Thank God for Michael Dowd!

(Crossposted from www.c4chaos.com)

Unless you've been living in a cave in the past year, you've probably noticed that the religion vs. science is one of the most important issues taking center stage on mainstream media. Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion alone already sold more than 1.5 million copies and it's in the process of being translated into different languages. The combined bestseller successes of Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens and Daniel Dennett, their presence on TED as well as a number of conferences, university lectures and debates, the high profile visibility of the courageous Ayaan Hirsi Ali, and the issue of religion taking center-stage in the presidential elections, are testaments to the success of "the New Atheists" on getting the discussion of science, secularism, religion onto the public sphere. In short, it's hip to be an Atheist nowadays (except for Sam Harris) ;)

As expected, a lot of religious conservatives rose to the challenge by protecting their deeply held beliefs and dogmas. As a result, most of the time, the discussions end up taking pot shots at science and religion. No synthesis. No integration. Only more shouting and misunderstanding.

For the past few months I've been surfing the wave of this important national conversation about science and religion, and lately taking sides in favor of what the New Atheists stand for: a critical reflection on the irrational claims of religion.

Previously, I've lamented my observation that integral voices are absent from this national conversation. Yes, integrally-informed people are ranting on their blogs, but that's about it. There are no integrally-informed representatives engaging the philosophers, scientists, politicians, and thinkers on this very important national debate on science and religion. Or is there?

Enter, Rev. Michael Dowd.

Michael Dowd is a former evangelical minister who has embraced Evolution and is now preaching the gospel of Evolutionary Christianity. His book, Thank God for Evolution!, has been praised by Nobel laureates, professors, scientists, politicians, religious leaders, and spiritual teachers (e.g. Andrew Cohen). The endorsements alone made me want to read his book.

I haven't read the book yet, but just by this WIRED interview alone, I get the sense that Michael Dowd is one of the sane integral voices that are badly needed to join the national conversation on science and religion. Here are some excerpts from the interview:

---

Wired News: Last week we learned that a Texas science education official, purportedly fired in October for insubordination, was actually punished for promoting evolution and downplaying intelligent design. What do you think of that?

Michael Dowd: Anybody who says intelligent design should be taught on the same footing as evolution is coming from a place that has no legal backing. I appreciate the heart of what intelligent design people are trying to do, but it's a dead-end road. It's not science; it's philosophy.

My problem with intelligent design is from a scientific standpoint. It fails to recognize the revelatory nature of science. Science is uncovering the truth of the nature of reality.

....

WN: Science hasn't proven that God exists, so why do you believe in him?

Dowd: Atheists and believers agree that reality consists of nested spheres -- subatomic particles within atoms within molecules within cells within organisms within planets within galaxies. Each nested level exhibits divine creativity -- the power to bring something new into existence that didn't exist before.

That creativity didn't exist at the beginning of time, making everything like a potter makes a pot, but exists through the universe in a nested sense. God, Goddess, Allah -- they're just proper names for that ultimate reality. God is a sacred proper name for 'largest nesting doll.' You may choose to call it by another name. Many people just call it the universe.

WN: So you embrace science, and therefore evolution. But in your book, you commend conservatives who don't. Why?

Dowd: Most conservatives have never been exposed to thinking of evolution except as a chance, mechanistic, godless process.

Evolutionary theology talks about evolution in a way that gives people a sense of purpose as part of something infinitely meaningful. Until conservatives are exposed to that, they should reject evolution. It's our responsibility to find more sacred, meaningful, holy ways of promoting evolution.
....

WN: Won't evolutionary theology leave a lot of scriptural truths behind?

Dowd: God didn't stop communicating truth vital to human well-being thousands of years ago, when people preserved insights on animal skins. God communicates through science. Facts are God's native tongue. Who of us would let a first-century dentist fix our children's teeth? Yet every day we let first-century theologians fill our children's brains.

There's a difference between flat-earth faith and evolutionary faith. In flat-earth Christianity, the core insights -- sin, salvation, heaven and hell -- are understood in the same way as when people first formulated ideas. I still value the same concepts, but interpret them in a radically different way.

Read more.

---

If you think Michael Dowd's philosophy sounds Wilberian, you're not far off. Check out one of the charts he uses. And here's a video of Dowd in action.



Although Michael Dowd is still preaching under the banner of Christianity, his approach is very skillful. He (and his science writer wife, Connie) meets people where they're at. By adopting evolution, he's providing a healthier narrative for Christians--a much better translation mechanism for religious people to embrace both science and spirituality in the process. Very fluffy.

I'm interested to see a conversation between Michael Dowd and the New Atheists and see Dowd respond to their arguments. I'm sure there will be points of disagreements, especially with Atheists who abhor Theology. But I think that there will be more points of agreements, synthesis, and possible integration.

Move over Dinesh D'Souza. Michael Dowd's Evolutionary Christianity should be heard by the American public.

P.S. Serendiptously, Michael Dowd has a profile on Zaadz. Check it out and send him some love :)