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

Dowd, Michael

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0452295343 ISBN 13: 9780452295346

Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group, 2009

Synopsis

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 be mutually enriching forces in our lives.

Praised by Nobel laureates in the scientific community and religious leaders alike, Thank God for Evolution will expand the horizon of what is possible for self, for relationships, and for our world.

About this title

From the Publisher

Advance Praise for Thank God for Evolution!

"The science vs. religion debate is over! Must reading for all, including scientists." -- Craig Mello, 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine

"The universe took 13.7 billion years to produce this amazing book. I heartily recommend it." -- John Mather, NASA Chief Scientist, 2006 Nobel Prize in Physics

"If anyone can persuade a monotheist that the science of evolution can enrich his or her faith, I'm betting on Michael Dowd." -- Thomas C. Schelling, 2005 Nobel Prize in Economics

"Takes evolution to heart, and celebrates it." -- Frank Wilczek, 2004 Nobel Prize in Physics

"At last someone who understands that all of reality is sacred and science is our method of comprehending it." -- Lee Hartwell, 2001 Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine

"Michael Dowd and his wife, Connie Barlow, have committed their lives to showing that you can be a true Darwinian and a truly spiritual person. Thank God for `em, and thank God for Michael's new book." -- Robert Wright, author of The Moral Animal and Nonzero

"That evolution is a divine force has not been well appreciated, or articulated, up till now." -- Kevin Kelly, Wired magazine, author of Out of Control

"Dowd shows that there are many ways to be a spiritual person and that all of them are enriched by an understanding of modern science, especially evolution." -- Eugenie C. Scott, Director of the National Center for Science Education

"Few if any religious books quote Richard Dawkins in his own terms, or with approval. That this book does both hints at the breadth of audience it will intrigue. Thank God for Evolution! has become my most quoted pastoral resource as a Christian minister. I cannot recommend it too highly." -- Rev. Jason John, Scots Church Adelaide (Presbyterian)

"For Catholics who are worried that evolution has nothing to offer them but random Godlessness, this is the book to get!" -- Chris Corbally, SJ, Vice Director of the Vatican Observatory

"Like orphans reunited, spirituality and evolution come face to face in this daring book." -- Spencer Burke, theooze.com (evangelical); author of A Heretic's Guide to Eternity

"Fun to read and a significant contribution, from which people of all faiths can learn." -- Rabbi Michael Lerner, Tikkun, Network of Spiritual Progressives

"This exhilarating book moves us at last beyond false separations of science and religion." -- Joanna Macy, Buddhist eco-philosopher, author of World As Lover, World As Self

"A step toward that ultimate truth in which both religion and science will be reconciled." -- Bishop John Shelby Spong, author of Jesus for the Non-Religious

"This is a book I would gladly (and securely) recommend, not only to members of my own humanist-inclined congregation but to my evangelical relatives as well!" -- Rev. Michael Schuler, Senior Minister, First Unitarian Society of Madison

"Michael Dowd is one Christian preacher who speaks to this Pagan's heart." -- Starhawk, author of The Spiral Dance

"This is a fantastic book! A page-turner! You might as well buy ten copies because you won't be able to finish one without giving it away time and again! Be forewarned. Would I lie to you?" -- Brad Blanton, author of Radical Honesty and The Truthtellers

"Here is a book that promises to deliver and delivers on its promises!" -- Rev. Howard Caesar, Senior Minister, Unity Church of Christianity, Houston

"With the passion of a revival preacher, and with grounding in mainstream evolution, Dowd has written a visionary book. -- Rev. Jim Burklo, Sausalito Presbyterian Church; The Center for Progressive Christianity; author of Open Christianity

"Michael Dowd's new book should be made into a Hollywood film: An evangelical Christian preacher (Michael) and an atheist evolutionary naturalist (Connie Barlow) fall in love, marry one another, and give birth to their stunning new vision that promises healing for so many. If you love God, if you love the animals, if you love Jesus, if you love the flowers and Sun and Moon, here's the book that will help you gather all these loves together." -- Brian Swimme, Professor of Cosmology, California Institute of Integral Studies

"This book will change the minds and even the hearts of people who have been alienated by rhetoric that pits science against faith." -- Joan Roughgarden, Professor of Biology, Stanford University; author of Evolution and Christian Faith

"Shows how the evolutionary history of the cosmos supports a deeply spiritual vision." -- John B. Cobb, Jr., Center for Process Studies

"Thoughtful, timely, challenging--and readable." -- John F. Haught, Distinguished Professor of Theology, Georgetown University; author of Deeper Than Darwin

"Refreshing, honest, unpretentious, and deep." -- Ursula Goodenough, Professor of Biology, Washington University; author of The Sacred Depths of Nature

"A powerful book, a passionate book, a needed book, and a necessary book!" -- Matthew Fox, theologian and author of Original Blessing

"An itinerant preacher who teaches evolution in the evangelical style? I was skeptical at first, but Dowd remains true to both science and the spirit of religion." -- David Sloan Wilson, Professor of Biology and Anthropology, Binghamton University; author of Evolution for Everyone

"A seminal work. I recommend it with all my heart." -- Barbara Marx Hubbard, President, Foundation for Conscious Evolution; author of Emergence

"This book is tour de force and a welcome contribution to the growing literature that says God speaks through evolution as clearly as through the events of our personal lives." -- Vicki Robin, co-author of Your Money or Your Life

"A voice of sanity and inspiration." -- Joel Primack and Nancy Abrams, authors of The View from the Center of the Universe

About the Author

The Reverend Michael Dowd is America’s evolutionary evangelist. He and his wife, Connie Barlow, an acclaimed science writer, have traveled the country sharing their sacred view of cosmic, biological, and human evolution. Equally at home in both conservative and liberal settings, and uniquely gifted at building bridges between religious and nonreligious people, Rev. Dowd is passionate about sharing the fourteen-billion-year epic of evolution in ways that uplift and expand heart, mind, and soul. During the 1980s and 90s, Dowd was pastor of three United Church of Christ congregations, and has worked with diverse religious leaders across the country on environmental initiatives, peace and justice issues, and social reform. He holds a Master of Divinity degree. Rev. Dowd has served on the boards of the North American Conference on Christianity and Ecology; the Ohio Conference United Church of Christ (UCC) Integrity of Creation, Justice, and Peace task force; and the Hudson Valley Sustainable Communities Network. He has also served on the steering committees of the International Network of Biblical Storytellers and the UCC Network for Environmental and Economic Responsibility.

Edition details

• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0452295343
• ISBN 13: 9780452295346
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 448