Michael Dowd in Indianapolis

 The Future Is Calling Us to Greatness

 

DESCRIPTION: Science and religion are not enemies; indeed, they must work together if humanity is to survive the 21st century. Given our impact on Earth’s climate, the seas, and other species, humanity is about to experience what could be called The Great Reckoning. The good news is that this will also be The Great Homecoming: the prodigal species coming home to Reality. This presentation will focus on 6 points of agreement held in common by tens of millions of religious and non-religious people across the globe — and how to stay inspired in the face of changing climate and other large-scale challenges.

ALTERNATE DESCRIPTION: We each have experienced times of trouble that threaten to overwhelm our individual lives. In such times, a vision of possibility is essential. The same holds for the punctuations in history when whole societies face troubles of an immense and uncharted variety. Truly, we here and now have arrived at such a time. Humans, unwittingly, have become a planetary force. We are changing, irreversibly, the very climate of our world. Henceforth, any actions we take as individuals and societies will be done in the new light of climate change. What vision will carry us forward through such times and inspire us to work together? How shall we frame the need to shed our business-as-usual outlook on life and take on a new vision of possibility that can unite us as a species in joyful self-sacrifice and service? What vision will charge us with a sense of heroic purpose that the future is, indeed, calling us to greatness?

 

Rev. Michael Dowd is an outspoken religious naturalist, evolutionary theologian, bestselling author, and one of the most inspiring science and religion speakers in America today. He and his wife, Connie Barlow, an acclaimed science writer, have spoken to some 2,000 secular and religious groups across North America since 2002.  Michael has delivered two TEDx talks and has also spoken at the United Nations. He recently created a 5-part discussion course for church groups, titled, “God in Big History.”

 

Michael and Connie’s work has been featured favorably in The New York Times, LA Times, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Newsweek, Wired, Skeptic, Discover, and on CNN, ABC News, and Fox News. Their work has also been featured on the cover of the UU WORLD twice:

   2006 “UU WORLD” cover article: http://www.uuworld.org/ideas/articles/2679.shtml

   1997 “UU WORLD” cover article: http://www.thegreatstory.org/science.pdf