God After Darwin 2. Evolution and God’s Self-Emptying, Suffering Love July 30, 2006 9 to 9:50 am in the Parlor All are welcome!

God After DarwinGod After Darwin2. Evolution and God’s2. Evolution and God’s

Self-Emptying, Suffering Self-Emptying, Suffering LoveLove

July 30, 20069 to 9:50 am in the Parlor

All are welcome!

O God our heavenly Father, you have O God our heavenly Father, you have blessed us and given us dominion blessed us and given us dominion over all the earth: Increase our over all the earth: Increase our reverence before the mystery of life; reverence before the mystery of life; and give us new insight into your and give us new insight into your purposes for the human race, and new purposes for the human race, and new wisdom and determination in making wisdom and determination in making provision for its future in accordance provision for its future in accordance with your will; through Jesus Christ with your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord.our Lord.

Book of Common Prayer, p. 828Book of Common Prayer, p. 828

God After God After Darwin. A Darwin. A Theology of Theology of Evolution.Evolution. John F. Haught, John F. Haught, Westview Westview Press, 2000. Press, 2000. ISBN 0-8133-ISBN 0-8133-3878-63878-6Background image on the PowerPoint slides is taken from the cover art of God After Darwin

Responses to Responses to 101 Questions 101 Questions on God and on God and Evolution.Evolution.

John F. Haught, John F. Haught, Paulist Press, Paulist Press, 2001. ISBN 0-2001. ISBN 0-8091-3989-88091-3989-8

John F. HaughtJohn F. Haught is the Landegger is the Landegger Distinguished Distinguished Professor of Professor of Theology at Theology at Georgetown Georgetown University, and University, and Director of the Director of the Georgetown Georgetown Center for the Center for the Study of Science Study of Science and Religion.and Religion.Photos captured from the on-line interview

with Dr. Haught at: http://MeaningOfLife.tv

Evolution and Evolution and the Problem of the Problem of

EvilEvil

Evolution and TheodicyEvolution and TheodicyThe Problem of EvilThe Problem of Evil

One of deepest and most anguishing problems One of deepest and most anguishing problems believers have struggled with through the ages is how believers have struggled with through the ages is how a loving God can permit so much evil and suffering in a loving God can permit so much evil and suffering in the world.the world.

aa theodicy:theodicy: an explanation that tries to justify why an explanation that tries to justify why God allows evil and suffering.God allows evil and suffering.

The problem, as stated by Epicurus (341-270 BC):The problem, as stated by Epicurus (341-270 BC): Is he willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is Is he willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is

impotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is impotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Whence then malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Whence then is evil?is evil?

Evolution and TheodicyEvolution and TheodicyThe Problem of EvilThe Problem of Evil

In Fall 2004, we tried to live up to our calling In Fall 2004, we tried to live up to our calling as the new Israel (Israel = “the people that as the new Israel (Israel = “the people that wrestle with God”) and explored the problem wrestle with God”) and explored the problem of evil and various “theodicies” in a 7 part of evil and various “theodicies” in a 7 part Adult Ed series. The PowerPoint presentations Adult Ed series. The PowerPoint presentations are available at: are available at: http://www.StJohnAdultEd.Org/probevil.htmhttp://www.StJohnAdultEd.Org/probevil.htm

Evolution greatly intensifies the anguish of the Evolution greatly intensifies the anguish of the problem of evil.problem of evil.

http://www.stjohnadulted.org/probevil.htm

Evolution and TheodicyEvolution and TheodicyWhat Evolution Tells UsWhat Evolution Tells Us

The modern theory of evolution (= the The modern theory of evolution (= the “neo-“neo-Darwinian SynthesisDarwinian Synthesis”) says that the great diversity ”) says that the great diversity of life can be of life can be naturallynaturally explained by the combination explained by the combination of of chancechance, , lawlaw, and , and deep timedeep time:: 1. 1. Chance:Chance: accidental, chance events or contingencies: accidental, chance events or contingencies:

• a genetic mutation that lead to new characteristics in an organisma genetic mutation that lead to new characteristics in an organism• a natural disaster that changes the environment that an organism a natural disaster that changes the environment that an organism

must adapt tomust adapt to 2. 2. Law:Law: the deterministic laws of the deterministic laws of natural selection natural selection

(natures “selects” as survivors organism who best adapt to (natures “selects” as survivors organism who best adapt to the environment; all others perish),the environment; all others perish), chemistry, and physicschemistry, and physics

3. 3. Deep Time:Deep Time: enormous depths of time enormous depths of time

Evolution and TheodicyEvolution and TheodicyWhat Evolution Tells UsWhat Evolution Tells Us

Evolution tells us human beings are the result Evolution tells us human beings are the result of billions of years of a meandering, haphazard of billions of years of a meandering, haphazard process of “process of “natural selectionnatural selection,” a journey ,” a journey marked by untold pain and suffering, loss, marked by untold pain and suffering, loss, waste, and in the end, extinction for most waste, and in the end, extinction for most species.species. More than 99% of all species born in the crucible More than 99% of all species born in the crucible

of evolution have died out under the relentless of evolution have died out under the relentless jackboot of natural selection.jackboot of natural selection.

Evolution and TheodicyEvolution and TheodicyGod the Designer?God the Designer?

How can we make any sense of these billions of years How can we make any sense of these billions of years of meandering struggle, pain, waste, and loss?of meandering struggle, pain, waste, and loss?

If If God is a designerGod is a designer who made the world as a “stage” who made the world as a “stage” to help mold and prepare human beings for eternal to help mold and prepare human beings for eternal life with God, then why did God include a life with God, then why did God include a “preamble” of several billion years of untold pain, “preamble” of several billion years of untold pain, suffering, waste, and loss before human beings even suffering, waste, and loss before human beings even arrive on the scene?arrive on the scene?

What was the point of the existence of the 99%+ of What was the point of the existence of the 99%+ of all species who have become extinct?all species who have become extinct? Were they just God’s “cannon-fodder” on the way to Were they just God’s “cannon-fodder” on the way to

creating human beings?creating human beings?


If God is really the If God is really the “hands-on” intelligent “hands-on” intelligent designerdesigner of life, the of life, the quarterback who has been quarterback who has been calling the shotscalling the shots through the billions of years through the billions of years of evolutionary struggle and loss, then why of evolutionary struggle and loss, then why was God “fooling around” for so long before was God “fooling around” for so long before “getting down to business” and making human “getting down to business” and making human beings?beings? Does God Does God enjoyenjoy watching suffering and pain, watching suffering and pain,

death, waste, loss and extinction?death, waste, loss and extinction?


The billions of years of meandering The billions of years of meandering evolutionary struggle, pain and suffering, evolutionary struggle, pain and suffering, waste, loss and extinction before human waste, loss and extinction before human beings appear beings appear cry outcry out for explanation. for explanation.

It seems nearly impossible to justify (= It seems nearly impossible to justify (= provide a provide a theodicytheodicy) why a loving God who is ) why a loving God who is the the quarterbackquarterback calling the shots, the calling the shots, the hands-on hands-on intelligent designerintelligent designer, would , would planplan so much so much prehuman struggle, pain and suffering, waste, prehuman struggle, pain and suffering, waste, loss and extinction in order to bring human loss and extinction in order to bring human beings into existence.beings into existence.


Part of our problem here is our desire to believe in:Part of our problem here is our desire to believe in: A God who is the A God who is the hands-on intelligent designerhands-on intelligent designer of the of the

world and life, the architect of order.world and life, the architect of order. A God who is the A God who is the quarterback calling the shotsquarterback calling the shots.. A God, in other words, who is an A God, in other words, who is an imperial deityimperial deity, a , a divine divine

Caesar ruling all of creationCaesar ruling all of creation..

Such a view of God seems irreconcilable with the Such a view of God seems irreconcilable with the eons of meandering, painful evolutionary struggle eons of meandering, painful evolutionary struggle that led to human beings.that led to human beings.

Evolution thus forces to think deeper about the nature Evolution thus forces to think deeper about the nature of God.of God.

Evolution and TheodicyEvolution and TheodicyThe God of the BibleThe God of the Bible

Haught suggests that there is better way to Haught suggests that there is better way to think about God that is:think about God that is: not only compatible with evolution,not only compatible with evolution, but helps to explainbut helps to explain

• evolution,evolution,• and the pain and suffering, waste and loss of the eons of and the pain and suffering, waste and loss of the eons of

evolutionary struggle.evolutionary struggle.

Furthermore, this way of thinking about God is Furthermore, this way of thinking about God is not a “new” way that we have to invent.not a “new” way that we have to invent.

We simply have to go back to the view of God We simply have to go back to the view of God we find in in the Bible.we find in in the Bible.

God’s Self-God’s Self-Emptying, Emptying,

Suffering LoveSuffering Love

God’s Self-Emptying LoveGod’s Self-Emptying LoveDivine HumilityDivine Humility

The most fundamental Christian revelation of the The most fundamental Christian revelation of the nature of God is that out of love for the world, God nature of God is that out of love for the world, God chose to humble God’s self, to chose to humble God’s self, to “empty” God’s self“empty” God’s self and enter into creation, living fully as a human being, and enter into creation, living fully as a human being, even to the point of suffering and dying on the cross.even to the point of suffering and dying on the cross. KenosisKenosis = the = the divine “self-emptying” of Goddivine “self-emptying” of God in order to in order to

enter into creationenter into creation Karl Rahner (considered the greatest Roman Catholic Karl Rahner (considered the greatest Roman Catholic

theologian of the 20theologian of the 20thth century): century): “the primary “the primary phenomenon given by faith is precisely the phenomenon given by faith is precisely the self self emptying of Godemptying of God.”.”

Donald Dawe (renown Presbyterian theologian, Union Donald Dawe (renown Presbyterian theologian, Union Theological Seminary, VA): “Theological Seminary, VA): “belief in the belief in the divine self-divine self-emptyingemptying or condescension in Christ … is basic to or condescension in Christ … is basic to Christian faith.”Christian faith.”


John 3:16-17 (Jesus speaking): “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”” (NRSV) (NRSV)


Philippians 2:6-8 (Paul, quoting from an early Philippians 2:6-8 (Paul, quoting from an early Christian hymn): Christian hymn): “… though he [Jesus] was in “… though he [Jesus] was in the form of God, [he] did not regard equality the form of God, [he] did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himselfemptied himself, taking the , taking the form of a slaveform of a slave, , being born in being born in human likenesshuman likeness. And being . And being found in human form, he found in human form, he humbled himselfhumbled himself and became obedient to the and became obedient to the point of deathpoint of death – – even death on a cross.”even death on a cross.” (NRSV) (NRSV)


2 Corinthians 8:9 “For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.” (NRSV)


The meaning of these “famous” quotes, whose The meaning of these “famous” quotes, whose words often skate over the surfaces of our words often skate over the surfaces of our minds slick with their familiarity, is minds slick with their familiarity, is scandalous and bears repeating:scandalous and bears repeating: Out of love for creation,Out of love for creation, God “humbled” and “emptied” God’s self,God “humbled” and “emptied” God’s self, God became vulnerable and defenseless as a God became vulnerable and defenseless as a

human being,human being, God accepted creation’s finitude and entered into God accepted creation’s finitude and entered into

the world’s suffering, even to the point of suffering the world’s suffering, even to the point of suffering and dying on the cross.and dying on the cross.


John Macquerrie, Anglican theologian, on the John Macquerrie, Anglican theologian, on the strangeness and scandal of such strangeness and scandal of such divine humilitydivine humility::

““That God should come into history, that he That God should come into history, that he should come in humility, helplessness and should come in humility, helplessness and poverty—this contradicted everything—this poverty—this contradicted everything—this contradicted everything that people had believed contradicted everything that people had believed about the gods. It was the end of the power of about the gods. It was the end of the power of deities, the Marduks, the Jupiters ... yes, and deities, the Marduks, the Jupiters ... yes, and even of Yahweh, to the extent that he had been even of Yahweh, to the extent that he had been misconstrued on the same model. The life that misconstrued on the same model. The life that began in a cave ended on the cross, and there began in a cave ended on the cross, and there was the final conflict between power and love, was the final conflict between power and love, the idols and the true God, false religion and true the idols and the true God, false religion and true religion.”religion.”


The Christian doctrine of the Trinity reinforces The Christian doctrine of the Trinity reinforces for us that Jesus’ suffering, passion and death for us that Jesus’ suffering, passion and death was not an experience “external” to God, but was not an experience “external” to God, but became part of thebecame part of the very inner being of the very inner being of the triune Godtriune God, part of the eternal , part of the eternal “life-story” of “life-story” of GodGod..

God then is a God who:God then is a God who: pours the divine selfhood into the world in an act pours the divine selfhood into the world in an act

of unreserved self-abandonment,of unreserved self-abandonment, and willingly takes the suffering of the world into and willingly takes the suffering of the world into

the divine selfhood.the divine selfhood.


This This divine humilitydivine humility of God is an insight into the of God is an insight into the eternal nature of God.eternal nature of God.

Haught: Haught: this self-humbling is not just a posture this self-humbling is not just a posture that God assumes for a brief time during an that God assumes for a brief time during an “earthly” incarnation in the historical life of “earthly” incarnation in the historical life of Jesus. Rather, it is an attribute that exists in God Jesus. Rather, it is an attribute that exists in God from all eternity. We should not think of God as from all eternity. We should not think of God as ever having existed in any other way than as ever having existed in any other way than as humble, self-giving, empowering, promising, humble, self-giving, empowering, promising, redemptive loveredemptive love..

- p. 125, - p. 125, 101 Questions on God and Evolution101 Questions on God and Evolution

God’s Self-Emptying LoveGod’s Self-Emptying LoveNot PowerlessnessNot Powerlessness

God’s humilityGod’s humility does not mean God is powerless or does not mean God is powerless or weak, but rather that God lets God’s self become weak, but rather that God lets God’s self become vulnerablevulnerable and and defenselessdefenseless..

Roman Catholic theologian Edward Schillebeeckx on Roman Catholic theologian Edward Schillebeeckx on God’s power (= omnipotence):God’s power (= omnipotence):““the divine omnipotence does not know the the divine omnipotence does not know the destructive facets of the human exercising of destructive facets of the human exercising of power, but in this world becomes ‘defenseless’ power, but in this world becomes ‘defenseless’ and vulnerable. It shows itself as power of love and vulnerable. It shows itself as power of love which challenges, gives life and frees human which challenges, gives life and frees human beings, at least those who hold themselves open beings, at least those who hold themselves open to this offer.”to this offer.”

God’s Self-Emptying LoveGod’s Self-Emptying LoveDivine Humility and EvolutionDivine Humility and Evolution

So how might a God who is So how might a God who is eternally humble, eternally humble, self-giving, empowering, promising, self-giving, empowering, promising, redemptive loveredemptive love help us understand and help us understand and explain evolution?explain evolution?

Evolution and Evolution and Divine HumilityDivine Humility

Divine Humility and EvolutionDivine Humility and EvolutionA Creation Which is Self-CreativeA Creation Which is Self-Creative

Love needs an “Other” that is not oneself to love. Love needs an “Other” that is not oneself to love. Without an “Other” who is independent of oneself, Without an “Other” who is independent of oneself, love cannot be actualized.love cannot be actualized.

God’s self-emptying, self-giving love is manifest in God’s self-emptying, self-giving love is manifest in allowing creation to come into being allowing creation to come into being independentindependent of of God’s self – to be God’s self – to be “Other”“Other” than God – and endowing than God – and endowing that creation with the ability that creation with the ability to evolveto evolve = = to be “self-to be “self-creativecreative and and self-orderingself-ordering (= (= autopoiesisautopoiesis).).

Such a universe is really the only kind of universe Such a universe is really the only kind of universe that could be the product of love – for love desires the that could be the product of love – for love desires the independenceindependence of the “Other.” of the “Other.”


All of creationAll of creation is the “Other,” the object of is the “Other,” the object of God’s self-emptying, suffering love.God’s self-emptying, suffering love. God’s love is not simply focused on human beingsGod’s love is not simply focused on human beings Creation is not just a “stage” for testing or molding Creation is not just a “stage” for testing or molding

human beings for heaven.human beings for heaven.


The sciences of cosmology and Darwinian evolution The sciences of cosmology and Darwinian evolution reveal to us the reveal to us the remarkable self-creativity and self-remarkable self-creativity and self-ordering of the universeordering of the universe:: In fits and starts, creation has meandered and experimented In fits and starts, creation has meandered and experimented

with the possibilities given it by God, to with the possibilities given it by God, to self-creativelyself-creatively grow from a hot soup of quarks 13.7 billion years ago to an grow from a hot soup of quarks 13.7 billion years ago to an unimaginably vast panoply of stars, galaxies, clusters and unimaginably vast panoply of stars, galaxies, clusters and superclusters of galaxiessuperclusters of galaxies

Furthermore, creation has become Furthermore, creation has become consciousconscious (in the form (in the form of ourselves, and maybe others) and developed of ourselves, and maybe others) and developed a new a new freedom and power to willfully change itselffreedom and power to willfully change itself (via the (via the agency of ourselves, and maybe others)agency of ourselves, and maybe others)


Haught: Haught: “God's unobtrusive and self-“God's unobtrusive and self-absenting mode of being invites the world absenting mode of being invites the world to swell forth continually, through immense to swell forth continually, through immense epochs of temporal duration and epochs of temporal duration and experimentation, into an always free and experimentation, into an always free and open future, and to do so in the relatively open future, and to do so in the relatively autonomous mode of ‘self-creation’ that autonomous mode of ‘self-creation’ that science has discerned in cosmic, science has discerned in cosmic, biological, and cultural evolution.”biological, and cultural evolution.” (p.54 (p.54 God After DarwinGod After Darwin))


The price paid for allowing Creation to be “Other” than The price paid for allowing Creation to be “Other” than God, to be given the “freedom” to be self-creative, is God, to be given the “freedom” to be self-creative, is the eons of pain and suffering, seeming waste, loss, the eons of pain and suffering, seeming waste, loss, death and extinction that is part of the Universe’s self-death and extinction that is part of the Universe’s self-creativity that we call “biologic evolution.”creativity that we call “biologic evolution.”

The nature of love is to refrain from coercive The nature of love is to refrain from coercive manipulation of the “Other.” Out of absolutely self-manipulation of the “Other.” Out of absolutely self-giving love, God restrains God’s self and allows the giving love, God restrains God’s self and allows the universe to unfold and respond to God’s allurement at universe to unfold and respond to God’s allurement at its own pace.its own pace. More about God’s allurement in future sessions…More about God’s allurement in future sessions…

Divine Humility and EvolutionDivine Humility and EvolutionGod’s Redeeming LoveGod’s Redeeming Love

The eons of pain and suffering, of seeming waste, The eons of pain and suffering, of seeming waste, loss, death and extinction that is part of biological loss, death and extinction that is part of biological evolution are not however meaningless.evolution are not however meaningless.

The same divine self-emptying love that allows The same divine self-emptying love that allows Creation “to be itself,” to be “Other” than God, is also Creation “to be itself,” to be “Other” than God, is also continuously poured out redemptively on Creation as continuously poured out redemptively on Creation as the object of God’s love.the object of God’s love. God takes into God’s self all of the suffering, travail, God takes into God’s self all of the suffering, travail,

enjoyment, and creativity of all of Creation – not just that enjoyment, and creativity of all of Creation – not just that of the human sphere.of the human sphere.

Divine Humility and EvolutionDivine Humility and EvolutionGod’s Redeeming LoveGod’s Redeeming Love

Haught: Haught: A vulnerable God, … could not fail to A vulnerable God, … could not fail to feel intimately and to "remember" everlastingly feel intimately and to "remember" everlastingly all of the sufferings, struggles, and all of the sufferings, struggles, and achievements in the entire story of cosmic and achievements in the entire story of cosmic and biological evolution. By holding these and all biological evolution. By holding these and all cosmic occurrences in the heart of divine cosmic occurrences in the heart of divine compassion, God redeems them from all loss compassion, God redeems them from all loss and gives eternal meaning to everything, though and gives eternal meaning to everything, though in a hidden way that for us humans only faith in a hidden way that for us humans only faith can affirm.can affirm. (p. 56, (p. 56, God After DarwinGod After Darwin))

Divine Humility and EvolutionDivine Humility and EvolutionAn Unfinished CreationAn Unfinished Creation

A creation that is self-creative, that is still A creation that is self-creative, that is still growing and evolving, is an growing and evolving, is an unfinishedunfinished creation.creation.

A creation that is not yet finished cannot yet A creation that is not yet finished cannot yet be “perfect.”be “perfect.”

Thus an unfinished, still evolving Creation Thus an unfinished, still evolving Creation gives us another explanation (another gives us another explanation (another theodicytheodicy) for the presence of evil and ) for the presence of evil and suffering in a world created by a loving God: suffering in a world created by a loving God: Creation is Creation is unfinishedunfinished and hence and hence imperfectimperfect..

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God After Darwin 2. Evolution and God’s Self-Emptying, Suffering Love July 30, 2006 9 to 9:50 am in the Parlor All are welcome!