The Science of Emergence -- Transforming Theology Project
Could science and theology have a mutually beneficial conversation? That's the question we have long been pondering, since too often we hear only that science and religion are at war. From the religious side we often hear about alternative views of science, from Creationism to Intelligent Design. My review of Karl Giberson's Saving Darwin deals with some of that discussion.
Philip Clayton, a theology professor at Claremont School of Theology, is deeply engaged in a conversation with science as a theologian. I'm reading, as I've pointed out earlier, his Adventures in the Spirit (Fortress 2008), as part of the Transforming Theology project. Clayton speaks of emergence -- a term that is similar in nature to that used by Tony Jones, Doug Pagitt, and others. In some ways they mean something different, but in others, they are closing in on similar understandings.
The clip below introduces the content of the second section of Adventures in the Spirit. I'll be posting as I'm able my thoughts on these chapters in the days to come, but let this video get you started in your thinking about emergence and emergent Christianity.
What Clayton is doing is bringing a scientific view into the conversation -- a view of biology that he believes is cutting edge, and one that is much more amenable to faith than the Neo-Darwinism of Richard Dawkins. As you watch this clip you'll hear him suggest that Dawkins's view is way out of date. Now I'm not as well versed in the intricacies of scientific theory to know exactly how this works, but if Clayton is correct, then something quite amazing is happening. And as you'll see he believes that faith/religion plays a part in all of this (or at least there's the possibility). Take a look and leave your thoughts.
Philip Clayton, a theology professor at Claremont School of Theology, is deeply engaged in a conversation with science as a theologian. I'm reading, as I've pointed out earlier, his Adventures in the Spirit (Fortress 2008), as part of the Transforming Theology project. Clayton speaks of emergence -- a term that is similar in nature to that used by Tony Jones, Doug Pagitt, and others. In some ways they mean something different, but in others, they are closing in on similar understandings.
The clip below introduces the content of the second section of Adventures in the Spirit. I'll be posting as I'm able my thoughts on these chapters in the days to come, but let this video get you started in your thinking about emergence and emergent Christianity.
What Clayton is doing is bringing a scientific view into the conversation -- a view of biology that he believes is cutting edge, and one that is much more amenable to faith than the Neo-Darwinism of Richard Dawkins. As you watch this clip you'll hear him suggest that Dawkins's view is way out of date. Now I'm not as well versed in the intricacies of scientific theory to know exactly how this works, but if Clayton is correct, then something quite amazing is happening. And as you'll see he believes that faith/religion plays a part in all of this (or at least there's the possibility). Take a look and leave your thoughts.
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