Pierre Tielhard de Chardin (Links)
Pierre Tielhard de Chardin was a Jesuit priest, biologist, philosopher and paleontologist who helped develop the teleological concept of orthogenesis: the idea that evolution is not a random act, but occurs in a directional, goal-oriented manner. He also coined the term "Omega Point" which describes a culmination of the evolution of consciousness -- sort of a god-like state.
Teilhard spent his life attempting to integrate religious beliefs and scientific concepts. In doing so he inadvertently and perhaps presciently, described the internet. More on that here. (The Jennifer Cobb Kreisberg article originally appeared in Wired.)
Teilhard de Chardin's ideas were denounced by the Catholic Church while he was alive for daring to say (among other things,) that we humans have the capacity and ability to become equals to G-d. The Jesuits stopped him from teaching, but his works were privately circulated (and eventually publicly debated,) within their order. Ironically, his efforts were aimed toward reconciling Darwinism with Catholicism. By silencing Teilhard, the Catholic Church may have eliminated a possible path to faith for those who find religious mythology and dogma hard to swallow.
And... he's still being debated in Catholic circles. Here's an article which appeared in The Christian Century in 1975: From Earth to Heaven: Teilhard's Politics and Eschatology
The Human Phenomenon is an excerpt from his book, published in 1955.
Teilhard's Evolutionary Philosophy
Essay on Teilhard's concept of the noosphere (a global consciousness): Is Noogenesis Progressing? That site also has quotes from and summaries of some of Tielhard's works.
Quotes on Creation and Christian Life. An essay: The Confluence of Religions
The American Teilhard Association
Research Institute on Human Evolution
The Global Consciousness Project (at Princeton)
GodWeb has a chapter on him.
Teilhard spent his life attempting to integrate religious beliefs and scientific concepts. In doing so he inadvertently and perhaps presciently, described the internet. More on that here. (The Jennifer Cobb Kreisberg article originally appeared in Wired.)
Teilhard de Chardin's ideas were denounced by the Catholic Church while he was alive for daring to say (among other things,) that we humans have the capacity and ability to become equals to G-d. The Jesuits stopped him from teaching, but his works were privately circulated (and eventually publicly debated,) within their order. Ironically, his efforts were aimed toward reconciling Darwinism with Catholicism. By silencing Teilhard, the Catholic Church may have eliminated a possible path to faith for those who find religious mythology and dogma hard to swallow.
And... he's still being debated in Catholic circles. Here's an article which appeared in The Christian Century in 1975: From Earth to Heaven: Teilhard's Politics and Eschatology
The Human Phenomenon is an excerpt from his book, published in 1955.
Teilhard's Evolutionary Philosophy
Essay on Teilhard's concept of the noosphere (a global consciousness): Is Noogenesis Progressing? That site also has quotes from and summaries of some of Tielhard's works.
Quotes on Creation and Christian Life. An essay: The Confluence of Religions
The American Teilhard Association
Research Institute on Human Evolution
The Global Consciousness Project (at Princeton)
GodWeb has a chapter on him.