I return to considering the works of Teilhard de
Chardin. His two best-known books are: The Phenomenon of Man (renamed The Human Phenomenon in a newer
translation), it is his scientific treatise on the evolution of the earth and
the human species; and The Divine Milieu,
his mystic understanding of the God-humanity relationship. A scientist and a Jesuit, his life was
devoted to reconciling science and religion, the two seemingly conflicting
paths for understanding who and what we are.
Science shows evolution to be the underlying principle of
all that is; Teilhard fully accepts the reality of evolution and that it is
God’s great plan, filled with meaning and purpose. He has identified the ‘law of
complexity-consciousness’ as the pattern that gives direction to
evolution. In that observable pattern,
over eons, life progressed from single-cell entities to ultimately reach the
purpose inherent from the beginning: the emergence of the human, a complex
being created in God’s image possessing consciousness, thought and feeling,
free will, creativity and the ability to love.
Teilhard refers to the evolutionary process as a ‘genesis’, a vast
coming to be.
Full consciousness in the human species is not some random
‘surprise happening’; it is God’s intended goal for evolution. Throughout, as organisms became more complex,
simultaneously consciousness increased until, with the human, reflective
awareness emerged with the birth of thought.
More than a change in degree, it was a change in nature to a new
species. With thought came the freedom
to choose (free will) and responsibility for the direction chosen for the
future. As we advance in our ability to
control and direct, it is clear that those abilities can have both wonderfully
positive and horribly negative consequences.
We have yet to realize our world is one interacting/interdependent unit that
stands in danger of self-destruction.
The search for knowledge and understanding has proceeded
haphazardly without clear belief in a direction or goal . . . science and religion
have argued over the preeminence of the world vs. God; science—in its
arrogance—has suggested there is ONLY world and God is illusion. Mystics of all traditions have recognized a link
between God and world.
The poem in my previous entry is about the God-human
relationship, co-creating a world on planet earth.
The wonder and order of the Universe; the intricate balance
of the elements of our earth that support unexplainable, inexplicable life is
proof to me of God . . . random chance cannot justify that level of order and
balance—so I believe in the mystery that gave rise to such wonder and call the
Mystery, God. God prepared us to
encounter life together and gave us the freedom to shape our world. I can’t understand or explain God, but I’m
convinced that we were given what we need and God has sprinkled humanity’s
search for wisdom with clues that lead us toward understanding the why and who
we are and our place in the great mystery of life.
One of God’s ‘sprinkled clues’ as to our self-identity is
found in the process we witness daily in observing human development from
embryo to mature adult. Begun in
mysterious darkness, emerging with only primitive abilities, dependent and
needing guidance, gradually discovering skills and abilities, growing into
beings capable of shaping their own future.
–We’re adults now, God gave us the tools we need for survival and the
rest is up to us.
I encourage you to turn back to my May 28 entry and read
‘Child is Father of the Man’ with these thoughts in mind.
