Table of Contents

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

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.

Reviews

"Dowd presents evolution as a sacred epic of emerging complexity."
-The New York Times

"Dowd masterfully unites rationality and spirituality in a world view that celebrates the mysteries of existence... A powerful book!"
-Craig Mello, winner of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine

Unfortunately, this self-read title by "evolutionary evangelist" Dowd is not a cogent collection of his core ideas but, rather, a collection of rambling, meaningless statements interspersed with far too many self-aggrandizing anecdotes about how he and his wife have impacted others' lives. This abridged audio recording contains few facts--not even a proper description of the theory of evolution. Those attempting to understand or even reconcile scientific and religious beliefs should look elsewhere. Not recommended. [Audio clip available through us.penguingroup.com; the Council Oak hc was recommended "for larger libraries," LJ 11/15/07; watch the book trailer at thankgodforevolution.com/trailer.--Ed.]--I. Pour-El, Des Moines Area Technical Coll., Boone, IA Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

"Dowd presents evolution as a sacred epic of emerging complexity."
-The New York Times

"Dowd masterfully unites rationality and spirituality in a world view that celebrates the mysteries of existence... A powerful book!"
-Craig Mello, winner of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine