Creation In Crisis is presenting Rev. Michael Dowd on July 7, 2022 at 1 p.m. PT, speaking on The Big Picture: What Every Earth Activist Needs to Know. REGISTER HERE He will be presening a second half of his talk on August 4, 2022 "What elements of “eco-mysticism” are most vital and which aspects of The Great Story are most relevant for staying sane, grateful, and on-purpose in these most challenging of times? And what special tools and gifts do those of us grounded in the Epic of Evolution and Creation Spirituality have to offer?"
"Creation in Crisis gathers online on the first Thursday of each month "to consider the work and ideas of a notable presenter on themes of eco-justice, spirituality, sustainability, and adaptation to the consequences of rampant industrial development.
TWO VIDEOS YOU MAY WANT TO WATCH
For those wishing to prepare for this session, Michael considers these to be his two best short supportive videos...
Rev. Michael Dowd was once called "America's Evolutionary Evangelist." His mission now is to convey an inspiring "deep-time" understanding of our place in the Universe, based entirely on the evidential resources of mainstream science.
He is an "eco-theologian and pro-science, pro-future advocate" whose 2009 book, Thank God for Evolution: How the Marriage of Science and Religion Will Transform Your Life and Our World, "was endorsed by 6 Nobel Prize-winning scientists, noted skeptics, and by religious leaders across the spectrum." Interestingly, Dowd now disavows that book because it portrayal is too optimistic and unrealistic.
In 2014 he "came out" as "Rev. Reality" after being convinced of Overshoot: The Ecological Basis of Revolutionary Change.(1980). Watching the 2012 TEDx talk by David Roberts Climate Change is Simple was a turning point in his thinking.
He has also conducted three online conversation series:
Dowd's current passion is "sharing a hope-free message (beyond hopeful or hopeless) of inspiration grounded in Big Picture evidential mysticism and Love-in-Action." His main website is https://postdoom.com.
Rev. Dowd is controversial because of his views: i.e. his definition of God ("Reality with a personality" - not a person outside of reality); a "kin-centric" worldview; "Living, Nested Primary Reality"; Sustainability = Faithful; Life Centered, not human centered; Overshoot; criticism of "hopium addiction"; and the inevitability of civilization collapse.
Critics say Rev. Michael Dowd "brings a progressive Christian spin to apocalyptic environmentalism," and ponder if he is perhaps best seen as a "Death-cult Environmentalist?" Dowd doesn't actually call himself a "Progressive Christian," but rather" an evolutionary ,Christian Naturalist, saying "I have no supernatural beliefs or other worldly beliefs at all, zip, nada, not one. I’m a Christian Naturalist.."
Rev. Dowd delivers his polished messages reading from well scripted PowerPoints. He has the unwavering assurance and power of an experienced evangelistic speaker, leaving his audience with provocative doubts about the validity of their climate activism.