Renan, Joseph Ernest (1823–1892)

In the 19th century, the French philosopher Joseph Ernest Renan studied and considered the theory of evolution, recognizing its obvious challenge to biblical beliefs and theistic theologies. He accepted this new framework of time and valued the advances in science (especially chemistry) over the dogmas of religion. His dynamic worldview became future-oriented, expressing a deep concern for the survival and fulfillment of our species in the distant ages to come.

Renan had been educated in ecclesiastical colleges and seminaries, but he began to doubt Roman Catholic scholasticism. Instead, his interests shifted from theology to philosophy (particularly the thoughts of G. W. F Hegel), mathematics, and philology. Becoming very skeptical of religious beliefs and being most liberal in his own thoughts, Renan left the faith in order to embrace a scientific understanding of and rational appreciation for the splendor of this universe. He is best remembered for his controversial book Life of Jesus (1863), which enraged the religionists of his time because of its strictly human portrayal of the Nazarene. His voluminous writings also included such daunting topics as the history of Israel and the origins of Christianity. However, Renan's amazing speculations on the future of humankind within cosmic immensity are found in his volume, Philosophical Dialogues and Fragments (1871).

Even though Renan foresaw the persecution of scientists by a religious society, he nevertheless anticipated the triumphs of science and reason in the future. He maintained that the remote past demonstrates the ever-increasing consciousness of our species. And, for him, the ongoing progress of the human mind held the key to comprehending the directional evolution of this universe. Therefore, with critical optimism, Renan envisioned a gradual ascent of humankind within the evolutionary development of the natural world. Consequently, he held that an immense advancement of consciousness would result in the emergence of a group of superior individuals who far exceed the human beings of today. His imagination saw these forthcoming divine beings to be as far above our [Page 1107]present species as the human beings of today represent an advancement over those lower animals that are found in the deep fossil record.

within his organismic interpretation of the evolving universe, Renan suggested that sidereal reality would eventually become a cosmic zygote. Furthermore, over immeasurable time, from this cosmic zygote would emerge a single being that will delight in its sensations and perceptions (just as a finite human being on earth enjoys its feelings and emotions). As the totality of reality, this ultimate being of trillions of finite beings will have evolved into an organic unity out of the awesome multiplicity of a living universe (just as an organism on our planet emerges as a complex unity out of those trillions of atoms that make up its genetic information). As such, all existence will be participating in this cosmic unity of infinite diversity.

Thus, the visionary and free-thinker Renan saw the meaning and purpose of humankind fulfilled in the far distant future, when all of the matter of space, which is now the composition of endless distinct galaxies, becomes this single universal being. This thinking and enjoying final entity is the emergent God as that cosmic consciousness within which everything will be preserved and experienced throughout all eternity.

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