolutionary science, some spiritual practices that once seemed strange now make sense. For example, I used to think speaking in tongues was weird. After reading Dowd's evolutionary explanation for how this practice quiets the mind, I thought I would experiment. So I just let myself speak in random syllables (nobody was around). Sure enough! The chatter in my brain stopped, replaced by interesting sounds, followed by laughter and a useful change in perspective.

3 ways this book will make a really big difference

This book is not only a fascinating read, but is also extremely important. I should, as a matter of full disclosure, say that I have been working with (not for) the author for three years, which I don't see as a conflict of interest to recommend this book. I'm working with Michael Dowd because I believe in the profound importance of what he and his book are saying. I think his book is a gift to the world -- particularly to future generations -- and so it is a gift to recommend it. Here's why: I see at least 3 layers of importance for Thank God for Evolution!... 1. At its surface layer it is a Christian book brilliantly weaving Christianity and modern evolutionary understandings into a single fabric of celebration, integrity, and universal co-creativity. Although I don't think of myself as Christian, the vast majority of Americans are Christians, and I expect the vast majority of them will find Dowd's perspective inspiring and useful. It will deepen and ground their ability to live the benign spirit of their faith while shaking loose from some of its worst downside. Given what's been going on lately, this will greatly benefit America, other "Christian nations", and the rest of the world. 2. There is a war raging between religion and science. It has been going on since Copernicus. It settled down to a quiet roar during the industrial era when both agreed to a sort of "separate but equal" dynamic tension. But with the recent growth of deep collective uneasiness, with recent abuses in both religious and secular realms, and after recent cynical efforts to merge religion and politics for partisan gain, the suppressed tensions are once again boiling over. Both sides have initiated clever, passionate, virulent attacks of all kinds in many forums -- in education, media, politics, and courtrooms. As our already tenuous social fabric tears along these lines, I know of no one who has created a more brilliant resolution to that war than Dowd. As with any war, there will be extremist holdouts on both sides, but Dowd has created such a deeply satisfying peace plan, one that validates both sides and creates a climate in which the vast majority of partisans can lay down their weapons and get on with the work of enhancing their shared humanity. Which brings me to the final importance of this book, and the real reason why I'm working with Dowd. 3. We face extinction. And we are pushing much of life on earth into extinction. Extinction is an evolutionary issue. We are heading for an evolutionary train wreck of our own making. Species and civilizations go extinct when they and their ways no longer "fit" the conditions in which they live. 20th and 21st century culture, economics, industry, politics, media, education, religion, and more, were not designed for our collective survival (i.e., sustainability) but for material growth and (increasingly concentrated) power. We don't "fit" and we are about to take ourselves out of the evolutionary ga

Thank God for this book!

As a recovering Biblical literalist who was raised to "believe" radical religious views that are completely out of sync with reality, I was overjoyed to discover a book that finally shares what I have known in my heart and head since I was a child, namely that everything is sacred. Everything is divine. All land is holy land. All water is holy water. My existential angst is finally over. This beautiful book turns religion right-side up, reality inside out and gives a new way to EXPERIENCE rather than just EXPLAIN God. The insights it shares breath new life into old scriptures by helping to reveal religious meaning that just makes sense in light of modern revelations about reality. We literally are the first life form we know of that has a choice in its own evolution. If that isn't a second coming idea that lifts humanity to the right hand of God, then I don't know what is. I strongly recommend this book to anyone feeling "left behind" by the end-of-times doom-and-gloomers. All of a sudden you'll see how challenges like global warming are just the evolutionary nudge we need right now to evolve into a species that truly and deeply cares for ourselves, each other and our precious planet, the only known one of its kind. Welcome to Heaven!

Spiritually Powerful and Scientifically Accurate

My involvement with this book has allowed me to carefully read it more than once, and to think about its ideas, organization and style before its release this week. It's a great book in all of these categories, and for many, probably the most important book they'll read in a long time. The best feature of this book is the ideas it presents. It starts out in sections I and II with an overview of how profoundly our knowledge of our universe has grown over the past several hundred years, and how this fits tightly together to give us a clearer view than ever before. Many of the facts that we've memorized in school are shown to be wonderful in their own right, and are woven into a comprehensive tapestry instead of a dry list. By the end of this section, Michael shows that any idea of God that can be disbelieved in isn't much of a God. This view expands God beyond the commonly held view, and shows how glorious God is. It's a natural progression from there to expand the scope, reality and power of traditional Christianity into today's world, which is done in sections III and IV. These sections contain life-changing ideas and practices that powerfully combine both rationality and spirituality. Too often in today's culture, the emotional, powerful practices are trapped in shells of irrationality, making them inaccessible to many - that is, until now. There are too many seismic ideas to describe here, and to try would only give a pale shadow of each, so I'll have to simply recommend the book instead. The final section (section V) points us toward the future, a future that can be God-glorifying and deeply fulfilling for all, regardless of religion. At this point (or sooner) it becomes obvious to the reader why the whole "science vs. religion" debate is a distraction from the real task in life. These ideas can and do transform lives - both those of believers and of skeptics. These ideas are reason not just to read this book, but to reread it from time to time to recharge one's life. These ideas alone are more than enough reason to make this a great book. However, it's worth mentioning the organization and the writing style as well. The organization of the book is logical and like a good home heating system, is easy to forget because it works. The writing style makes this book fun to read. The value of the ideas and worldview of the book would be enough to outweigh poor or uninviting writing, but luckily, they don't have to. Michael writes from his heart and his highly varied experience to pull us viscerally into his world, making this book both compelling and fun. As an overbooked father, I was amazed to see myself zip through this book, finding time hidden in the nooks and crannies of my life. Lastly, it's important to mention the Christian basis of this book. The book shows how Christianity can be a strong foundation for a healthy, wholesome life. This makes it a powerful book for modern Christians and especially for Christians wh