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.

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.

Thank God for EvolutionPreface Author's Promises

Prologue: 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? From 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

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 Litany: "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 Li'l Mammal to the Rescue Thank God for Our Higher Porpoise! Discerning Your Calling Exercise 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 Money 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 Compassion/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 Cofronting 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 Well-being 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 Wild Cards 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 Critics 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"

Invitation Acknowledgments Resources Online Resources Who's Who and Sources of Quotations Index