Traces of Transcendence

The Heart of the Spiritual Quest

Duncan S. Ferguson

• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Year: 2022
• Print ISBN: 9781666735987, 9781666793727
• eBook ISBN: 9781666793734
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Theology

The author, Duncan Ferguson, draws upon his years as chaplain and professor in university settings, where seeking answers to hard and perplexing questions are the order of the day. One that continually surfaces is whether there is any evidence of divine transcendence in the natural world, in history, or in the human experience. Is there a God who might provide universal values, guidance to those seeking solutions to the overwhelming problems we face, and a measure of inner peace for troubled souls? This question is considered one of the most difficult to answer in a definitive way, and in a university setting, it is often answered by a clear no or simple neglect in that the question is not generally viewed as within the domain of the goals of the university. Dr. Ferguson believes that it is, and that it should be explored by our best minds in our universities and indeed the best minds in the world, by those with game-changing power, and by committed and compassionate seekers. It is especially not the exclusive domain of cultic preachers. He explores what might be interpreted as evidence of a divine Transcendence, looking within the natural world, human history, the history of religious thought in the great religions, and the need for divine guidance as the human family faces the critical crisis of the survival of planet Earth. Universal values, compassion, justice, and peace, often rooted in the great religious traditions, should guide us.

1

Introduction

The Quest for Wholeness and the Rise of Religion

Definitions and Goals

I want to explore ways to undergird and more fully understand one’s belief in God or some other form of transcendence for two primary reasons. The first reason is to find and provide a measure of assurance that the universe has order and purpose and that it is unfolding in a cosmic evolutionary pattern.1 In general it has an internal logic and consistency, although there are pieces and parts that seem random and uncoordinated. Not all will sense a need for this assurance or even believe that it is attainable. But I gain some peace of mind believing that I live my life in a universe that has order and purpose, guided by transcendence, either a divine creator or orderly powers and principles, or both working in harmony. The second reason is to provide guidance to human beings who believe their creator and sustainer, a personal Transcendence, gives their lives meaning and direction and leads them to maturity, inner peace, and wholeness and health. I want us to find our way in the grand scheme of things, and if we discern where we fit in the grand scheme, we will be better able to discern our way in the local situation in which we abide and struggle. We may even survive global warming.

One might ask whether this inquiry is really necessary, and I do acknowledge that it may not be of great value to many people. Food on the table, a glass of wine for dinner, and the children safe in bed may be enough, and in some cases even almost too much. Many people have enough to ponder and worry about in their day-to-day lives, especially at this moment in which I write. I suspect that most of us hope that someone else—perhaps religious leaders, scholars, and scientists—will find some answers to the larger question of where the universe and its small planet called Earth are going and how we might get on course in this direction.

I have come to the tentative conclusion, called faith, that if the question is answered truthfully and wisely, it will help us find our way and give us a spiritual pathway in these extraordinarily troubled times. We do need meaning in life and guidance to live out this meaning! If we begin to understand how we fit into the larger scheme of the universe and learn from others who have gone before us, we may be able to discern principles, values, and goals that will save us from what appears to be a disaster, the reality that we are living in ways that harm our home, Earth. We hope to point to ways that help us contribute to creating a more safe, just, and humane world.

The word transcendence has several shades of meaning, and I want more closely to define how we will be using the term. We define Transcendence2 as that which creates, stands behind, and, while allowing freedom, guides the flow, patterns, and direction of all of reality. If such a transcendent being exists and we begin to discern the divine intentions of the Transcendent One, we will better understand how to participate in guiding the future of the earth and the place of humankind in this sacred endeavor. This concern often turns toward religion, which takes many forms. I do not want to exclude any of them, but I will tend to use the word transcendence primarily as it is understood in the Abrahamic monotheistic religions. It refers to the God who is Love, Truth (Light), and Spirit. Our quest is to get in touch with this personal God who is Love, Truth, and Spirit (omnipresent like the wind), the one that stands behind it all, is engaged with the ebb and flow of all that exists, and invites humankind to connect and link in spiritual and religious ways.

In traditional Christian theology, the word transcendence is often placed side by side and in slight contrast to immanence, with one family of theological persuasion stressing the God who stands behind it all and represents the mystery and the otherness of God, whereas immanence describes God as discernable in our day-to-day life, as one who is close, engaged, and accessible.

A brief definition of religion in this context is the beliefs and practices that sustain and advance this connection. Generally, a religion has four interwoven dimensions:

1.It has a creed or set of beliefs about ultimate reality.

2.It has a code or a pattern of ethics for the believers to follow.

3.It has a community, a way of gathering together around common beliefs and practices for growth and support.

4.It has a culture, linked to its founding, which expresses its beliefs and practices in a particular time and setting.

We will also use the word transcendence in a more generic sense to describe those traces that point to ultimate reality or the way things work in a philosophical and scientific inquiry and understanding. My view is that the two pathways, Transcendence and transcendence, need to integrate, collaborate, and when appropriate include the concept of God’s immanence. We need both ultimate meaning and rational and scientific understanding as we seek to clarify our values and heal the earth. I might also mention that on occasion the word transcendence may point to preunderstanding, the mindset or prior assumptions we bring to our ways of knowing. As Kant so persuasively argued, we receive knowledge with an outlook that shapes our understanding, that gives it descriptions and meaning that come from within us more than from what we are experiencing or observing.

My aim then in this writing is to gain a better understanding of the human quest for a spiritual center, rooted in transcendence (t & T), one that gives peace of mind, values to guide life, practices that lead to wholeness as a person, and inspiration to serve the common good. I have been on such a quest and have studied many pathways with varying definitions of transcendence and Transcendence that guide one toward wholeness and responsible service. One of my goals in this quest has been to understand with some empathy the many narratives of the human family that suggest a definition of Transcendence, ones that articulate an outlook and way to become a mature and fulfilled human being with a commitment to a life of integrity, compassion, and the quest for justice.

It is been part of my professional responsibility as a teacher in religious studies as well as an honest seeker to study these many views of transcendence and Transcendence that point to spiritual pathways that lead to a good life. I have noted those characteristics that are life-giving, and conversely, suggested those pathways that have elements that are harmful and life-denying.3 I have been careful to articulate these characteristics, both positive and negative, within the framework of belief systems and the context in which they are manifested. Of course, those that possess these patterns of belief and action have an ever-changing setting with a character and quality that modifies their outlook and guides them in their response to their environment. Cognizant of these constantly changing outlooks, I use the following categories:

Life-Giving Characteristics of Spiritual Pathways:

1.The spiritual pathway empowers the person or the group to believe in common goals and practice constructive ways that lead to love, compassion, understanding, and acceptance of those with different guiding narratives.

2.The spiritual pathway guides the person or group to be socially responsible and concerned about creating a more just and humane world.

3.The spiritual pathway is intellectually credible and encourages the person or the group to be open and responsive to new ideas and challenges. It encourages the quest to find, live, and speak the truth.

4.The spiritual pathway helps the individual to flourish and integrate the beliefs and practices into a life of coherence, conviction, serenity, integrity, and service.

5.The spiritual pathway offers guidance and practices that sustain the individual and group in times of difficulty and challenge.

Life-Denying Characteristics of Spiritual Pathways:

1.The spiritual pathway is sectarian and closed to other religious traditions and points of view. It is cultic, tribal, judgmental, and exclusive.

2.The spiritual pathway is overly ideological in character and suspicious of those whose religious beliefs and practices are unlike their own. It is intolerant of difference, it does not account for new ways of understanding reality, and it often lacks intellectual credibility.

3.The spiritual pathway tends to confine and control the individuals within the group and asks for blind obedience. It does not liberate, but imprisons.

4.The spiritual pathway is filled with zealotry about its way and is inclined to force its way on others, even violently. Often the ends tend to justify the means as religious faith is captured by political ideology.

5.The spiritual pathway inculcates fear, mistrust, and intolerance and does not reflect the positive values of personal transformation, compassion, justice, and peace.

It has also been a personal quest to find a way that is filled with life-giving qualities and has few if a...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Preface
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Section One: Ways of Understanding Transcendence in the Premodern World
• Section Two: The Modern Quest to Understand and Connect with Transcendence
• Section Three: The Current Practices of Spirituality
• Bibliography