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Toward a Christian Theology of Evolution Ameh Ejeh

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Toward a Christian Theology of Evolution Ameh Ejeh Duquesne University Duquesne Scholarship Collection Electronic Theses and Dissertations Fall 2007 Scientific volutE ion, Creation Theologies and African Cosmogonies in Dialogue: Toward a Christian Theology of Evolution Ameh Ejeh Follow this and additional works at: https://dsc.duq.edu/etd Recommended Citation Ejeh, A. (2007). Scientific vE olution, Creation Theologies and African Cosmogonies in Dialogue: Toward a Christian Theology of Evolution (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/519 This Immediate Access is brought to you for free and open access by Duquesne Scholarship Collection. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Duquesne Scholarship Collection. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SCIENTIFIC EVOLUTION, CREATION THEOLOGIES, AND AFRICAN COSMOGONIES IN DIALOGUE: TOWARD A CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY OF EVOLUTION A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Theology McAnulty Graduate School of Liberal Arts Duquesne University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Systematic Theology By Rev. Ameh Ambrose Ejeh November 2007 Copyright by Rev. Ameh Ambrose Ejeh 2007 SCIENTIFIC EVOLUTION, CREATION THEOLOGIES, AND AFRICAN COSMOGONIES IN DIALOGUE: TOWARD A CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY OF EVOLUTION By Rev. Ameh Ambrose Ejeh Approved November 30, 2007 ______________________________________________________________ Anne M. Clifford, C. S. J., Ph.D., Dissertation Director ______________________________________________________________ Rev. Sean Kealy, C. S. Sp. First Reader ______________________________________________________________ George S. Worgul, S.T.D, Ph.D. Second Reader ______________________________________________________________ George S. Worgul, S.T.D, Ph.D. Chair, Department of Theology ______________________________________________________________ Albert Labriola, Ph.D., Acting Dean McAnulty College of Liberal Arts iii ABSTRACT SCIENTIFIC EVOLUTION, CREATION THEOLOGIES, AND AFRICAN COSMOGONIES IN DIALOGUE: TOWARD A CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY OF EVOLUTION By Rev. Ameh Ambrose Ejeh November 2007 Dissertation supervised by Anne M. Clifford, C. S. J., Ph.D. This is a dissertation in which the question of cosmic origins is examined from three perspectives, namely, Scientific Theories of Evolution, Christian Theologies of Creation, and African Cosmogonies, respectively. Through the use of comparative- dialogic and dialectic methods, and the application of the models of contact/dialogue and confirmation/integration in ways of relating science with religion, the insights of these three perspectives are examined and analyzed in the formulation of a Theology of Evolution that conceives of evolution as a medium of divine creativity. The themes of evolutionary process, interconnection, interrelation and interdependence in nature, the mystery and sacredness of nature and the teleology and destiny of creation examined in this study form the basis for a Theology of Evolution. It is an interconnection and interrelatedness that is grounded in the Trinity itself. Together we form an ongoing community of beings where all creatures have a kinship relationship iv with each other, past, present and future. The cosmos in a unity, it is all one piece, although of different layers. Humanity is the highest level of this ongoing process, nonetheless, part of a wider evolutionary process in a universe where God made “things make themselves”. Just as no creation theology today can ignore the insights of scientific evolution, so too, no other branch of theology can ignore Theology of Evolution. The implications for all theology, including African Christian theology, are crucial. This is equally evident in ecological issues where theology of Evolution has a direct ethical implication. v DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to my biological father and my spiritual father: My Late Father: Mr. Lawrence Onoja Ejeh and My Late Bishop Most Revd. Fidelis Ogah Orgah, D.D. vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Our elders say that the persistence and perseverance of a child in spite of apparent weaknesses and inadequacies are indications of the support system around him/her. The completion if this study program has been made possible by God’s grace and the network of support from family, friends, mentors, individuals and communities who have and continue to stand behind me on my journey through life. I am eternally grateful to you, my God, for creating me and sustaining me through it all and I thank you for all the people you have blessed me with. My sincere gratitude to my late Bishop, Most Rev. Fidelis O. Orgah, my current Bishop, Most Rev. Michael E. Apochi and my former Bishop, Most Rev. Athanasius A. Usuh for their prayers and support during this graduate study program. A million thanks to the clergy, religious and laity of the dioceses of Otukpo and Makurdi whose nurturing hands and prayerful support brought me to this day. To my professors in the Theology Department at Duquesne University, I am deeply grateful for your dedication, guidance and instructions: to the Chair of the Theology Department, Dr. George Worgul, jr., and Fr. Sean Kealy, C.S.Sp., I thank you immensely for taking time from your busy schedule to read my work and for your corrections and recommendations; and to you, my able and patient director, Dr. Anne Clifford, C.S.J., for your guidance and direction during this study program which is most highly appreciated and will forever be cherished. This is also the time to remember with gratitude my former professors at Fordham University, N.Y.; St. John’s University, N.Y.; and Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, as well as my former teachers and professors vii at Emmanuel Secondary School, Ugbokolo, Nigeria, and St. Augustine’s Major Seminary Jos, Nigeria. I owe a dept of gratitude to Jeanne and Robert Tobin for their parental guidance and support over the years. May the Good Lord see to it that you are duly rewarded. In the same way, my heart felt gratitude goes to the following families: Mary Ann and Allen Snyder; Nancy and Denis Krivinko; Carole and Gerard Werries; Mary and Chris Wilson; Janet and James Strom; Kathy and Edmund Friederick; Margaret Costa (St. Edward’s Parish Secretary); and to the Swab family especially my big sister, Trudy, as well as the many others who I cannot name here but to whom I am equally grateful. It is with immense gratitude too that I remember the Communities of Immaculate Conception Church, Tuckahoe, New York; St. Nicholas of Tolentine, Jamaica-Queens, New York; Epiphany and St. Benedict the Moore Church, Pittsburgh, P.A.; All Saints Church, Etna, P.A.; and most especially, St. Edward’s Church, Pittsburgh, P.A. for their support. To the priests of the Archdiocese of New York, the dioceses of Brooklyn, New York and Pittsburgh, especially, Rev. Msgr. Anthony Maltese, Rev, Fr. Robert McConnin, Rev. Fr. Russell Maurer, Rev. Fr. Carmen D’Amico, Fr. Tony Gargotta, Rev. Fr. Louis Vallone and Rev. Fr. James Garvey. I am grateful to you all for your care and support. With deep gratitude also I acknowledge the support and comaraderie of the Nigerian Priests and Nuns at home and abroad. These include: Rev. Msgr. Samuel Ehatikpo, Late Rev.Fr. Vincent O’Brien, C.M., Rev. Fr. Pius Itodo, Rev. Sr. Anna Abba, SON, Rev. Rev. Fr. Simeon Iber, Rev. Fr. Joseph Mali, Rev. Rev. Fr. Francis Iber, Rev. Sr. Charity Ada Peter, D.C., Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, Rev. Fr. Kenneth Agede, Rev. Fr. viii Vitalis Torwel, Rev. Fr. Mathew Asemagema, Sr. BrideChristiline Ogiri, DMMM, Rev. Fr. John Wangbu, Rev. Fr. Philemon Okoh, C.M., Rev. Fr. Reginald Nwauzo, Rev. Sr. Grace Onaivi, SON, Rev. Fr. Stephen Akange, Rev. Fr. Gabriel Owoh, Rev. Fr. Marinus Iwuchukwu, Rev. Rev. Fr. Joseph Nietlong, Rev. Fr. Daniel Melaba, Rev. Sr. Josephine Okwori, D.C., Rev. Fr. Joseph Okwunjo, as well as the many others who cannot be personally named here but to whom I am no less grateful. This acknowledgment is not complete without mention of the New York Province of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) who work in Nigeria, for their spiritual training and guidance and especially for securing my admission to Fordham University N.Y., where my graduate study program started, in particular, Rev. Fr. Peter Schineller, S.J., and Rev. Fr. William Scanlon, S.J. May the Good Lord see to it that you are all duly rewarded. ix Table of Contents Page ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................... iv DEDICATION................................................................................................................... vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................ vii ABBREVIATIONS (ACRONYMS)...............................................................................xiii PREFACE........................................................................................................................ xiv GENERAL INTRODUCTION........................................................................................... 1 The Thesis of this Study ................................................................................................. 7 Theological Relevance.................................................................................................. 11 Scope, Methodology and Feasibility............................................................................. 14 General Outline
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