Science and the Coming of Christ

OK, I'm gonna leave the postmodern theme of the last couple of posts. Remembering, after all, a lot of it has rightly been called "fashionable nonsense".

I've been fascinated by the book Christology and Science by LeRon Shults and came across this interesting quote that explains what Teilhard de Chardin was up to:

As in our case study on the incarnation and evolutionary biology, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin stands out as one of the early courageous voices to engage these cosmological shifts; many other proposals at the intersection of these sciences have engaged his work to some extent. As a theologian Teilhard wanted to think through the implications of the Pauline idea that Christ will incorporate all things in himself and bring them into relation to the Father so that God will be "all in all" (ICor 15; cf. Eph 1:10 Col. 1:20), and to express this in a way that illuminates our scientific understanding of an evolving universe." page 140.

Some of the relevant Bible passages are below.

Ephesians 1:10

And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. (NIV)


Colossians 1:19-20

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (NIV)


We discussed de Chardin in a class back at Harding many years ago and I remember wondering at the time where he possibly got his idea. I can perceive where this is coming from a little better now.