2021 marks the tenth anniversary of the release of the film, Journey of the Universe. The documentary spends one day on the Greek Island of Samos. It takes a philosophical view of evolution and tries to answer the great questions: Who are we? How did we get here? Where are we headed? For those who want to move beyond the cosmology of western and other religions, it offers a perspective that widens understanding and puts humanity in its place within a larger context.
The film’s birth nevertheless has religious roots. Its genesis of came from the Riverdale Centre for Religious Research led by Thomas Berry, a Roman Catholic monk who studied world religions and was struck by a need for a more comprehensive cosmology. He wrote about a call for a new story as early as 1978 and continued to ponder the questions and write about them until his death in 2009. He found a willing collaborator in Brian Swimme, an evolutionary cosmologist. They collaborated to produce The Universe Story in 1992. But the strength of the story encouraged both to work on a more awe inspiring presentation which resulted in the more recent film, subsequent book, university symposia and educational materials. Released in 2011, the film was carefully vetted and verified by scientists in all fields - but its effect is not a quantitative verification but an awe inspiring one reaching into ever expanding educational opportunities.
The book by the same name, written by Brian Swimme and Mary Evelyn Tucker, both students of Berry, tells the story in an engaging way that urges further reflection on the journey of the universe of which we are a part. “Wonder will guide us”, says Swimme at the end of the film. One of the most valuable part of the book is the chronology from the “great flaring forth” - an alternative to the Big Bang - 13.8 billion years ago - to the last entry - since 1990s thousands of extra solar planets have been discovered. Discovery of a 13.1 billion year old galaxy.
The book and film have generated studies by all the world’s major religions. They set an important context for where we go from here. They call for a major reassessment of how we look at our creation stories. Among the resources are podcasts and video courses showing how those in various fields - scientists, activists, indigenous leaders, teachers are living out their stories in the light of new understandings.
The new site offers resources for individuals and organizations and includes curricula, its own YouTube Channel, newsletter and events. It is an important resource for anyone who wants a wider context for the continuing journey of the universe and our place in it.