by Nancy Haught

If science is sacred, maybe evolution needs an evangelist. So thinks Michael Dowd, a Pentecostal preacher and the author of "Thank God for Evolution! How the Marriage of Science and Religion Will Transform Your Life and Our World."

Dowd will present evolution as theology -- not theory -- when he visits Portland and Vancouver from Saturday through Tuesday.

Dowd's traveling program promises a "God's eye view" on the cosmos, on topics from microbiology to supernovas.

Dowd, a former creationist, argues that teaching a literal interpretation of the Genesis story is the same as letting a "first-century dentist fill our children's teeth." Evolution theology, as he understands it, offers insights into a number of ancient religious traditions, including Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Christianity.