Journey of the Universe (2011) Online

Journey of the Universe is worth every minute one spends watching it. In fact, one can't just watch it; it challenges you to imagine, to think. If there is any criticism, it is that it is too rich with ideas for a film approximately one hour long. It presents so many ways, hermeneutics, of viewing the history of the universe that a single viewing was not sufficient. Fortunately, the invitation to learn and think did not detract from the over-all feeling of humility, awe and love that the film engendered in this viewer. The final question put to us by Brian Swimme remains long after the film ends: knowing what we know now, how can we use the energies of the universe within us to recreate the face of the earth.

A film of rare beauty and eloquence illuminating the sheer wonder of our existence, Journey of the Universe transports the viewer from the moment of the Big Bang through our own evolving planetary dance of life and ecosystem. Through beautiful location shots, stunning cinematography, and sophisticated graphics and effects one is left with the very real sense of our fragility as a species, and our delicate relationship with our planet. The most up-to-date scientific findings are presented in molecular biology, astrophysics and other areas to propose that we are blessed by our existence here and should with pious and humble respect accept our obligation to protect the delicate balance of life on our planet. One comes away with a realization that for us to exist here as we do required an infinite number of precise coincidences, more than possible by mere chance. Journey of the Universe fills one with the wonder that is life.

Full disclosure, I happen to be a religious person who enjoys the study of science at every level. I don't see the areas of religion as necessarily opposed to scientific endeavors & often find them to be complementary - at least in my own world view. That being said, in this film - upon arriving at perhaps the biggest mystery we've ever contemplated - the origins of life itself... it landed with a thud. While I certainly didn't expect anything along the lines of a Sunday school class; or frankly anything more than an ever so subtle whisper about what 'some' people may think about the origins of life... this film basically went only so far as to state that on the matter of how life developed on this planet, while not definitely settled, is certainly believed by those in credible circles to have originated from some sort of 'self organizing' aspect of material in general.... that it's in the very nature of stuff to just spring to life as per inevitable... and that there's how it happened - aaaaaanywho,onto the many marvels of this life thing....

Ever read a story to a child while you're in a hurry & have them pipe up and indignantly profess that you 'skipped a page'? Yeah... that's kind of how I felt...

This film is excellent. Finally, a work to honor science,earth, art and humanity in a spectacular array of visual imagery and imaginative language to inspire all ages. Academic and entertaining, historic and contemporary, our journey is described and detailed in a beautiful series of images and words to inform and delight. I watched this film with my five year old granddaughter, Anneliese, and we both loved the story from beginning to end. Whether you know a lot about the universe, or just enjoy looking at the stars in wonder, this film will inspire you to seek more, look more and want to understand more about our earth, our solar system, and the universe unfolding.

Journey of the Universe is a singular film about the mysterious beauty and interconnectedness of the universe. It is exquisite, important and mind-expanding! I've seen this stunning film—about cosmic, earth and human transformation—three times thus far. Each time I learn something previously unknown to me, and am uplifted anew. The richness of material corresponds well with the stunning photography. The intense amount of information for such an expansive subject allows for, and invites, repeated viewings—and investigating the subject matter more deeply. Ultimately, this extraordinary film informs, uplifts and inspires me to live more deeply in relationship with the cosmos.

I had the privilege to view this film in a small theater on Whidbey Island, near Seattle. I made the journey, including a trip by ferry boat, to view the film, to meet Mary Evelyn Tucker and Brian Swimme, and engage in a seminar at the Whidbey Institute in the Teilhard de Chardin Hall. In these times of religious conservatives challenging the science of the 14 billion year old story of creation, it is important to have a film like this that sets the story of our evolution so beautifully and poetically. Brian Swimme takes us on a journey that tells our story from the Big Bang to current day while making a 24 hour journey through the Greek village of Samos, home of mathematician Pythagoras. Swimme is a scientist/theologian/poet who weaves the disciplines of science and the humanities into the seamless garment they must be if we are to stop the environmental destruction that is occurring and come together to solve the big issues of ecology, morality, and spirituality. Watch this film, and experience the grandeur and the humility of knowing your place in the universe story and what you must do to stop being the problem and start becoming the solution.

Journey of the Universe is a truly wonderful film which everyone should see! It introduces viewers to the deep theological and philosophical questions regarding the role of humanity within our current scientifically-based understanding of evolutionary cosmology.

This sounds "heavy" but in a light-handed way, host Brian Swimme guides the audience through some of the most profound themes and questions while spending a single day on the Greek island of Samos (home of Pythagoras).

Where do we come from? How did evolution result in humanity's rise to planetary dominance and exploitation? How are we connected to Earth and Universe? What is the way forward for the human species? All these questions are raised without giving dogmatic answers and engaging the viewers to think for themselves about the issues raised.

All this in a 56 minute documentary - brilliant! I'd give this an 11 out of 10 if I could. Highly recommended!

The insights offered in this all to brief one-hour documentary provides an historical and a scientific perspective in language easily grasped by anyone. It tells a story that based on the writings of scholars over the past 2 decades will have a major impact on how a global humanity needs to evolve over the next century. The simple idea that we are made of 'star- stuff' alone should speak powerfully to that internal desire to be connected to something larger than ourselves that exists within every conscious human being. Why are we here? How did we get here? This documentary provides an awareness that should help answer these questions. It also creates a framework within which to expand the meaning of our existence.

This is at once a story of the universe and of our efforts to understand it. Any attempt to document the story of the universe is of course ambitious, but the usual motivation of those attempting it has been to create exclusionary myths, whether of religion or science. What is rare about this film is that the creators have been able to tell the story from many different perspectives in a seamless and coherent way, using them to enhance our understanding, but also our appreciation of what we don't understand. The story of what we have learned about the universe is our ultimate story, one of extraordinary achievements and wondrous potential. The producers have created a compelling visual and oral narrative. This is a unique achievement as much for its extraordinary imagery as for its compelling content.

Who are we as humans here in Earth? How did we get to be here? What is our relationship to everything else? What implications does this have for future generations? These are questions human beings have asked since we first came to conscious awareness of ourselves. This film is an opportunity to think again about these questions in the light of current science, to reflect on where we stand in relation to this information. To understand it is to enter into the realisation of the implications for each one of us and to be filled with awe, a new sense of being.Complex ideas are presented in ways that can be understood without a background in science, the scenery is breathtaking and every minute of the film is packed with significance.

I expect this film will appeal to more people because it doesn't actually mention religion or creationism. It does tell us, in an awe-inspiring and thought-provoking way, with stunning visuals, much of the currently conventional, scientific view of the universe. It succeeds in combining astronomy, physics, biology and other sciences, and just hints that there may be more to all these wonders than mere chance.

Still, to me it doesn't go far enough in this direction. I've helped with a book called 'Chance or Creation' translated from an Arabic text attributed to al-Jahiz (8-9th Centuries CE) who, by the way, was the first biologist to mention evolution and natural selection - see Wikipdedia and Muslim Heritage.com. I'm also working to convince fellow Muslims and others that Islam (devotion to the One God) includes care of and responsibility for the environment (His Creation), starting from the Qur'an.

As the film is a product of the Religions and Ecology group at Yale, I was expecting it to say more about religions and Ecology. According Wikipedia, only 750 million of the world's 7 billion population are 'non-religious', and nearly 6 billion subscribe to one of the main world religions (presumably the rest subscribe to lesser ones). Surely the minority of non-religious people of the world can't continue to ignore all their neighbours in this way? Let's have a follow-up film, exploring religious AND secular teachings on the environment from all sides. A good start has been made by 'The Encyclopaedia of Religion and Nature' and on a more popular level, the book 'Green Spirituality' by Chris Philpott, but he leaves out humanism and atheism. The Earth Charter was the result of such wide discussions, and would be a good basis for the film, which would in turn also help to popularize the Charter. And I must mention our small Abrahamic Faiths contribution in the taster pocket book 'Sharing Eden'...

To say that this film delivers amazing news doesn't capture the half of it. This timely film tells the newest scientific story of the universe in a way that allows us to begin to understand the ever changing world we live in. It beckons us to listen and to look, all the while inviting us to interact with all elements in a new and vibrant way. Indeed, it inspires us to think about the healthy future of the planet as something that depends on our decisions now. The script, written by Brian Swimme and Mary Evelyn Tucker, is filled with so many ah-ha moments and is masterfully delivered by Swimme. This is a film to be viewed by more than the science community or cosmology experts, it is a wide reaching film perfectly suited for you and me. It takes watching it two (to twenty) times, first to ingest the sheer volume of information; the rest to sink into its awe!

This Movie is an unbelievable achievement! It is a fascinating journey through the exploration of the fundamental Questions: Where do we come here? what is our relationship to the universe. How did the universe come into being and what is its relationship to mankind? Where are we headed? How do we Coexist in the universe and what is our relationship to earth?

I was extremely impressed with the cinematography, which draws you into the beauty of our universe and reminds us how amazing, expansive and complex life is.

This is a must see for anyone who is curious about the meaning of life.

Weaving together humanistic insights and the findings of modern science, Journey of the Universe is a compelling story of where we came from and where we are going. Amidst stunning cinematography and a vibrant soundtrack, host Brian Thomas Swimme leads viewers through the vastness of cosmic history up through the current role of the human in the flourishing of the Earth.

While it is no exaggeration to call this film visually stunning, the narrative shared by evolutionary philosopher Brian Thomas Swimme and Yale historian of religions Mary Evelyn Tucker is nothing short of groundbreaking. Journey of the Universe is an awe inspiring story that reflects the vibrancy of life on Earth, that mirrors the sweeping beauty of the night sky, and that inspires a profound sense of interconnection and hope for humans as we find our role in the flourishing of the Earth. The film is simultaneously a work of visual and narrative poetry and also an inspiring message for these opening moments the 21st century. As Swimme states in the film, "we are actually the universe reflecting itself. And this changes everything..."

Journey of the Universe not only rewards multiple viewings with its depth and cinematic quality, but it is is also greatly enhanced when viewed alongside its companion Educational DVD Series and Journey of the Universe book. Journey of the Universe does not disappoint!

I have recommended this film to every person I know, and I can't honestly say I do that very often.

The reason I am able to do so is not only because it's a great film but because it's accessible to a wide variety of audiences. The information in it is easily understandable, and yet at the same time it's beauty, it's cohesion, and the story itself make this film one of the most thought provoking documentaries I have ever seen. It provides a new way of thinking about us, our relationship to our natural world, and indeed our relationship to the very cosmos itself. It doesn't do so in a way that excludes religious people nor does it present information in such a way to exclude scientists and the non-religious. It truly is a story around which people of all faiths, all religions, all philosophies, and all approaches to life can congregate. It's conclusions are timely, deeply meaningful, and groundbreaking.

Indeed, I've recommended this film to every person I know, and that's not an overstatement. I've done so because I hope everyone gets to see this accessible yet profound film.

This film is no ordinary documentary. Past reviewers have used appropriate adjectives: awesome, magnificent, beautiful, thought-provoking, life-changing. I can only add my suggestion that viewers prepare for the experience of seeing this film.

Prepare to lose yourself in the story of who you really are, how you came to be, and how intrinsically interconnected you are with the rest of creation. Prepare to be overwhelmed with information — there is no test at the end, and you can always see it again for forgotten details. In fact, prepare to want to see it many times. I have done so, in whole and also in parts, which are conveniently suggested by occasional brief pauses in black. I am eager to view and discuss this film with a group.

Prepare to simply enjoy the journey explained so lucidly thanks to the text written by Brian Swimme and Mary Evelyn Tucker and told so enthusiastically by Brian. Bring your own beliefs, for the film provides the context for whatever you believe. It all belongs in our story — a story brilliantly presented in this film!

This is a magnificent telling of the Universe Story. I've watched it many times and every time I learn something fresh and gain a deeper understanding of how life and consciousness has emerged. The metaphors and images have stuck with me, improving my ability to retell the story. Swimme's enthusiastic and passionate presentation seeps into every cell of my body leaving much more than an intellectual understanding.

The disturbing pictures of the destruction caused by our specie's misguided presence, motivates me to examine my lifestyle and change to what's best for the Earth. The movie shows the beautiful potential for humans. We are not the end, but the continuation of an enormous journey that can lead to a beautiful, sustainable and fulfilling lifestyle with the Earth.

"Journey of the Universe" is an essential film for anyone living in this crucial moment. The film puts each of us into the overarching drama that includes every bit of energy & matter, every living and no-yet-living being, every animal and person. We are, as Car Sagan told us, "stardust," and what an honor and wonder that is. From the image of the Big Bang to the present still evolving cosmos, Brian Swimme walks us through each phase of the emerging reality that is the Universe, and as 'uni-verse,' all inclusive. I felt from the first moments of the film an intimate relation with the room that surrounded me, then with the world outside that room, and then with the throbbing, living cosmic reality that extended out from all sides.

The film uses superb graphics and a fine script which explains the process clearly while making this very process personal. The use of one island from which to view the whole gives focus to an otherwise complex and diverse reality.

Your own life and world will grow from your immersion in this excellent film.

I first saw this film at the UN, with Mary Ellen present for a Q and A. The film is visually beautiful as well as scientifically sound. Some viewers called it a life-changer, saying that it helped them tap into their sense of awe. I believe that opening ourselves to the reality presented in this film will help us to become better people and peacemakers, better lovers of life and of this precious planet. Full disclosure: I'm a Quaker and am convinced that our relationship with our physical universe, and particularly this planet Earth, is a spiritual matter. This film can help us love the Earth more consciously, and with this awareness we can make better choices in our lives. It is powerful and moving, and I recommend that everyone see it.

I highly recommend viewing this film ... and doing so more than once. It's a stunningly beautiful, heart- and mind-expanding presentation of the big picture of cosmic, Earth, and human history by Brian Swimme, an inspiring cosmic bard and professor of cosmology.

Few things are more important at this time in history, it seems to me, than truly getting who we are, where we are (in time and space), and feeling our kinship with the cosmos.

This film is a fabulous introduction to the academic field of "Big History," or the history of everyone and everything: that is, physical evolution, biological evolution, and cultural evolution as humanity's first ever evidence-based creation story. It is also a call to step into your own greatness by working to co-create a just, healthy, beautiful, and sustainably life-giving future for humanity and the larger body of life.

Excellent!

This is a truly beautiful film that made me glad to be alive. There are some scenes of young animals leaping with joy that made me feel their joy myself. Swimme explained complicated ideas in simple ways. One that was particularly memorable was his use of an egg to explain the layers of the earth. When I first saw it, I bought the DVD and watched it again almost immediately—it was that moving. It's a short film but it packs a lot in. I plan to watch it again soon. To me, the overall message is how connected we all are with the earth and all its inhabitants, including animals. Which makes it all the more important that we treat our planet— and each other—with the greatest of care. I am truly grateful to the filmmakers who put their hearts as well as their minds into this beautiful film. I wish that everyone would see this film to remind them of the great gift that has been entrusted into our care.