Religion has not kept pace with insights from modern science and the rapid rise of technology. The human person is evolving at an accelerated rate but there is no myth or story to guide these rapid developments in human consciousness and complexity.
To meet the religious needs of a world in evolution, our mission is to:
- Deepen the integration of science and religion by understanding the contribution of each discipline to the whole field of knowing and loving.
- Reflect on the human person as an integral member of the cosmic whole and to advance development toward integrated consciousness.
- Enkindle an awareness of love as the core energy of the universe, the impulse of evolution.
Are you inclusive of all religious traditions?
All world religions, including Christianity, are still tied to an ancient, static Ptolemaic cosmos. Yet, the universe is no longer a fixed state but a process. Traditional religions originated in historically and geographically limited cultures, none of which possessed an awareness of the collective unity and common destiny of humankind equal to what we experience today.
The future of human spirituality exists beyond these traditional religious definitions and institutional divisions. Nevertheless, this evolution requires deep, intentional work within specific communities and paradigms. Christianity is fundamentally a religion of evolution premised on the incarnational symbol of the Christâmatter matters. Like the physical sciences, Christianity must remain ready for discovery, exploration, and invention.
C4C is an organization catalyzing this transition. At the cutting edge of Christian and Western scientific thought, we serve all those hungry for discernment in an era of religious convergence, and those searching for a future that opens toward a unified, planetary whole beyond conventional definitions and divisions.
We are surrounded by a certain sort of pessimist who continually tells us that our world is foundering in atheism. But should we not rather say that what it is suffering from is unsatisfied theism?⊠If the great spiritual conÂcern of our times is a re-alignment and readjustment of old beliefs towards a new Godhead who has risen up at the anticipated pole of cosmic evoluÂtionâthen why not simply slough off the oldâwhy not, that is, regroup the whole of the earths religious power directly and . . . pay no attention to the ancient creeds?
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Who is Pierre Teilhard de Chardin?
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin was a 20th-century Jesuit scientist and religious thinker. Although his ideas on science and religion still leave many readers perplexed, his prophetic insights, born out of an acute scientific mind and a deeply Ignatian spirit, enabled him to approach world religions by placing religion in a cosmic evolutionary framework.
For Teilhard, religion was not simply a matter of personal concern. If the evolution of matter culminated in the expression of consciousness, then religion is the result of evolution becoming conscious of itself, attempting to give form to the free energy of the earth for greater unity.
The Teilhardian concept of Omegaâupon which our Centerâs vision and work are basedâis the revelation of God as the fullness of love, the dynamic center at the heart of all Creation.
C4C Team
Ilia Delio
Founder
Ilia Delio, OSF, PhD, Founder of the Center for Christogenesis, is a Franciscan Sister of Washington, DC and American theologian specializing in the area of science and religion, with interests in evolution, physics and neuroscience and the import of these for theology.
Ilia currently holds the Josephine C. Connelly Endowed Chair in Theology at Villanova University, and is the author of twenty books. Ilia holds PhDs in Pharmacology from Rutgers University and in Theology from Fordham University, as well as two honorary doctorates, one from St. Francis University in 2015, and one from Sacred Heart University in 2020.
Emily DeMoor
Lisa Drover
Dustin Kuhns
Director of Communications and creative content
Robert Nicastro
Executive Director
C4C Board
Cecilia Ashton
Bliss Browne
Tara DeNuccio
Tim Hartley
Libby Osgood
Philip D. Robers
C4C Partners
The Center for Christogenesis is a global initiative and is formed by a network of many partnerships around the world. We encourage you to explore the following partners for their offerings and events.
