November 2006 Christian Spirituality By George A Lane SJ

Spirituality for our time Continue from ...... In his major work, The Phenomenon of Man, Teilhard de Chardin begins with the phenomenon of biology, and this for him reveals biogenesis: namely: that in the world of living things there is an emerging process, a biological development which advances towards consciousness and then the rise of consciousness. Teilhard sees a line of progress developing towards consciousness, the power of a living thing to know, to sense, and to be aware of the world around it. This rise of increasing consciousness marks the axis of evolution. As biogenesis develops, it reaches a point where reflex consciousness appears, and this is man. There are two dynamic principles in this process of evolution as Teilhard observed it: complexification and convergence. Complexification is quite simply the ordered numerical multiplication of units, more and more molecules, cells, or whatever units may be in question. This is a principle of and a key to progress. Quite simply Teilhard observes as a biologist that the more cells there are the higher degree of consciousness there is. Psychic energy increases with the complexity of organized units. The second principle is that of convergence, the gathering of elements or units together into an organized and unified pattern. This is not only multiplication of units, but also their coming together and interacting with each other. The phenomenon of man begins at the threshold of reflection. When consciousness becomes self-consciousness, when biogenesis develops to the point where consciousness reflects upon itself, the phenomenon of man appears. Man not only knows, but knows that he knows. With the emergence of man, of reflex consciousness in the world, a new kind of growth appears, that of human knowledge and personality. The world is enveloped, as it were, with another sphere, another layer of life, the noosphere, the sphere of knowledge, the growth of science. This growth and development of science Teilhard calls noogenesis from the Greek word nous, mind, and genesis, the process of becoming. Noogenesis describes the evolution of man, his growth in consciousness and knowledge. The principles which foster human growth and development (hominization) are the same ones which Teilhard discovered operating in biological evolution: complexity and convergence. Complexification, here more and more human beings, more centres of consciousness, quite simply the increasing world population, Teilhard sees as contributing to human development. Convergence: the physical and psychic interaction of people, communication, socialization. The very roundness of the world itself guarantees and contributes to this convergence of persons. Although people will multiply and increase regularly, their social convergence is not fully guaranteed. There are counter-dynamics which jeopardize the process of human unification towards unanimity; they are selfishness, isolationism, divisiveness, egocentricity, war, and in the Christian context sin. Human freedom creates these posibilities which endanger the whole evolutionary process and render its ultimate success doubtful and insecure. What then is the human ultimate" Teilhard calls this the Omega point. He takes his basic vision and projects it into the future. He sees a supreme act of collective vision. There are indications of this development in our world today; the scientific explosion and the great increase of knowledge tend towards this supreme act of collective vision. He then projects his vision of human convergence to what he terms a megasynthesis, a great synthesis of all human beings. This socialization is greadually taking place, for instance, in a metropolis where many people come together and interact. In a sense the city is the spearhead of evolution and progress, the centre of modern life. Teilhard's appendix to The Phenomenon of Man is called "The Christian Phenomenon" and here he turns from scientific data and hypothetical projection to the data of Christian revelation. Here the end of all process and all evolution is already given. Omega already exists and is operative at the core of all being. Teilhard says it radictes from one centre to all centres personally. In other words, the whole dynamic evolution of the world is the result of the attractive force of the Omega point who is God Himself supporting, energizing, and working in this whole process. He is present and working in the world according to the principles of complexification and convergence.

- To Be Continued - © Copyright Shalom 2006. All rights reserved.