De Relevantie van de Evolutie

The Relevance of EvolutionIncluding the spoken text, the presentation takes half an hour. Looking only at the pictures takes five minutes.

Archbishop Usher of IrelandThe creation of the earth not 4004 B.C. but about 4.5 billion years ago.

Bron: Engravings and Pictures From Old Books by Liam Quin (via Google Afbeeldingen)

Pierre Teilhard de ChardinMankind is at the top of biological evolution.Civilisation is the continuation of that evolution.

Bron: Encyclopedia Britannica (via Google Afbeeldingen)

The Big BangThe Big Bang took place about 13.5 billion years ago.At some later point in time, the universe was filled with hydrogen.

Bron: Planeten-en-Sterren. Jouwpagina.nl (via Google Afbeeldingen)

SupernovasIn the supernovas the creation of higher elements such as iron and other metals, along with nitrogen, carbon, oxygen, phosphorus, etc. took place.

Bron: onbekend (via Google Afbeeldingen)

The sun and the planets.

Bron: De Innerlijke Mens vzw (via Google Afbeeldingen)Bron: Meteo Maarssen (via Google Afbeeldingen)

The four basic forces of natureElectromagnetic forceGravityStrong nuclear forceWeak nuclear force

The earth a very special celestial bodyTemperatureMassPresence of substancesSunOrbit

Distance Sun-to- EarthSpeed of rotationAtmosphereRelation land-to-seaPlace in galaxy

The UniverseThe Milky Way contains more than 100 billion stars.There are about 100 billion galaxies.The total number of planets is approximately 1022 to 1023.

Bron: onbekend (via Google Afbeeldingen)

Existential questionsIs evolution an intentional process?Could it be that the universe has a soul?Are the earth, life and mankind perhaps the objects of this intentional process?Are all the other celestial bodies by-products?

Is the earth not the geographic but actually the functional centre of the universe?Is it probable that the earth is the only planet harbouring life?Are the men and women living at this point in time perhaps responsible for a correct continuation of the process?

ReflectionSo far we have seen that the four basic forces of nature are extremely precisely established and that because of that the universe is possibly endowed with a soul and with intelligence.We have seen that the earth is a very special celestial body and that an extremely large number of other planets had to be created in order to get just one that was able to support life.We have also seen that it looks as if the whole of evolution beginning with the Big Bang and extending to the highly developed human society on earth is an intentional process.If there is any truth to these considerations, then the following questions arise:Since humans are part of the universe, are their souls not part of the universal soul?If Intelligent Design (I.D.) is evident once is it not probable then that it has been present more often?Could this view provide some confidence and inspiration?Could it be and should it be that this insight is fundamental for anyensuing philosophy,ensuing religion,ensuing outlook on life?

Two possible tasksFormation of character and personality ( learning a body of knowledge and learning of skills)

Turning the capitalist system around (from men for profit to profit for men).

Developmental formation of character and personality (training the mind) Several institutions already do this implicitly such as:

the family,schools,military service,unions,employers. Examples of aspects of this:marriage and other partnerships,parenthood,integrity,living positively,getting rid of money-mindedness,overcoming envy and jealousy,respecting humanity and human rights.

The functions of capitalismIt has created prosperity and we all make our living from it.The disciple of the market has raised the quality of products.It is the motor for technical advancement.It provides the conditions for government to do its work.It provides work and, with that, a certain sense of fulfilment in life.

Bron: Variabic Worldpress (via Google Afbeeldingen)

The dysfunctions of capitalismIt uses people for materialistic purposes (does not provide inspiration).It easily generates unemployment.It generates a crass money-oriented materialism.It does not automatically correct unsound social relations.It easily overburdens people.Disproportional and, because of that, unsound remuneration is part of the system.Irresponsible and fraudulent behaviour at the top occurs far too often.Exploitation (sometimes of children in developing countries) takes place.Hedge funds seem to consider enterprises along with the people working in them as commodities.Greed can end up disrupting the economy.

Bron: The UberReview (via Google Afbeeldingen)

Post-capitalistic enterprise system (from people for profit to profit for people)Creating conditions for job satisfaction.Developing the capacities of workers according to their potential.Correcting undesirable social mechanisms and social relations.Well balanced salary scales.Offering little opportunity for antisocial behaviour.

To conclude

It is certain that the problems of the world are great and of utmost concern. The notion of the background process we participate in may nevertheless inspire us and should at least encourage us to approach them with a certain nimbleness of mind and to then tackle them forcefully.

Organised religions should most likely seek to integrate the story of evolution into their discourse and into their practice. After all, working on this big project is essentially religious in nature.

Finally there is this: We should not exclude the possibility that evolution will end in some kind of an apotheosis most probably then beyond time and beyond space.