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Title: The God of Evolution: A Trinitarian Theology by Denis Edwards ISBN: 0-8091-3854-9 Publisher: Paulist Press Pub. Date: 01 May, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.33 (3 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Why Didn't I Read This 10 Years Ago?
Comment: Wow. Now this is the kind of evolutionary theory I'm talking about. For me, I've gone through the process of rejecting literalism and non-allegoricalism for the first 10 chapters of Genesis. I've gone through the acceptance of the scientific validity of evolution. I've worked through ideas on how I can accept Biblical Truth from Genesis, and also evolution. But I want to further clarify that in my mind, understand how both can be true. This book significantly helps in that regard.
I found Edwards' understanding of the Trinity immensely helpful. He writes that "'God' has no ontological content without communion. Nothing is conceivable as existing only by itself. There is no true being without communion." That is a conception I can relate to. From this premise, Edwards explores how a communal Trinitarian God would create, patterning life after Themself, as a internetworking of communities. And in my studies of biology, this is certainly what I see. I have long accepted Bonhoeffer's idea that God is Trinity, for God is perfect, and perfect in all things. He is therefore perfect in Love, and Love requires a lover and beloved. But lest we say that God needed us, He needed to be perfect in Love long before He created anything- which means He needed to have a beloved and lover within Himself, hence the Trinity. But then, how explain three, and not two? Edwards answers this, discussing how perfect Love requires a lover, a beloved, and then sharing the love with each other, as they love another. It is through evolutionary theory that we can better understand the Trinity; more than that, Trinitarian theology necessitates an evolutionary viewpoint.
From here Edwards looks at the way God limits Himself in creation, arguing from an Arminianist approach. Not being Arminianist myself, I found these particular arguments less helpful. But I did appreciate Edwards' discussion of how chance, natural selection, and imperfections are actually necessary in a perfect creation- for without random mutation, it would not be possible for an organism to perfectly adapt to new situations. Hence the seeming imperfection is actually part of a perfectly formed creation.
One of the greatest quandaries in accepting an evolutionary position as well as a Biblical worldview is the problem of original sin. Edwards does a wonderful job of illustrating how both philosophies blend. Our genetic code is morally neutral, but allows for the opportunity of far greater violence and destruction when it is combined with our cognitive abilities and moral awareness- something very similar to the eating of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Indeed, the argument could be made that the enigmatic aspects of that passage are greatly illuminated when understood within the developing awareness of our species.
In the last few chapters Edwards analyzes how we can understand the various facets of the Godhead through evolution. How the Spirit has been present throughout creation, as has the Son, and their presences inherent within all of creation. So therefore, we can look at any of our fellow creatures, and see that of God in them- not that they are God of course, but that God is present within them, as He is present everywhere. Indeed, the Spirit and Wisdom become the motivating forces of all evolution, in a continuous creation that takes place at one time as one event. (For is not God outside of time?) Edwards comes from a Roman Catholic perspective, and so he displays the standard Western focus (neither good nor bad) on the Persons of the Trinity rather than the Unity of the Godhead- I found it helpful to consider what he said of the different parts of the Trinity as simply representative of all of the Trinity.
Throughout the text, I appreciate that Edwards presents not only his view, but that of many other theologians and biologists, along with a coherent synthesis of his beliefs on the matters. This allows me to follow his thinking, and also integrate aspects of other beliefs that might fall outside of Edwards' own. I also liked his support for the understanding of God as not only male, but also female, relying strongly on scriptures for this support, such as showing the clear line of female Wisdom being the same as the male Jesus in the Bible and Patristic authors. Edwards writes in a clear manner, but tremendously deep, illuminating, and encouraging. I am grateful to God for finding this book, and having the chance to read Edwards, for I now feel that I have a much better grasp on the integration of evolution and Biblical theology.
Rating: 3
Summary: A Trinitarian Theology?
Comment: I picked up this book in the interest of seeing how Trinitarian thought could apply to the theory of evolution. Edwards' subtitle to this book is 'A Trinitarian Theology'. We shall see if this subtitle applies to the book. The book is rather short (144 pages) and should be considered more of a survey text rather than a full treatment on the intricacies of evolutionary thought. The theory of evolution is accepted and never called into question. A literal view of the 6 day creation is negated although Edwards does point to the significant doctrines that one can still take from the first two chapters of Genesis regardless of whether you take it literally or symbolically. Edwards is faced with a dilemma: He believes that evolution is true and also holds a belief in the Christian God. Historically these two beliefs have been difficult to combine. Edwards asks how God fits into evolution. Note that Edwards begins with evolution and attempts to merge his faith in the Christian God into it; he does not start with God and try to merge evolution into Him. This is a subtle but crucial difference as one involves changing theology (the choice Edwards makes) and the other changing science.
The first two chapters contain most of the references to the Trinity. The main premise is that since ontologically (in essence and being) God is relation, His creation should also be considered as being ontologically relationship oriented. This takes care of science's claim that all is interrelated including the evolutionary development of humans. Science is full of references to the relationships between cells to species etc. In short, reality is fundamentally relational. However to apply the relational structure between the Godhead and man is one thing; looking at the relationships developed by evolution/science is another story. Relationship, from an ontological standpoint is more than just being related to; there is a consciousness of communication. If Edwards' premise is accepted the road is paved to allow theology to change (or evolve) in order to meet the requirements of modern evolutionary thought.
Edwards then attempts to explain the more capricious sides of evolution (natural selection etc) and how a loving God could allow some animals to be victims and others to dominate. In order to do this Edwards adopts a process theology (derived from Whitehead) to explain that God limits himself in His actions and allows a certain freedom to His creatures. This takes the responsibility for evil away from God and (voila!) deals with some of evolution's cruelness. To process theology Edwards adds the increasing interest in random chance that is found in most studies of evolutionary thought today. Taken together (a limiting God and chance) evolution is not portrayed as evil. Obviously it is difficult to ascribe morality to chance.
The chapter that tries to deal with the problem of sin is the weakest in the book. It takes the line that sin is more a result of human finitude or limit than due to a separation between man and God. Of course there is no Fall in the evolutionary framework. Man's struggle with his environment and with each other is more a result of the evolutionary process than it is of a sinful nature. Edwards does not divorce God from being involved with His creation but is ambiguous about when this begins. Edwards must tackle the point where man becomes spiritual, the point that God and man first intercept. Is it near the beginning of the evolutionary cycle, further along at Neanderthal man or only when homo-sapiens distinctly evolve? When does sin appear? If sin is taken out of its historical Christian context you can be sure that grace will be as well. Grace for Edwards is something that is always in the background, not a description of God directly intervening in the lives of his creation. This, of course, limits the importance of the incarnation.
The final chapter discusses Christ in the evolutionary context by adopting a Wisdom Christology. This incorporates Sophia (the personification of wisdom) as the main force propelling evolution forwards in a positive manner that fulfills God's purposes. While a small argument could be made for this position it is a far different country than the Trinitarian basis that Edwards begins the book on.
In order to make this book seem more mainstream than its hodgepodge of modern theologies would appear, Edwards continually quotes or reflects on the thought of some mainline thinkers. Karl Rahner, the eminent Catholic theologian is the most quoted person in the book followed closely by German Protestant thinker Jurgen Moltmann. How far these two great theologians ascribe to Edward's thought I have yet to determine as I must read their actual texts outside of the evolutionary frame Edwards constructs around them.
The book is well written but takes the form of individual essays that are then tied together to make a whole. The last paragraph of each chapter refers to the first paragraph of the next. Each chapter begins with a restatement of the original thesis. There is nothing wrong with this per se since this is really a survey work.
The book is worth reading in order to be able to discuss the creationism/evolution debate in a different and perhaps more helpful light. It raises more questions than answers, or more correctly, it gives weak answers to good questions. It is not a synthesis of Trinitarian theology but it is a good summary of some ways of dealing with God in an evolutionary context.
Rating: 5
Summary: Deeply insightful.
Comment: Denis Edwards possesses lucid insights and reveals a surprising consonance of Christian revelation with the theory of evolution.
'The God of Evolution: A Trinitarian Theology' illustrates that the natural world reveals immense wisdom and purpose - and the facts of the world reveal more of a 'Master Plan' than an accident. Edwards shows that in the Christian perspective, everything is seen as an embodiment of the divine - expressed in the nature of God as a 'Trinity'. Everything in the natural world existence is interconnected, and the underlying heart of the matter is the Absolute - The Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
An excellent book. Highly recommended.
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