When I was a young man I was warned away from reading the French Jesuit priest, theologian, and paleontologist, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. He was regarded as outside the bounds of Christian orthodoxy by whoever sounded the concerns to me and this was certainly the view of the Jesuit order of the Roman Catholic Church. In recent years I've become curious about this devout Christian, born in the latter part of the 19th century who died in his early seventies in 1955. I realize now that Teilhard de Chardin's theological "crime" was offering a thoughtful exploration of the intersection between Christian faith and scientific exploration, particularly the developing theory of evolution.
Theilhard's superiors were so intent on silencing him that they banned him from publishing his writings and effectively sent him into exile in China. Remarkably -- providentially -- he ended up in the region where extensive palentological excavations were underway which resulted in the discovery of the skull of Peking Man in the 1920's. Teilhard became part of the team which included a Canadian, Davidson Black. The skull of Peking Man was estimated to be hundreds of thousands of years old and a major find in the field of paleontology.
Teilhard de Chardin spent the rest of his life being celebrated by the scientific community and censored by his Jesuit superiors. He was offered significant teaching posts which he was required to turn down and while he did lecture in America he wasn't allowed to return to his beloved France even as family members were dying. His books were only published posthumously when he was no longer under the discipline of the church.
I have finally finished The Jesuit and the Skull: Teilhard De Chardin, Evolution, and the Search for Peking Man, which was really worthwhile reading. The past four popes have all offered theological endorsement of the theory of evolution and have quoted Teilhard de Chardin. Just the same, a caution about the writings of Teilhard was issued by the Vatican in 1962, years after his death, and has never been formally cancelled. A Pontifical Council for Culture which includes scientists and theologians has asked Pope Francis to lift the "monitum" citing Teilhard's "prophetic vision."
Teilhard commented along the way that he wanted to die on Resurrection Day, and remarkably that it is what transpired. After years of fragile health he died on April 10, 1955, which was Easter Sunday.
During Earth Month there is a marvellous installation in the nave of Britain's historic Ely Cathedral. Take a look in today's Groundling blog groundlingearthyheavenly.blogspot.com/2022/04/earth-
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