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Christ in Evolution
Explores a theology that smoothly integrates a scientific understanding of the universe with the idea of an infinite devine love.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 28, 2008
49 people are currently reading
179 people want to read
About the author
Ilia Delio
61 books105 followersIlia Delio, OSF is a Franciscan Sister of Washington, D.C. and American theologian specializing in the area of science and religion, with interests in evolution, physics and neuroscience and the importance of these for theology. She was born in Newark, New Jersey and is the youngest of four children.
Fordham University
Ph.D., Historical Theology
M.A. Historical Theology
Rutgers University Healthcare and Biomedical Sciences
Ph. D., Pharmacology
Seton Hall University
M.S., Biology
DeSales University
B.S., Biology
Fordham University
Ph.D., Historical Theology
M.A. Historical Theology
Rutgers University Healthcare and Biomedical Sciences
Ph. D., Pharmacology
Seton Hall University
M.S., Biology
DeSales University
B.S., Biology
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 11, 2014
It's time for us to update our theology and this book can help with that. I first heard her at a symposium, then I read the book, and the theology she proposes is exciting, hopeful and gives me a sense of responsibility as co-creator of the future of our planet. I highly recommend this author...anything she writes.
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June 7, 2023Reading this gave me an image of climbing a sheer cliff with ice picks. Which is sometimes how I feel about reading other mystics - the ideas stretch my thinking in exciting and exhausting dimensions. That said, this book is a companion for seekers, but likely ludicrous to a reader not already reaching for the intersection of spirituality and physics.
It’s written in a heavily academic style with a ton of quotes and references and ceaseless “if-then” statements. In that regard, it is not a practical guide to the concepts it puts forth. While I often want a road map, Delio stresses the tradition of contemplation as a force that alters our minds and therefore our space in life. So if you’re developing your thinking, it’s an interesting read, and if you’re looking for application, you’ll need to read additional books (or you know, just start experimenting?).
I came to this book by way of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (who Delio quotes heavily and his thoughts outshine most of her other references, in my opinion), and am happy for this modern continuation of his evolutionary theology. I always struggle to distill such massive ideas, but some of the groundwork is that matter and spirit are intertwined and in a cosmic and continuous upward growth which is itself the blueprint of Christ.
Delio, building on Chardin, asks: if matter and spirit are continuously growing toward holy unity, how must religion catch up? Quoting Paul Tillich about cosmic life but pertinent to earthly experience, “a question arises which has been carefully avoided by many traditional theologians, even though it is consciously or unconsciously alive for most contemporary people.” A lot of the book is like that: pondering things many of us sense but may fear ridicule or simple dismissal by voicing in most Western religious contexts.
One other thread in the book that I want to highlight is Raimon Pannikar’s inter-religious and intercultural dialogue. It it meaningful to me as a person from multicultural, multi religious, heavily technological roots (all of those things being modes by which I’ve engaged with other humans). It felt validating that these mixtures of sometimes dogmatic traditions could be less heresy, more humility and an openness to the connectedness of all things that we know first through nature and Christ’s love.
The final chapter on technology and extraterrestrial life is brief and exciting, and I’m so relieved that some serious thinkers are starting to consider those things not a joke for spiritual humans today.
It’s written in a heavily academic style with a ton of quotes and references and ceaseless “if-then” statements. In that regard, it is not a practical guide to the concepts it puts forth. While I often want a road map, Delio stresses the tradition of contemplation as a force that alters our minds and therefore our space in life. So if you’re developing your thinking, it’s an interesting read, and if you’re looking for application, you’ll need to read additional books (or you know, just start experimenting?).
I came to this book by way of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (who Delio quotes heavily and his thoughts outshine most of her other references, in my opinion), and am happy for this modern continuation of his evolutionary theology. I always struggle to distill such massive ideas, but some of the groundwork is that matter and spirit are intertwined and in a cosmic and continuous upward growth which is itself the blueprint of Christ.
Delio, building on Chardin, asks: if matter and spirit are continuously growing toward holy unity, how must religion catch up? Quoting Paul Tillich about cosmic life but pertinent to earthly experience, “a question arises which has been carefully avoided by many traditional theologians, even though it is consciously or unconsciously alive for most contemporary people.” A lot of the book is like that: pondering things many of us sense but may fear ridicule or simple dismissal by voicing in most Western religious contexts.
One other thread in the book that I want to highlight is Raimon Pannikar’s inter-religious and intercultural dialogue. It it meaningful to me as a person from multicultural, multi religious, heavily technological roots (all of those things being modes by which I’ve engaged with other humans). It felt validating that these mixtures of sometimes dogmatic traditions could be less heresy, more humility and an openness to the connectedness of all things that we know first through nature and Christ’s love.
The final chapter on technology and extraterrestrial life is brief and exciting, and I’m so relieved that some serious thinkers are starting to consider those things not a joke for spiritual humans today.
December 10, 2024
New insights
The title of this book is something I'd never heard of before. I started to read it and found it to be a big learning curve for me. I had to search for the meaning of many words and sections. The content was so new to me that only when I began to understand it, did I get excited, engrossed and awed by the whole concept of evolution and its affects on our cosmos, our faith, on everyone and everything. I have often thought how out of touch we Christians are despite all the insights and knowledge at our disposal. Ilia Delio shares her vast knowledge, research, reading and understanding of evolution with us which is an amazing revelation and gift that we receive in this book which would otherwise take us years of study to fathom and understand. This book is definitely going to change the way I relate to God, myself and to everyone and everything I encounter. That through evolution, God is moving us and our world to a beautiful place of harmony and unity and to the fullness of life that God has always desired and destined us to enjoy. I am so glad that I discovered this book and highly recommend it to everyone whether we be Christian, Muslim, Jew, or any other religion, so that one day we'll see that we are all one in God. Thank you Ilia Delio.
The title of this book is something I'd never heard of before. I started to read it and found it to be a big learning curve for me. I had to search for the meaning of many words and sections. The content was so new to me that only when I began to understand it, did I get excited, engrossed and awed by the whole concept of evolution and its affects on our cosmos, our faith, on everyone and everything. I have often thought how out of touch we Christians are despite all the insights and knowledge at our disposal. Ilia Delio shares her vast knowledge, research, reading and understanding of evolution with us which is an amazing revelation and gift that we receive in this book which would otherwise take us years of study to fathom and understand. This book is definitely going to change the way I relate to God, myself and to everyone and everything I encounter. That through evolution, God is moving us and our world to a beautiful place of harmony and unity and to the fullness of life that God has always desired and destined us to enjoy. I am so glad that I discovered this book and highly recommend it to everyone whether we be Christian, Muslim, Jew, or any other religion, so that one day we'll see that we are all one in God. Thank you Ilia Delio.
October 23, 2018
I struggle with my appreciation of Jesus and I was absolutely blown away by Ilia Delio's writing and theological perspective. As I read this book (recommended by my sister) I finally had some articulation around WHY Jesus mattered in the grand story of God and humanity that was beyond and more encompassing then, "he died for our sins."
This is not a light read or a before bedtime read. Even as a practicing pastor it took me a while to finish because there is so much to chew on and digest in this book. I so appreciated Delio's depth of resources coming from ancient and more modern Christian writers and that what she is arguing for in regards to the centrality of Christ isn't new, but as old as Christianity itself.
I highly, highly, highly recommend this book for anyone, Christian or not, who wonders if there is a more expansive, experiential understanding of Christ that pushes us beyond the too often trite atonement theories. Enjoy!
This is not a light read or a before bedtime read. Even as a practicing pastor it took me a while to finish because there is so much to chew on and digest in this book. I so appreciated Delio's depth of resources coming from ancient and more modern Christian writers and that what she is arguing for in regards to the centrality of Christ isn't new, but as old as Christianity itself.
I highly, highly, highly recommend this book for anyone, Christian or not, who wonders if there is a more expansive, experiential understanding of Christ that pushes us beyond the too often trite atonement theories. Enjoy!
May 23, 2017
I cannot do justice to the impact of Ilia Delio's work on my life with a simple book review. Suffice it to say that she has overhauled my understanding of Christ, evolution, the trustworthiness of creation and our creator, interfaith dialogue, the role of technology, the interconnections between science and religion, and the importance of personal spiritual practice. I will need years to unpack this book, and every fraction of effort will be worth it. If Delio represents the direction of Christian theology, I feel tremendous hope for the revitalization of this otherwise grievously off-track faith tradition.
July 20, 2024
"Because we humans are in evolution we must see Christ in evolution as well - Christ's humanity is our humanity, Christ's lifee is our life."
"...life in Christ can never be private or isolated... Christ is relational by definition... To live Christ is to live community..."
Sister Ilia Delio has done with this book for me, to bring an integration of all my being into my spiritual life. The none chapters for me was a tour of enlightenment... a discovery... that reinforces my personal vocation as husband, father, grand-father and Deacon that continues to evolve... in wonder and amazement.
Encourage readers to seek others in their discenment of this book.
"...life in Christ can never be private or isolated... Christ is relational by definition... To live Christ is to live community..."
Sister Ilia Delio has done with this book for me, to bring an integration of all my being into my spiritual life. The none chapters for me was a tour of enlightenment... a discovery... that reinforces my personal vocation as husband, father, grand-father and Deacon that continues to evolve... in wonder and amazement.
Encourage readers to seek others in their discenment of this book.
December 28, 2023
Wonderful and exciting. This introduced me to the thought of several theologian mystics. To my surprise, there has been a broader conjecture (understanding?) of Christ than I'd encountered going on for a long time. Too bad my theology professor didn't include some of these theologians when having us study late-20th Century theologians. I highlighted several scholars in the bibliography.
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January 8, 2021Definitely philosophical! A good read for those wanting to explore a cosmic view of creation, entropy, and Jesus’ relationship with the universe primarily espoused by Karl Rahner, but with notable mentions for other mystical writers. Read this for the Living School curriculum.
May 3, 2021
If God is not as big or bigger than the cosmos, then we have a problem ! Delio puts this point to bed masterfully.
October 2, 2023
She does a great job pulling together the great mystical thinkers of the 20th century and decoding it into an active and relevant way of being.
September 6, 2021
Fascinating walk-through of how we might expand our vision of the small christ in traditional/orthodox christianity to a cosmic and quantum vision of Christ that is dynamic, expansive, and inclusive. Great summary of the works of Teilhard, Bede Griffiths, Thomas Merton, Ramon Pannikkar and others. Touches very briefly on implications on AI, extraterrestrial life, and other non-human sentience towards the end.
August 7, 2011
This book was a bit challenging to read. I have read other material by Ilia and I was so looking forward to reading this book but it turned out to be so different than what I had expected. The only chapter that made any sense to me was the Franciscan perspective. The other chapters I fear will take a second read to really understand her message. Even though it was a difficult read, I found myself challenged and stretched. I consider that a healthy aspect as I continue to move deeper into this spiritual direction program.
September 25, 2013
I loved this book...just as the first one that I read by this author stretched my mind this one had me at times putting the book down and just holding my head and wondering how I could wrap my mind around what she was writing. I read the third one in the trilogy first and this one is the first in the trilogy...now I will start the second one, The Emergent Christ.
July 28, 2017
This book moves the ball forward in bringing together religion and science. It helps to bridge the gap that the false divide of earlier days created. We are beginning to shape a story big enough to engage this age and the need for a story big enough to bring back awe for creation and the place of the human in its wondrous complexity.
July 1, 2012
Enjoyed this very much.
Currently reading
August 17, 2012Delio always challenges my brain to think and my heart to burn. So far, in this book, she's still got that gift.
July 14, 2013
Enjoyed book and reading about cosmic Christ. Like to hear more from pulpit on this
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews