Activation Of Energy (Helen & Kurt Wolff Book) [Paperback]

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 18, 1972 | Series: Helen & Kurt Wolff Book

An important Christian philosopher contends that if human energy is channeled in the right direction, "upward and outward," spiritual energy as a motor force in the universe will outdistance technological advance. Index. Translated by René Hague. A Helen and Kurt Wolff Book

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Language Notes

Text: English, French (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955) was a Jesuit priest and paleontologist who studied chemistry, physics, botany, and zoology and received his doctorate in geology. The author of several works of philosophy and religion, he is considered by many to be among the foremost thinkers of our time. Toward the Future was first published in 1973.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books (October 18, 1972)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0156028603
• ISBN-13: 978-0156028608
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,850,390 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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50 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christianity within the bounds of Evolution, January 27, 2002

By 

Eddie Napier (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Activation Of Energy (Helen & Kurt Wolff Book) (Paperback)

Chardin takes us through an ontological "proof" of his theory of man. By assigning to humanity the same laws that are assigned to the rest of the universe, Chardin levels the playing field between the exclusivity of matter and spirit. He describes the ascent of life into humanity, and posits that if the same essential rule of the universe applies in the future as it does today, that there is an Omega point for humanity. This Omega point is based upon the supposition that complexity and conciousness are directly related, and that life is constantly evolving to favor the more complex, more centered life. At this Omega point, humanity will cease to function as a collection of units, and each individual will place the whole above itself, as cells do to their parent organism.

It is interesting to note that many of the more recent authors of technological evangelism borrow from the ideas of Chardin. For example, Richard Dawkins, in his vain attempt to mask sociology as biology, posited the existance of "Memes". Dawkins controversial work has inspired many conversations, as it attributes qualities previously regarded as solely human, to ideas, or memes. Matching discreet biology to sociology is somehow "magically" performed in Dawkins analysis. Chardin's superior logic, pre-dating Dawkin's misinterperation, notes that rather than looking at memes and meme-groups as direct results of evolutionary pressure, they are instead relegated to a portion of the conciousness of the universe, no more in combat with each other than a liver cell is in combat with a nerve cell.

While the more scientifically-oriented Dawkins concerns himself with observed statistical behavior, stating that it is a result of evolution, Chardin addresses the elephant in the living room, the unmoved mover of evolution.

Chardin wrote all this years before computers took thier ascendance as the main form of communication in developed countries. It's intersting to note that among respective futurist subcultures, the Satanic and atheist subcultures have adopted Dawkins as one of their pets, (likely against his will) while Chardin spends inordinant amounts of time weaving Christianity into his theories, making assumptions about Christianity by view of his all-embracing evolution of mankind, but never leaning on the faith of Christians to prop his theory up.

To this reader, the bottom line is that if I'm going to read something written by someone an order of magnitude more intelligent, I ought to be sure the message that is being sent is one I want to receive. Chardin proposes an idea that can't help but grow, cannot be dis-proved, contains both an emotional/logically appropriate response to both the pleasures and pains of the world. He absorbs Dawkins, before there was a Dawkins, Chardin had already superceded him.

Enough of my predudice, please, check out Chardin and Dawkins and form your own immutable opinions.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughts and theories that humanity is in desperate need of right now, January 6, 2009

By 

Rahm Suzanne "The owl" (Skane, Sweden) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Activation of Energy: Enlightening Reflections on Spiritual Energy (Paperback)

Teilhard de Chardins writings has changed my idea of the world. Chardin has discovered something, that all of humanity is in desperate need of knowing. This book, like all the others that he wrote, is (though written in the midst of the fifthies) amazingly up to date. Like many other scientists (Copernicus,Galilei, Kepler a.s.o )Chardins theories wasn't taken serious. Today we do know that the planet is a whole, and that all matter in universe is intouch with each other. We also know that everything evolve. Universe itself evolve. Why would not the human mind. I truly believes, that the world need to take a serious look into Chardins world of thoughts. We are in the midst of an global crisis. We have to take another step, or disappear from the surface of the earth. The earth will not compromise with species that wreck her fragile balance, or break down her echo-system. In other words; "the choice is between suicide and worship" (P. Teilhard de Chardin). We have to respond to the call and do what we can to reach another state of mind. Pierre Teilhard de Chardins work can help us do that.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essays of great insight and value, April 8, 2010

By 

Trudie Barreras - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Activation of Energy: Enlightening Reflections on Spiritual Energy (Paperback)

This series of Essays by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin should have been shared sixty years ago, when they were first written. Unfortunately at that time Fr. Teilhard was under interdiction by the Hierarchy of the Church and his Jesuit superiors for his extremely forward-looking and therefore unorthodox perspectives on Evolution and other aspects of the overlap between spirituality and science, and therefore much of his work was only published after his death.

These essays are extremely valuable, however, in expanding his ideas of complexity consciousness, the development of the noosphere, and other vital aspects of what has become foundational theology for the present day. It is to be hoped that as more and more people read his writing and reflect upon it in view of the culmination of so many of his predictions, its value and power will truly be recognized.