Louisville Process Theology Network

Religion and Science, I

May 02, 2006

Everyone wants religious ideas they can use in their day-to-day lives. It seems we hear that said whenever the subject of religion comes up. Put another way, we want religious beliefs that are consistent with what we see and experience in the world around us. Since the 18th or 19th century, that seems to also mean we want religious beliefs that are consistent with science.

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a Jesuit Priest, science teacher, and biologist, saw religion and science as one in the same. In 1944 he wrote, "I believe the universe is evolution. I believe that evolution proceeds from the spirit. I believe the spirit is fully realized in a form of personality. I believe that the supremely personal is the Universal Christ."

A few years later he added, "The driving energy with the process of evolution is love, and God is the center of that love, the presence of that love, and indeed can be called love itself. The special role of Christianity is to bring the message of love to the world."

Maybe religion and science are not actually one in the same as Teilhard de Chardin wrote. But, some understanding of the most profound scientific theories of our time seems to be essential to making sense of religion nowadays. The following is a brief description of three such profound theories that have changed the world in modern times.

To be continued.