This week we are posting a podcast that was recorded by Michael Dowd, author of Thank God for Evolution, on his podcast
After I listened to this podcast, I asked Michael if we could re-post it, I don’t know how many of you may have had the chance to catch it on his podcast, so here it is.
I was impressed.
Here are the original show notes:
Michael Dowd steps up to the microphone to extemporaneously present his boldest ideas yet: “I want to encourage religious people not to get defensive when the New Atheists are attacking religion or attacking concepts of God. Instead, recognize that they are fulfilling the role of a prophet. Traditionally, a religious prophet is someone who has sensed what is real in the moment and what is emerging and then has given voice to what is emerging and what is real in a way that was challenging, that was pointed, that was prophetic. Prophets were not typically your most polite people. They were sometimes curmudgeons. They were sometimes quirky. But they spoke with the authority of reality.” Dowd continues, “The religion that the New Atheists are attacking is otherworldly, superstitious religion when it’s interpreted as objectively real. And that’s not where the power of our religious language lies. . . So long as religious people interpret our scriptures literally, interpret our miracles literally, interpret our language about God and all our traditions literally, we deserve to be the brunt of attacks by the true prophets of our age, which are the New Atheists, who are the defenders of objective reality.” (You can also access online the audio of Dowd reciting the preface of his book.)
Tags: atheist, evolution, michael dowd, podcast, thank god for evolution
I’m an atheist and I enjoyed this program. Religions have to keep evolving and I applaud those who are trying to steer Christianity away from absurdity and into a viable future. It sounds like Dowd and I would agree on many things, but he has opted to continue identifying as a Christian and using Christian “god-language,” while I’ve decided to leave it behind. I’m a pastor-turned-atheist living in the midwest. Around here, at least, religious language carries too much baggage and is too deeply associated with fundamentalism for me to try and pull that off. And I don’t really see the use, anyway. Dowd says, “Reality is my god and integrity is my religion.” Admirable sentiments, but what’s wrong with just calling it reality rather than using the word “god”? I also wonder how many churches would identify him as a Christian.
the whole idea is oxymoron!
Also christian religion cannot evolve when it comes from a judeo christian believing man. Why? because GOD does not change. The only change that goes on is from lunatics like M.D. who tries to feed garbage in the church. Also evolution is not real but a theory.
thank you very much.
I admire Danny’s honesty in this. M.D. should take his christian references and God out of his equation and just stick to his athiest idea. I do have his latest book on cd. It made me cringe! But, also a good laugh.
Thanks for the thoughts Danny, check out the interviews we did with bishop spong, you may enjoy them as well. And you’re right Danny, sometimes different language can help. I like the idea of God as the Ultimate Ground such as the theologian Tillich used to say.
Pseudo, thanks for dropping by. Christian Religion has evolved multiple times. Do you think it does not?