Being and Becoming

"I like very much Evolutionary Spirituality. One of its leading thinkers is Andrew Cohen. He tries to integrate Eastern and Western religions and philosophies. He names his teaching Evolutionary Enlightenment. I don't like his meditation enlightenment teachings. But he has a good approach to being and becoming. Whereas classical mysticism is about being, about the ground of being, the eternal one, becoming is about the dynamics of evolution, of the process of development. It is becoming which brings the dynamic into our world. There is an energy, creativity and intelligence which has started the Big Bang. There is the process of life, of a living Universe which has lead to the creation of us humans and the other forms of life. After matter and energy and life, the emergence of mind is the third "big bang". Becoming ("the evolutionary impuls") appeals to me, because it leads to a sense of awe about the grandeur of the evolving Universe and about the marvel of living and sentient creatures.
Thus far some thoughts of mine on the problem of process theology and religious naturalism."
(One of my postings in a course on UU theology.)
    

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O Great Mystery,

All-Creating Source of this strange wonder, life,

We and all the other creatures

   of this homeland Earth your children are.

When you were the first stars, we were there.

When you were the lifeless Earth, we were there.

Yes, we were there in the warm seas,

   learning how to be life.

Now that we are alive,

   and can think,

   and can speak,

You at last have a mind and a voice.

O Great Creating Mystery,

   We your children give you mind and voice;

   We your children are your heart and song.

William D. Hammond