Michael Dowd – We are living in challenging and confusing times and religion and science each has a vital role to play in assisting humanity in coming home reality. Given our impact on Earth’s climate, soils, seas, forests, and other species, we are already in the early stages of, what could be called, The Great Reckoning. The good news is that this could also be The Great Homecoming: humanity, the prodigal species, after squandering our inheritance, coming home to Life by honoring evidence as authoritative and ecology as the heart of theology.

My intention in this course is to lift up the evolutionary purpose of religion and the ecological necessity of science to assist all of us in reclaiming our moral and prophetic voice on behalf of future generations. Such an evidence-based “sacred realism” and “compassionate resolve” can help us accept what is inevitable, avoid what is futile, and attend to what matters most. It can also help us stay sane, sober, and inspired in chaotic and difficult times.