"The Epic of Evolution is the 14 billion year narrative of cosmic, planetary, life, and cultural evolution—told in sacred ways. Not only does it bridge mainstream science and a diversity of religious traditions; if skillfully told, it makes the science story memorable and deeply meaningful, while enriching one's religious faith or secular outlook." Many naturalistic writers have used this theme as a topic for their books using such synonyms as: Cosmic Evolution, Everybody's Story, Evolutionary Epic, Evolutionary Universe, Great Story, New Story, Universal Story. Connie Barlow writes: Evolutionary evangelist minister Michael Dowd uses the term to help present his position that science and religious faith are not mutually exclusive (a premise of religious naturalism). He preaches that the epic of cosmic, biological, and human evolution, revealed by science, is a basis for an inspiring and meaningful view of our place in the universe. Evolution is viewed as a spiritual process that it is not meaningless blind chance. He is joined by a number of other theologians in this position. Notable proponents and critics Proponents Proponents of religious naturalism are seen from two perspectives. The first includes contemporary individuals who have discussed and supported religious naturalism, per se. The other includes historic individuals who may not have used or been familiar with the term, "religious naturalism", but who had views that are relevant to and whose thoughts have contributed to the development of religious naturalism. Individuals who have openly discussed and supported religious naturalism, include: Chet Raymo Loyal Rue Donald A. Crosby Jerome A. Stone Michael Dowd Ursula Goodenough Terrence Deacon Loren Eiseley Philip Hefner Ralph Wendell Burhoe Mordecai Kaplan Henry Nelson Wieman George Santayana Gordon D. Kaufman Stuart Kauffman Stanley A. Klein C. Robert Mesle Karl E. Peters Varadaraja V. Raman Ian Barbour Robert S. Corrington Wesley Wildman Carol Wayne White Individuals who were precursors to religious naturalism, or who otherwise influenced its development, include: Lao-Tzu Albert Einstein W.E.B. Du Bois Aldo Leopold Critics Religious naturalism has been criticized from two perspectives. One is that of traditional Western religion, which disagrees with naturalist disbelief in a personal God. Another is that of naturalists who do not agree that a religious sense can or should be associated with naturalist views. Critics in the first group include supporters of traditional Jewish, Christian, and Islamic religions. Critics in the second group include: Richard Dawkins John Haught Prominent communities and leaders Religious naturalists sometimes