The God of Evolution: A Trinitarian Theology

· Paulist Press
4.7
3 reviews
Ebook
144
Pages
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About this ebook

The God of Evolution is an insightful, thought-provoking work that shifts the boundaries of theology by examining the traditional understanding of God and melding it with evolutionary ideas. Edwards begins by looking at the biblical stories of origin and the evolutionary world view. From there he examines the nature of God and God's power, the nature of human persons, including an exploration of original sin and grace, the divine-human relationship, and the impact of an evolutionary world view on the understanding of the Holy Spirit and the person of Jesus. In these discussions Edwards weaves together the insights of contemporary scientific thinkers and the ideas of theologians such as Teilhard de Chardin, Karl Rahner, and Jürgen Moltmann in a careful and nuanced way. Dealing with a topic in theology today that is attracting wide interest, this book is especially valuable in that it is written in accessible, non-technical language. Therefore, it will appeal to general readers with an interest in science and/or theology. It will also be a valuable ancillary text for undergraduates. +

Ratings and reviews

4.7
3 reviews
A Google user
December 6, 2009
Bygger upp en relationell ontologi och teologi baserad på "mutual friendship" och "free self-limitation in love". Tillsammans med Aquinus distinktion mellan primära och sekundära orsaker ger det en god grund för att inte hamna i upplysningens och nya ateismens, eller för den delen, kreationismens endimensionella/positivistiska epistemologi och således "interventionistiska" gudsbild, i samma plan och i konkurrens med naturliga förklaringar. Nyckel-citat: (John Haught): "There is no more theological difficulty in the remorseless law of natural selection, which is said to be impersonal and blind, than in the laws of inertia, gravity or any other impersonal aspects of science. Gravity, like natural selection, has no regard for our inherent personal dignity either." "If God is understood in relational terms, then this suggests that God is also understood in terms of the limitations that are freely accepted in loving relationships." "Omnipotence, understood in the light of the cross, is the supreme power to freely give one's self in love." "In comtemporary theology, alongside this view of God's respect for human freedom, there is a new emphasis on God's respect for the processes of nature. Richard and other theologians are rightly insisting that we need to think of God respecting and making room "for a natural order characterized by open-endedness and flexibility."" "The Darwinian view of evolution springing from variation and natural selection is not necessarily opposed to the idea of God as a purposeful Creator. It is certainly opposed to simplistic views of God creating through a series of divine interventions. But it is not in conflict with a view of God creating in and through natural processes, including chance and natural laws. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) long ago clarified that God's way of acting in the world (what can be called primary causality) is not opposed to the whole network of cause and effect in nature (secondary causality). God's work is achieved in and through creaturely cause and effect. It is not in competition with it."
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A Google user
March 28, 2017
Very thoughtful and well reasoned work.
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About the author

Denis Edwards is a priest of the Archdiocese of Adelaide, Australia, and teaches theology at Flinders University.

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