Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Comquirk · 10-09-2003, 03:04 PM

Anyone ever see anything by these folks?

They're doing three lectures at St. Thomas University and University of New Brunswick, about the marriage of science and religion. Needless to say, I'll be attending to take it all in, in my skeptical glory.\

Outside what's on their website (http://www.thegreatstory.org) does anyone have experience with these folks and their presentation?

Comquirk · 10-10-2003, 08:32 AM

Bah. What's with the editing time limit?

Anyhow, I actually meant Michael "Dowd" and not "Down".

AspenMama · 10-10-2003, 10:03 AM

All fixed. I think I might shoot this over to CSS&SA....

AspenMama, SL Moderator

Toto · 10-10-2003, 10:54 AM

It doesn't look like church state separation. Is it supposed to be secular activism?

These people look like eco-mystics, who see the world and the universe as an evolving organism, and want to make ecology their religion. They are not right wing creationists, and are not threatening real science. They speak on college campuses because that's where concentrations of young people are.

Their mission and who they are:

OUR MISSION: (A) To teach and preach the Great News of the Great Story and promote the Great Work in colleges, universities, churches, synagogues, retreat centers, and private and public schools across North America. (B) To network with and support others who are committed to a just, healthy, beautiful, and sustainably life-giving world for future generations of all species.

OUR MESSAGE: The marriage of science and religion for personal and planetary wellbeing.

OUR VISION: The clear and unmistakable emergence of the Ecozoic Era � i.e., a mutually enhancing human-Earth relationship � within our lifetimes.

OUR MARKET: Mainstream North Americans (especially young people) who have never heard The Great Story or who have not yet fully realized its magnificence.

. . .

Michael is the author of EarthSpirit: A Handbook for Nurturing an Ecological Christianity -- the first major work to popularize the epic of evolution for Christians and to look appreciatively at the core tenets of New Testament faith from the perspective of the new cosmology. Connie's most recent book, The Ghosts of Evolution, was Amazon.com's top recommended science book for several months in 2001.

Married in June 2001, CONNIE and MICHAEL are Great Story mission partners as well as wedded partners. They have embarked on a traveling ministry: teaching and preaching the Great Story and its meaning in colleges, universities, churches, and synagogues across North America. They promote "the marriage of science and religion for personal and planetary wellbeing." by sharing "the Great News of the Great Story and fostering the Great Work."

Together, MICHAEL AND CONNIE share a religious sensibility grounded in a contemporary cosmological understanding of the Universe as "nested creativity." Michael's faith is in Spirit present and pervasive from the very beginning; Connie's in spirit that emerges and enriches with the passage of evolutionary time. These are two faces of what might be called EPIC FAITH.

Ghosts of Evolution got mediocre reviews - "not bad, but hardly serious science."

AspenMama · 10-10-2003, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Toto
It doesn't look like church state separation. Is it supposed to be secular activism?

Yes-- I had thought it was activism-- but didn't review it closely enough-- perhaps GRD. My apologies. It's in your ship now-- toss or stow as you will.

Toto · 10-10-2003, 03:41 PM

I think its more GRD. The OP may be skeptical, and I would be skeptical, but if this pair can convince Christians that they ought to preserve the environment, more power to them.

10-09-2003, 03:04 PM	#1
Comquirk Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Truro, NS/Fredericton, NB Canada Posts: 274	Michael Dowd and Connie Barlow: Appearing at St. Thomas University Anyone ever see anything by these folks? They're doing three lectures at St. Thomas University and University of New Brunswick, about the marriage of science and religion. Needless to say, I'll be attending to take it all in, in my skeptical glory.\ Outside what's on their website (http://www.thegreatstory.org) does anyone have experience with these folks and their presentation?

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10-10-2003, 08:32 AM	#2
Comquirk Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Truro, NS/Fredericton, NB Canada Posts: 274	Bah. What's with the editing time limit? Anyhow, I actually meant Michael "Dowd" and not "Down".

10-10-2003, 10:03 AM	#3
AspenMama Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 3,311	All fixed. I think I might shoot this over to CSS&SA.... AspenMama, SL Moderator

10-10-2003, 10:54 AM	#4
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	It doesn't look like church state separation. Is it supposed to be secular activism? These people look like eco-mystics, who see the world and the universe as an evolving organism, and want to make ecology their religion. They are not right wing creationists, and are not threatening real science. They speak on college campuses because that's where concentrations of young people are. Their mission and who they are: OUR MISSION: (A) To teach and preach the Great News of the Great Story and promote the Great Work in colleges, universities, churches, synagogues, retreat centers, and private and public schools across North America. (B) To network with and support others who are committed to a just, healthy, beautiful, and sustainably life-giving world for future generations of all species. OUR MESSAGE: The marriage of science and religion for personal and planetary wellbeing. OUR VISION: The clear and unmistakable emergence of the Ecozoic Era � i.e., a mutually enhancing human-Earth relationship � within our lifetimes. OUR MARKET: Mainstream North Americans (especially young people) who have never heard The Great Story or who have not yet fully realized its magnificence. . . . Michael is the author of EarthSpirit: A Handbook for Nurturing an Ecological Christianity -- the first major work to popularize the epic of evolution for Christians and to look appreciatively at the core tenets of New Testament faith from the perspective of the new cosmology. Connie's most recent book, The Ghosts of Evolution, was Amazon.com's top recommended science book for several months in 2001. Married in June 2001, CONNIE and MICHAEL are Great Story mission partners as well as wedded partners. They have embarked on a traveling ministry: teaching and preaching the Great Story and its meaning in colleges, universities, churches, and synagogues across North America. They promote "the marriage of science and religion for personal and planetary wellbeing." by sharing "the Great News of the Great Story and fostering the Great Work." Together, MICHAEL AND CONNIE share a religious sensibility grounded in a contemporary cosmological understanding of the Universe as "nested creativity." Michael's faith is in Spirit present and pervasive from the very beginning; Connie's in spirit that emerges and enriches with the passage of evolutionary time. These are two faces of what might be called EPIC FAITH. Ghosts of Evolution got mediocre reviews - "not bad, but hardly serious science."

10-10-2003, 03:41 PM	#6
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	I think its more GRD. The OP may be skeptical, and I would be skeptical, but if this pair can convince Christians that they ought to preserve the environment, more power to them.

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