He conceived the vitalist idea of the omega point, and he developed vladimir vernadskys concept of noosphere. His deeply religious mother instilled in her son a devo tion to jesus. In the summer of 1966 five books by teilhard had been published in the united states and his name was widely mentioned in catholic circles. Paris centurion, 1976 teilhard, in these letters to his closest confident, presents his unmasked face most clearly, infinitely human and attractive. The author of several works of philosophy and religion, he is considered by many to be among the foremost thinkers of our time. Here is a smart and helpful survey of the chief approaches and thinkers in todays understanding of the person, significance, and work of jesus christ.
American teilhard association teilhardspublications. What teilhard contributes is a renewed scientific methodology that connects science with logos, cosmos and eros, in a way that impacts the whole social order and thus the course of evolution. The omega point is a spiritual belief that everything in the universe is fated to spiral towards a final point of divine unification. His visionary writings on the reconciliation of faith and evolutionary theory aroused the suspicions of the vatican and he was forbidden to publish on religious matters during his lifetime. He was born in auvergne, france, in 1881 and entered the catholic society of jesus at 18. Elizabeth sewell, however, noted in her book, the human metaphor, that teilhard s greatest contribution may be methodological. Regarding the future of the human race, he deals with topics such as globalization, the nuclear bomb, democracy, the likelihood of life on other planets, and whether peace on earth is scientifically viable. We hope to make it accessibleclearly, simply, and understandablyto those who wish to experience it. A plenary assembly of the pontifical council for culture has recommended that pope francis revoke an. Teilhard s father was an amateur naturalist who collected rocks, insects, fossils, and plants. Fortunately, many of his works available online and in downloadable ebook format for free. Writings modern spiritual masters series paperback. Fortunately, many of his works available online and in downloadable ebook format for free through the community books open source initiative.
In september thomas merton allowed that he had not read much of teilhard. The heavens declare the glory of god, sings the psalmist. We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new. Creation, culture, and the spiritual life by marva dawn beyond the firmament by gordon j. In 1962, the holy office condemned several of teilhards works. Wildiers and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Teilhard then argues that evolution has not stopped with the creation of human beings, but is now in the process of converging the human mass like atoms and cells before them into a higher complex arrangement, this time on a planetary scale. According to teilhard, the omega point is the final point to which all of history is progressing. As a paleontologist teilhard found himself drawn towards the vision of a unified evolutionary process in which the human participates in the ongoing developmental unfolding. Teilhards ideas had a profound influence on the new age movement. Teilhard argued that the omega point resembles the christian logos, namely christ. Teilhard then argues that evolution has not stopped with the creation of human beings, but is now in the process of converging the human mass like atoms and cells before them into a higher complex. Teilhard recognized that the bible points to christ as the omega, the one for whom, through whom, and to whom are all things see romans 11. We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay. Cosmic evolution was for teilhard the most fitting hist. The author of several works of philosophy and religion, he is considered by many to. Blending science and christianity, he declared that the human epic resembles nothing so much as a way of the cross. In his important book le phinomene humain he develops the theory of an integral evolution. His visionary writings on the reconciliation of faith and evolutionary theory aroused the suspicions of the vatican and he was.
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