Opening Words for Guest Sermons
by Rev. Michael Dowd or Connie Barlow
Choices for opening words for Rev. Dowd's "Thank God for Evolution" guest sermon: By astrophysicist Joel Primack and cultural history Nancy Ellen Abrams, from their 2006 book, View from the Center of the Universe: "Integration of science and meaning is considered by many scientists to be a danger to science, but a science that doesn't consider its own meaning can be a danger to everyone else. Interpreting modern cosmology is — if anything — a sacred responsibility."By theologian Elizabeth Johnson: "The world is almost mind-numbingly dynamic. Out of the Big Bang came the stars. Out of stardust came the Earth. Out of Earth came single-celled creatures. Out of the evolutionary life and death of these creatures came human beings with consciousness and freedom that concentrates the self-transcendence of matter itself. Human beings are the Universe become conscious of itself. We are the celebrants of the Universe."
Choices for opening words for Connie Barlow's "Walk on the Wild Side" guest sermon: By evolutionary biologist David Sloan Wilson, from his 2007 book Evolution for Everyone: "Our unique attributes evolved over a period of roughly 6 million years. They represent modifications of great ape attributes that are roughly 10 million years old, primate attributes that are roughly 55 million years old, mammalian attributes that are roughly 245 million years old, vertebrate attributes that are roughly 600 million years old, and attributes of nucleated cells that are perhaps 1,500 million years old. If you think it is unnecessary to go that far back in the tree of life to understand our own attributes, consider the humbling fact that we share with nematodes (tiny wormlike creatures) the same gene that controls appetite. At most, our unique attributes are like an addition to a multiroom mansion. It is sheer hubris to think that we can ignore all but the newest room."By religious naturalist Loren Eiseley, from his essay "Starthrower" in his 1972 book, Unexpected Universe: "We are rag dolls made out of many ages and skins, changelings who have slept in wood nests, or hissed in the uncouth guise of waddling amphibians. We have played such roles for infinitely longer ages than we have been human."
By Carl Sandburg, from his 1918 poem, "Wilderness": "There is a wolf in me, fangs pointed for tearing gashes, a red tongue for raw meat, and the hot lapping of blood. I keep this wolf because the wilderness gave it to me and the wilderness will not let it go."
Choices for opening words for Connie Barlow's "Celebrating Evolution" guest sermon: By astrophysicist Joel Primack and cultural history Nancy Ellen Abrams, from their 2006 book, View from the Center of the Universe: "Integration of science and meaning is considered by many scientists to be a danger to science, but a science that doesn't consider its own meaning can be a danger to everyone else. Interpreting modern cosmology is — if anything — a sacred responsibility."By science writer Edwin Dobb: "As language-using organisms, we participate in the evolution of the Universe most fruitfully through interpretation. We understand the world by drawing pictures, telling stories, conversing. These are our special contributions to existence. It is our immense good fortune and grave responsibility to sing the songs of the Cosmos."
By theologian Elizabeth Johnson: "The world is almost mind-numbingly dynamic. Out of the Big Bang came the stars. Out of stardust came the Earth. Out of Earth came single-celled creatures. Out of the evolutionary life and death of these creatures came human beings with consciousness and freedom that concentrates the self-transcendence of matter itself. Human beings are the Universe become conscious of itself. We are the celebrants of the Universe."
Choices for opening words for Connie Barlow's "Death through Deep-Time Eyes" guest sermon: By evolutionary biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy, "Life spirals laboriously upward to higher and even higher levels, paying for every step. Death was the price of the multi-cellular condition. Pain was the price of nervous integration. Anxiety was the price of consciousness."By evolutionary evangelist Michael Dowd, from his book Thank God for Evolution: "An evolutionary understanding of death in no way diminishes the grief we suffer when a loved one dies. That is not its purpose. What this perspective does offer is a solid and trustworthy 'cosmic container' in which grief can fully manifest, while protecting the bereaved from the risk of falling into an abyss of anger and despair. More, if we acknowledge that there is something profoundly right with death, with the fact that we grow old and that we must die, it will be easier to clean up unfinished business before it is too late. Meaningful conversations with family and friends will ensue — including expressions of gratitude, apologies, and forgiveness."
By Tom Atlee, author of The Tao of Democracy: "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, worn out and proclaiming, 'Wow! What a ride!'"