In a sacramental ecology, divine grace is to be found in the evolutionary emergence of life.
In a sacramental ecology, divine grace is to be found in the evolutionary emergence of life.
Religion & science, Sacraments, Theology
In a sacramental ecology, divine grace is to be found in the evolutionary emergence of life.
The ‘Epic of Evolution’ is the scientific story that reveals that we live in an approximately 14 billion year old universe on a planet that is approximately 4.6 billion years old and that we are a part of the ongoing process of life that has existed on Earth for roughly 4 billion years. Nature's Sacrament focuses on the religious and ecological significance of the evolutionary epic in an effort to seamlessly connect the ecological value attributed as a part of an understanding of the evolutionary connectedness of life on Earth, with the Divine grace understood to be present in Christian sacramental worship.
David C. McDuffie is a faculty member in the Religious Studies Department at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where his primary teaching schedule includes courses in World Religions, Religion in America, Christian History, Religion and Environment, and Religion and Politics. Broadly, his research and teaching interests involve the subject area of Religion and Culture, which includes but is not limited to the relationships between religion and politics, science, and health care. This is his first book.
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David McDuffie has focused on what must be the heart of Christian ecotheology - the nexus between Jesus and the sacramental reality of the Earth. For way too long, Christians have been unwilling to embrace this nexus with passion and intelligence, to the detriment of our collective faith and the health of the planet. This book makes an important, timely, thoughtful contribution to the growing conversation in this area. ~ Rev. Fletcher Harper, GreenFaith
David McDuffie has written an engaging book that probes the rich relationship between a sacramental universe and the epic of evolution. He opens up new territory for reflection and action that has implications for how we value and protect the Earth community. We are all in his debt for this insightful contribution to ecotheology. -Mary Evelyn Tucker, Yale University, coauthor of Ecology and Religion and Journey of the Universe. ~ Dr. Mary Evelyn Tucker (maryevelyn.tucker@yale.edu), Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology
By showing us how the Eucharist and the Incarnation lead us to an awareness of God’s presence in all things and how an appreciation of the evolutionary history of the world deepens our understanding of the Eucharist, David McDuffie shows how a common experience of wonder, awe and appreciation in the natural world can bring together those scientists who do not profess religious faith and those Christians who may not have appreciated evolutionary processes. As such McDuffie has provided a needed service to both groups at a critical time in history. -Robin Gottfried, Director, Center for Religion and Environment at Sewanee: The University of the South ~ Dr. Robin Gottfried (rgottfri@sewanee.edu), Center for Religion and Environment at Sewanee: The University of the South
