A Divine Milieu for a Naufrage: Teilhard’s Sacred Ontology as Spirituality for the 21st Century in Quebec and Other Secular Societies Diane Wood A Thesis in The Department of Theological Studies Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Master of Arts (Theological Studies) at Concordia University Montreal, Quebec, Canada July 2018 © Diane Wood, 2018 CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY School of Graduate Studies This is to certify that the thesis prepared By: Diane Wood Entitled: A Divine Milieu for a Naufrage: Teilhard’s Sacred Ontology as Spirituality for the 21st Century in Quebec and Other Societies and submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Theological Studies) complies with the regulations of the University and meets the accepted standards with respect to originality and quality. Signed by the final Examining Committee: _______________________________ Chair Dr. Marie-France Dion _______________________________ Examiner Dr. Christine Jamieson _______________________________ Examiner Dr. Jean-Michel Roessli _______________________________ Supervisor Dr. Paul Allen Approved by ________________________________________________ Chair of Department or Graduate Program Director _____________ 2018 _____________________________________ Dean of Faculty ABSTRACT A Divine Milieu for a Naufrage: Teilhard’s Sacred Ontology as Spirituality for the 21st Century in Quebec and Other Secular Societies Diane Wood The 21st century sees rising interest in ‘spirituality’ in response to a sense of emptiness in technology-driven, consumer-oriented, secular cultures. Analyzing Teilhard’s writings and current scholars’ research, I argue that his sacred ‘story’ of ongoing creation, a scientific- Christian synthesis, is relevant to today’s global challenges. This evolutionary Christian ontology is based on the belief that all of creation contains the divine spark and that each individual contributes to the increasing complexity and consciousness of the whole, drawn to greater love and union through the transcendent God. Teilhard’s concept of the divinization of human action and his model of differentiating creative union may provide purpose and hope to secular and increasingly pluralistic societies. I use Guillaume Tremblay’s 2014 documentary, L’Heureux naufrage: l’ère du vide d’une société post-chrétienne, as a point of departure to explore the perception of a spiritual void in Quebec, a society that experienced a rapid shift toward secularization in the 1960s. Analysis of the history of the Catholic Church and its ties to the Quiet Revolution, as well as the work of journalists, historians, theologians, sociologists, artists, and filmmakers demonstrates that Teilhard’s ressourcement theology speaks to Quebec’s cultural heritage and its context in the 21st century. Understanding and practice of Teilhard’s ontological thought can be cultivated through culturally appropriate readings, discussion groups, and simple spiritual exercises. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank Louis Savary for welcoming me to his home in Tampa, Florida, to discuss the implications of Teilhard de Chardin’s work for the 21st century. Professor Brian McDonough, Director of the Social Action Office for the Archdiocese of Montreal, gave his time and expertise and loaned me books to get my research started. Brian, a special thank you for connecting me to the seminar on Laudato Si` at l’Université de Montréal. Professor Jean-Michel Roessli, you lit the spark of interest in French ressourcement theology and gave me the gift of visiting and then assisting with your Introduction to Christian Spirituality class: un grand merci. Professor Christine Jamieson, it was in your ethics course that I first had the chance to discuss Teilhard’s possible implications for Quebec’s multi-cultural issues today. Thank you! Thank you to Professor Marie Campbell, for discussing my research plans, for giving me many books and for cheering me on. Professor Sara Terreault, an enormous thank you for listening, for inviting me to visit your classes, and encouraging my work in Ignatian Spirituality. I owe gratitude to my spiritual director, my supervisor, and friends at the Ignatian Spirituality Centre of Montreal for understanding, enthusiasm for my thesis, and prayers. To my fellow graduate students, especially Robin Stanford, thanks for your serious support and sense of humor that sustained me on this journey. Finally, to my supervisor, Professor Paul Allen, thank you for your academic excellence and your steadfast guidance through the long writing process. For James Wood, my husband, who made everything possible, and for my children and grandchildren in hope that the world you live in will become more loving and globally conscious. iv “Some day, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides, and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, humanity will have discovered fire.” -Pierre Teilhard de Chardin « Gens du pays, c’est votre tour de vous laisser parler d’amour. » -Gilles Vigneault v Table of Contents Abbreviations of Works by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin ............................................................................... ix Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1 0.1. The Question ................................................................................................................................. 1 0.2. How I Came to the Question ......................................................................................................... 3 0.3. Qualifications to Pursue this Topic ............................................................................................... 5 0.4. Methodology ................................................................................................................................. 6 0.5. Overview ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Chapter One ................................................................................................................................................ 14 21st Century Challenges: The Search for Spirituality ................................................................................... 14 1.1. Defining our Secular Society: ........................................................................................................... 14 1.2. Insights from Charles Taylor’s A Secular Age ................................................................................... 16 1.3. 21st Century Global Challenges ...................................................................................................... 19 Spiritual Seeking .................................................................................................................................. 19 Global Challenges ................................................................................................................................ 22 Globalism, Multiculturalism, Migration .............................................................................................. 23 Technology and Challenges................................................................................................................. 26 The Environment ................................................................................................................................. 27 1.4. Seeking A New Story ........................................................................................................................ 30 1.5. Teihard’s Sacred Ontology: Place, Purpose, Connection, Hope ...................................................... 34 Chapter Two: Teilhard’s Sacred Ontology .................................................................................................. 38 2.1. Development of Teilhard’s Ontology: Influences and Experiences ................................................. 38 Ignatian Spiritual Training ................................................................................................................... 38 Bergson ............................................................................................................................................... 41 Blondel ................................................................................................................................................ 43 World War I ......................................................................................................................................... 43 Exile in China ....................................................................................................................................... 46 2.2. Teilhard’s Synthesis of Science and Religion ................................................................................... 46 The Human Phenomenon ................................................................................................................... 47 2.3. Sin and Redemption ......................................................................................................................... 52 2.4. Toward the Omega Point ................................................................................................................. 55 2.5. The Divine Milieu, the Cosmic Christ ..............................................................................................