Continuing with the series of sermons on theologians I have moved from Diana Eck who believed in a theology of pluralism, to John Wesley who developed a theology of perfectibility, to the theologian for August 29th; Teilhard de Chardin.
Why I would choose to do a sermon series on theologians? It is my belief that the church has, as one of its most important functions, a theological task. The church is a place where we are encouraged to think theologically. That is, the church is a place where we are to take our personal struggles and celebrations and put them in a perspective of something ultimate. We are to ask the question, "What am I doing with the life I have been given and how does that line up with issues related to what I experience with God.
Theologians each have a unique perspective that they bring. Some of them we can understand easily and others are more difficult to grasp. Every one of us is a theologian. We have an idea of what God is and how God relates to us and to our world.
Teilhard de Chardin was a French Catholic paleontologist and theologian. His ideas were so radical that his church refused to let him teach or to publish his books. He spent his life searching for the orgins of civilization and was one who discovered Peking Man; a major archaeological discovery in China.
What I appreciate about Teilhard is the way in which he is able to look at the world and to find God. Alternatively, he is able to envision God and that allows him to see the world in a whole new way.
For those who are not familiar with Teilhard I think you will enjoy his theology. For those who already know something about him I invite you to share your insights with me. He believed "there is a process alive in the universe. There is something in the world that is calling us to respond. That something is God."
I look forward to hearing from you. Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the "comments" box below.
Charles Schuster
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