Why Evolution and Religion Belong Together

The N2 2024: The Noosphere & The Global South conference took place on December 16-18, 2024, in Ben Guerir, Morocco 🌐 The N2 Conference "looked to deepen our present understanding and future vision for the noosphere, the sphere of human consciousness and mental activity, especially regarding its influence on the biosphere and in relation to evolution."

N2 2024 was "an international, interdisciplinary conference bringing together leading scientists, scholars from across the disciplines, thought leaders, creative artists, and all those who are interested in the meaning and possibility of the noosphere for our collective future."

In this insightful talk, Teilhard’s Noosphere: Why Evolution and Religion Belong Together, theologian and Teilhardian scholar Ilia Delio explores the profound connections between science, religion, and the noosphere. Drawing on Pierre Teilhard de Chardin's groundbreaking ideas, she discusses the intrinsic relationship between matter, consciousness, and the spiritual energy driving evolution.

Delio emphasizes the need for a holistic understanding of science and religion as complementary forces shaping the future of humanity and the planet. Her thought-provoking perspective invites us to consider a new, unified vision of knowing and being in the emerging noosphere.

The Noosphere is our present reality of complexified matter and global consciousness. Scientists mapping the Noosphere show grids of interconnections that reveal a formative pattern of a higher-ordered collective.

Teilhard de Chardin envisioned this pattern almost a century ago, but he saw that emerging complexified wholeness cannot be adequately sustained without religion. He did not conceive religion as a confessional set of doctrines but "the depth dimension of all reality," the search for ultimate meaning, and the state of being grasped by ultimate concerns.

“Religion and evolution,” he said, “are destined to form one single continuous organism, in which their respective lives prolong, are dependent on, and complete one another.” Religion is the biological response to the emergence of spiritual energy. His sense of religion, therefore, is experiential and supports faith in the future.

"The true function of religion is to sustain and spur on the progress of life. In his view, no one religion can satisfy the religious spirit of the earth and its evolution towards Omega."

If religion is a biological phenomenon, what is religion on the level of the emerging Noosphere?

"Science has significantly advanced the Noosphere, but without a rebirth of religion, the future is fragile."

"Consciousness, or mind, is part and parcel to the material world. Matter is the matrix of human consciousness. Mind and matter form the whole."

"Religion is a cosmic phenomenon (not a human phenomenon). Reglion and matter are two sides of the whole."

"Omega is the principle that is holding together mind and matter, that is keeping the whole moving together."

"The mind is everything: what you think, you become; yet what shapes the mind? Culture? Religion? AI? From where do our thoughts arise? What forms our ideas? Integral ecology is a consciousness of deep relationality on every level. We know this intellectually, but we do not know this psychologically, religiously, or emotionally. Deep relationality does not influence our minds in the same way as does consumerism, money, or social media. What are the obstacles? What are the invitations? And is real transformation possible?" ~ Robert NiCastro

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The N2 2024: The Noosphere & the Global South conference explored the intersection of technology, society, and the noosphere—the sphere of human thought and collective consciousness. Hosted by Human Energy and UM6P, the 2024 event brought together leading thinkers, visionaries, and innovators to discuss solutions to the challenges posed by the techno-social era. Through engaging presentations and collaborative dialogue, N2 2024 aims to inspire actionable insights and transformative change.

The Human Energy Project invites you to "join the conversation as they continue to explore the transformative potential of worldview, technology, and the noosphere. Learn more at https://www.humanenergy.io/