Thursday, January 17, 2008

Traveling “evangelical evolutionist” making pit stop preachings in D-FW (w/interview)

By Chad Jones

Reverend Michael Dowd has been technically homeless for the past six years, roaming the fifty states in his Dodge Sprinter (named "Angel"), speaking to hundreds of congregations a year.

He's on a mission, he says, to proclaim the gospel. The "Gospel of Evolution," that is.

Accompanied by Connie Barlow, his acclaimed evolution writer spouse, Dowd espouses a theology that moves away from biblical literalism, views science as sacred, and proclaims the 13.7 billion year epic of evolution as "our common creation story."

This week, Dowd is in Dallas to give presentations and promote his new book, Thank God For Evolution! — a 400-page explication of his brand of Evolution Theology. Not that it needs much promotion, mind you; it's been touted by 5 Nobel Laureates, and it is offered free for download in its entirety (no joke) via his website.

Dowd, an ordained Christian minister, was raised Roman Catholic but "didn't feel called to celibacy," so he became Baptist. It wasn't until his college years at Evangel University that he learned of evolution.

"What most people don't know is that most evangelical colleges actually teach evolution," Dowd said. "I had no idea, and I rejected it at first, then eventually came to accept evolution in the way you accept death and texas - begrudgingly." Gradually, he began to passionately embrace his current beliefs, ones that give a "God's eye view" to Darwinian theory.

This week, Dowd drove (the Sprinter, of course) over to the PegasusNews office for a chat. In the interview below, he discusses:

• Living in a van (not necessarily down by a river)
• Why both atheists and Christians alike enjoy his presentations
• Why he offers his book for free (and encourages his DVDs to be copied)
• How his message has been received in conservative homelands like Texas

• What evolution theology thinks of Heaven and Hell
• How morality can be taught through evolution
• How his beliefs compare to Intelligent Design
• And, finally, how we humans can call ourselves "evolved" despite the continued popularity of NASCAR and Britney Spears.

See more stories in:

• Science > Nature
• Buddhism
• Christianity
• Hinduism
• Islam

Comments

Chad Jones Staff

Rev. Dowd returns for Summer '08.

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"DALLAS - Reverend Michael Dowd, author of the bold new book THANK GOD FOR EVOLUTION: How the Marriage of Science and Religion Will Transform Your Life and Our World, is bringing his cosmic gospel back to Texas next week for a series of Dallas-area presentations and book signings."

Event Dates

• July 17th in Plano (event info)
• and July 19th in Dallas (event info)

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