Blog Archive
Evolutionary Christian Spirituality
Monday, January 21, 2008
To be evolutionary means, in the first place, that we adhere to the scientific theory of evolution - not its ideological iteration of scientific materialism - but the idea that all of reality at all levels, geological, biological, social, cultural, and spiritual evolves or develops over time in the direction of increased complexity, consciousness, and compassion. If it’s not evolving then it’s going against one of the basic dynamics of God’s universe. And it’s contrary to one of the basic cosmic principles, then chances are it won’t survive long.
The church is a part of this evolving universe, or it should be. If not it’s resisting a very powerful cosmic dynamic - the evolutionary impulse. In other words, Biblical literalists have to work really, really hard to maintain their position, because it goes against the very nature of reality as Spirit has seen fit to make it.
Of course, one can argue that evolution is “just a theory”, but it’s pretty damn solid one at this point. Revelation - the way we come to know God - is happening all the time. It didn’t get frozen back there, 2000 years ago, in Jesus of Nazareth. Nor is it limited to the Jewish/Christian take on reality. I choose to see ultimate reality through the lens of Jesus of Nazareth and claim that he is about as clear a manifestation of God in human form we have up to this point in the universe. So, his love for the left-behinds, his love of God, his critique of the domination system that perpetuates injustice and inequality - all these are part of what informs my understanding of spirituality. It’s a partial take on reality, and needs other faith systems along with science and philosophy to complete it. That’s part of the fun. We never stop growing.
The other thing about an evolutionary spirituality is that we make that claim that the universe is doing a new thing, creating the future, through me and through you. We can actually feel this evolutionary power flow through us - if we choose to see the world this way and tap into it. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, Spirit is moving through us as the “blessed unrest” to growing towards perfection (i.e. an ever-expanding wholeness).
This is happening continuously. Scientists call it cosmogenesis - ongoing creation. Congregations therefore are most vital when they are domains of creative emergence, engaged in the “new thing” God is doing to quote the prophet Isaiah. Our primary task therefore is not proclaiming redemption through Christ’s blood. It’s enacting the creative agency of God known in and through Jesus - who ushered in a new creation based in forgiveness, compassion for the left-behinds, and a toppling of systems of domination.
When I say that the Spirit is moving through the cosmos and through us therefore (as the human mode of cosmic presence), I don’t mean to suggest Intelligent Design. There’s no divine blueprint, and there is no predetermined future awaiting for us to arrive at. This bias toward increased complexity, consciousness and compassion is a non-coercive bias. God doesn’t act in the universe through an exercise of unilateral power, but rather love. This involves a divine Self-emptying that enables creation to evolve in freedom.
