America’s Teilhard: Christ And Hope In The 1960s

Description

The period from 1959–1972 was the crucial years during which the French priest, paleontologist, and writer Pierre Teilhard de Chardin's writing and thought significantly impacted the spiritual thought of the United States. During this time his writings first became available in North America; indeed, over five hundred works concerning him were published in the US during these years. America's Teilhard: Christ and Hope in the 1960s is a study of the reception of Teilhard in the United States during this period and contributes to an awareness of the thought of this important figure and the impact of his work. Additionally, it further develops an understanding of U.S. Catholicism in all its dimensions during these years, and provides clues as to how it has unfolded over the past several decades. Susan Sack argues that the manner and intensity of the reception of Teilhard's thought happened as it did at this point in history because of the confluence of the then developing social milieu, the disintegration of the immigrant Catholic subculture, and the opening of the church to the world through Vatican II. Additionally, as these social and historical events unfolded within U.S. culture during these years, the way Teilhard was read, and the contributions which his thought provided changed. This book considers his work as a carrier at times for an almost Americanist emphasis upon progress, energy and hope; in other years his teleological understanding of the value of suffering moves to center. Additionally, the stories of numerous persons – scientists, theologians, politicians, and scholars – who became involved in the American Teilhardian effort are detailed. Finally America's Teilhard notes that in the end, it has been Teilhard's attempts to leap the interstice between the secular and the sacred, particularly in terms of Christology, that remain of value today. It is those which most had, and which continue to have impact upon U.S. Catholic theology. Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Introduction......Page 14 A Short Biography of Teilhard......Page 16 Teilhard’s Christological Vision......Page 31 The Following Chapters......Page 36 The Threshold of Change: 1955–1960......Page 40 1. The Move across the Atlantic......Page 42 Publications in Europe......Page 43 The Cultural Milieu of the Late 1950s......Page 44 The American Reception of Teilhard: 1955–1960......Page 57 Final Thoughts......Page 68 The Early Years: 1961–1964......Page 72 2. Correspondence and Controversy......Page 74 Early Teilhardian Interest......Page 75 Increasing Controversy and Repercussions......Page 90 The Teilhard Controversy in Europe......Page 92 Controversy concerning an American Teilhard Organization......Page 98 The Monitum and Its Interpretation......Page 101 Final Thoughts......Page 108 3. American Ties and Recovery......Page 110 The Social Context of the United States in the Early 1960s......Page 111 Concerning Americanism......Page 114 The Cultural Situation in the United States......Page 118 Reconciliation and the Recovery of Teilhard......Page 127 Literary Responses to Teilhard......Page 138 Final Thoughts......Page 145 The Years of Hope: 1965–1967......Page 148 4. The Social Context......Page 150 Teilhard’s Influence on Vatican II......Page 151 A Reflection on U.S. Historical Events 1965 through 1967......Page 162 The Formation of the American Teilhard Association......Page 175 Final Thoughts......Page 178 5. The “Death of God”......Page 181 Teilhard, the “Death of God,” and the Secular City......Page 182 Conferences and Symposia......Page 189 Publications by and about Teilhard......Page 192 Final Thoughts......Page 211 The Bitter Years: 1968–1970......Page 214 6. The Social Context......Page 216 Politics and Culture......Page 218 Religious Issues......Page 235 The American Teilhard Association......Page 248 Final Thoughts......Page 258 7. Publications......Page 259 Publications concerning Teilhard’s Christological Vision......Page 261 Teilhard and Henri de Lubac......Page 271 Works in Interdisciplinary Journals......Page 277 Publications concerning the Utilization of Teilhard’s Spirituality......Page 289 Publications of a Secular Nature......Page 295 Final Thoughts......Page 300 Conclusion......Page 304 Appendix: Teilhard Publications Worldwide per Year, 1956–1971......Page 312 Bibliography......Page 314 Index......Page 332