We proceed into looking at Part II: The Turning Point, as Charles Taylor outlines deism as a hinge point between classic Christianity and exclusive humanism.

In this episode we look at the 4 anthropocentric shifts Taylor outlines that characterise the shift to providential deism:

i) the eclipse of higher purpose than human flourishing in the here and now

ii) the eclipse of grace and intervention of God in daily life

iii) the eclipse of mystery and reduction of the world to a knowable closed unit

iv) the eclipse of the goal of human transformation/deification in this life

Taylor says of this line of Christianity that "it barely involved the saving action of Christ, nor did it dwell on the life of devotion and prayer, although the 17th century was rich in this. The argument turned exclusively on demonstrating God as reator, and showing his Providence" (p 225).

References:

-Pages of A Secular Age, Charles Taylor: (221-225)

Website:

https://sites.google.com/contemplatingculture

In our second episode with Bishop Mark Edwards OMI, we explore the role of a missionary within a culture.

Matteo Ricci SJ provides the example of taking Christianity into China, where he offers us three key guides for this kind of mission: i) befriend the people, ii) disentangle faith from your own culture so that you can inculturate into the new culture, and iii) seek to be authentic to your faith and to the culture you are living in.

Plenty of thought-provoking questions in this one.

Reflection:

-How do I feel about living in the culture and times that I do?

-What do I understand the missionary task to be in today's world?

References:

-'A Catholic Modernity', Charles Taylor (https://ecommons.udayton.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1009&context=uscc_marianist_award)

-'A Catholic Modernity: 25 Years On', Charles Taylor (https://www.aup-online.com/content/journals/10.5117/NTT2021.3/4.009.TAYL)

-'Matteo Ricci, Missionary of Inculturation', Jesuits Communication Office (https://www.jesuits.global/2022/12/19/matteo-ricci-missionary-of-inculturation/) -'Matteo Ricci: Shaped by the Chinese', Nicolas Standaert (https://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/20100521_1.htm)

In this very special episode of Contemplating Culture, Bishop Mark Edwards from Wagga Wagga Diocese in regional New South Wales joins us as we review Part I: The Work of Reform.

We look at key learnings, themes that stick out to us, and try and hold together the overarching story of the road travelled with Charles Taylor to date.

Reflection:

-Why did I begin listening to this podcast?

-What episodes have stuck out to me so far? Why?

-email us at: contemplatingculture@gmail.com

References:

-A Secular Age, Charles Taylor: (1-218)