The Future of Man is an introduction to the thoughts & writings of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, one of the few figures in Catholic Church history to achieve renown as both a scientist & theologian. Trained as a paleontologist & ordained a Jesuit priest, he devoted himself to establishing the intimate, interdependent connection between science--particularly the theory of evolution--& the basic tenets of the Xian faith. At the center of his philosophy was the belief that the human species is evolving spiritually, progressing from a simple faith to higher forms of consciousness, including a consciousness of God, & culminating in the ultimate understanding of humankind's place & purpose in the cosmos. The Church, which wouldn't condone his philosophical writings, refused to allow their publication during his lifetime. Written over a period of 30 years & presented here in chronological order, the essays cover the wide-ranging interests & inquiries that engaged him throughout his life: intellectual & social evolution; the coming of ultra-humanity; the integral place of faith in God in the advancement of science; & the impact of scientific discoveries on traditional religious dogma. Less formal than The Phenomenon of Man & The Divine Milieu, his most renowned works, The Future of Man offers a complete, fully accessible look at the genesis of ideas that continue to reverberate in both the scientific & religious communities.