¶ … Pierre Teilhard's understanding of evolution links Christian and scientific understandings?
Rather than seeing Christianity and science as fundamentally incompatible, the Catholic theological Pierre Teilhard attempted to link the two in his understanding of material and human complexity and consciousness. Tielhard believed that the universe by its very nature had a tendency to strive to become more complex, as manifested in evolutionary evidence. In other words, from protozoa to patterns in mammal development, species evolve into more complex systems, which create the appearance and reality of an evolution of species. There is a divine impetus in this greater complexity that is reflected both in the Bible and in scientific records that justify Darwin's theory of evolution, such as fossil records. Human thought, in parallel and in consort with human biology (including human brain development and because of God's spiritual design) also grows more complex in its thought patterns and consciousness. The evidence of God is this pulling of humanity into greater complexity in the form of an as Omega Point.
What about his thought may be most difficult?
One of the more unique aspects of Tielhard's thought, which makes it more difficult to understand, is that Tielhard does not see human evolution as merely imbued with a 'divine spark' but still adhering to scientific, Darwinian principles. Rather, he advances a notion, equally integral to his theology as his understanding of evolution that the creation of humankind in God's own image is unique, and created a new level of complexity on the earth when it was interjected into the world. Human thought and thus human existence is parallel but somehow more complex than the evolution of the biological, material world.
What about his thought may be most helpful?
Tielhard's reconciliation of evolution and theology is valuable to Catholics who seek to balance their understanding of their place in the world with the hard, scientific evidence that suggests humans have evolved from other organism. It also imbues the idea of evolution with a moral responsibility that Darwin's theory lacks -- as more complex organisms, capable of higher consciousness, we have an added obligation to understand the world, spiritually as well as scientifically, to understand that world and to understand God.
Teilhard De Chardin Pierre Teilhard de Chardin is one of the few people who can legitimately claim a place in the history of both Darwinian science and Christian theology. Born in 1881, Teilhard was both a Jesuit priest in the Roman Catholic church, and also a scientifically-trained paleontologist and geologist who participated in the discovery of the first fossil specimens of the hominid Homo erectus, then popularly dubbed "Peking Man" due
In the late 1930s he wrote, "[G]ood is... everything that brings a spiritual growth to the world" (King 166). Thus, he explains his ability to balance science and faith. Science, at least in his mind, brings a spiritual growth to the world by explaining how systems work and live together, and how they have evolved. Science has made broad achievements in the world, from halting illness to discovering life-changing
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now