www.evolution101.org / Serious-Adult-Faith-Education/Reformation

Because the intent of this posting is to facilitate a grassroot's refreshed approach to faith-formation-reformation, I thought it would be appropriate to post it at "Parish Life". Undoubtedly, it is relevant at other Tables.

The Rationale for an Evolution/ Faith Syllabus of Study

1) Nature’s “Word” Controls;
2) Evolution as Sacrament;
3) Nature (Self) as Sacrament; and
4) Access to the Evolution/Faith Syllabus

1) Nature’s “Word” Controls

“Word” is the means of communication, consciousness and conscience, the process-beginning of cosmically evolving forms and functions, whose substance (form) is qualified by function and whose functions are qualified by forms. All cosmic substance inter-relates as means/ ends in the unity and continuity of evolving forms and functions.

The physical dynamics of quantum energy lay down laws that govern sub-atomic particle inter-relationships and that qualify and quantify the evolving functions and forms of energy/ matter: discovering these truths facilitates understandings, what meaning in life is about, what “centering”, focus is about, what sustains.

Humankind, quite uniquely, has the intelligence of reason that understands causes and consequences. This privileged talent of intelligence carries with it the responsibility of intentional reflection by which causes and consequences can be connected. Self-reflective intelligence brings with it not only the responsibility to understand causes/ consequences but also the responsibility to avoid actions that harm, and to choose actions that benefit.

2) Evolution as Sacrament

“Sacrament” is a religious term of art from the Latin words “sacrum”, the sacred, and “meminisse, mentum”, meaning remembrance. Sacrament is a ritual celebration of memorializing sacred events in the fortuitous evolution of life and consciousness. Sacrament celebrates that which brings us to a sense of moral living, that is, of understanding causes and effects and celebrating for the benefit of communal edification the natural events that advance wellbeing, worth, and personal/ social authentication.

In form and in function, evolutionary nature keeps in memory how to replicate forms and functions, and how to preserve the openness of forms and functions in achieving new means and potentials that affirm the established processes of reason, even as it allows for the creative potentials of reason, consistent with nature’s methods and means.

We understand nature, in her diverse forms and functions, to be universal Sacrament in which all other sacraments subsist. Sacrament is communicated and extended in its forms (signs) and by its apt functions (grace-conferring) that attend specific forms.

Ritual Sacraments are “of nature”, GENETIC, and “of nurture”, MEMETIC. Nature/ evolution engage genetics, and culture (nurture) functions epigenetically, that is, by acting upon the genes in such a way as to modify function and contribute to personal, cultural evolution. Defective culture impacts gene-modification negatively. Authentic culture that is informed and genetically faithful advances genetic potential, whereas, inauthenticity retro-grades natural accomplishments.

Fidelity to Sacrament, to evolving nature, is fundamentally religious for it illuminates and advances conscious purpose, meaning, self- worth and wellbeing.

3) Nature (Self) as Eucharist

“Eucharist” too is a term of religious art that has been advanced in Christian religious culture. Eucharist typically celebrates the divine mission and life of Jesus Christ, who lived and preached self-giving in service to others, even to the extent of dieing in service to others. The Mass is the ritual Sacrament of Eucharist that memorializes the life and teaching of Jesus, and that exemplifies how we are food to one another even as God is by reason of Divine Presence in all of nature, as in bread and wine when consumed.

Organic transformation into other, genetically/ memetically, bodily/ spiritually, and in form and function, is of the essence of Sacrament/ Eucharist.

4) Accessing the Evolution/ Faith Syllabus

Everyone is born for a lifetime of learning and teaching. Teaching and learning are simultaneous functions affecting everyone daily. By contributing intentionally and interactively to consciousness we function as Sacrament/ Eucharist to each other.

Understanding the evolution/ faith connection facilitates affirmative living. To live religiously, civilly, we need to be informed of behavior that contributes to personal/ social wellbeing and how we advance or obstruct religious/ civil relationships. Sometimes awareness of authenticity happens only by trial and error. We need to learn from past mistakes and stop repeating them, as happens when culture is fixed in the past and is disconnected from contemporary reality. The grave global circumstances of nature and humankind today shout for a quantum leap in evolving consciousness.