Convergence

By Walt Marston

(In the context of conversation within our Quaker community)

This is a word that can be used in many ways and may be misunderstood in today’s religious contexts. It is related to emergence and post-modernism. Let’s start with post-modernism. What is that? Some people see this negatively as a pluralistic, relativistic (anyone’s truth is just as valid as anyone else’s) fad or trend. Some who see it this way also suggest the dangers of syncretism – that by embracing all religions as equally valid, or by trying to incorporate too many elements of different religions into our own, we are watering down our religion, making it less meaningful.

This is not what post-modernism (and emergence/convergence) is all about. Post-modernism in the most positive sense is based on a realization that our relationship to God and each other is a dynamic one. Modernism represents very linear, Newtonian, systems with rigid structures; and the modern church, even as it often preaches against the evils of secular modernism, is in itself a modern institution and its structures and belief systems reflect that of the prevailing culture (Think of the modern marketing strategies employed by so many churches to grow their numbers and expand their influence). Even though we’re moving into a post-modern era, we’re not far into it yet, so most of our institutions (especially churches) are still stuck in paradigms of modernism.

The modern era has predominated for over three centuries but peaked with great intensity in the late 20th Century. An important characteristic of modernism is “objectivism.” I like the following description: “The Newtonian worldview has it that there is one right or best answer to our problems and that everything can be objectively determined.” (Dialogue, Linda Ellinor and Glenna Gerard, Page 52)

An illustration of this comes to mind in reflecting upon “The Fog of War,” a recent documentary in which Robert McNamara reflects upon his role in the cold war era, and particularly the “hot” war in Vietnam. To me it is striking that an individual (a business and systems whiz kid) is recruited to develop an objective strategy that should have every action and consequence so accurately planned and predicted that it cannot fail – that there is an objective solution to winning a war, or achieving any objective. The fallacies and limitations of this “modern” thinking are so vividly portrayed in this film, even though it seems that in his 80’s McNamara is saddened by his failure, but still convinced that “rationality” is the answer to any problem.

Post-modernism is a new era in world society – shifting from the straight lines and rigid structures of the modern era to a more dynamic interactive view of the nature of things, based on relationship.

Post modernism in a religious or spiritual sense is attempting to move closer to a relational and dynamic understanding of God and our relationships to one another. In many ways, Quakerism has always been post-modern (or in some respects pre-modern). The so-called “emergent” movement or conversation is actually moving closer to our Quaker way of seeing things.

Post-modern and “emergence” go together. Emergence does not discard the older Newtonian systems altogether, but builds on them, emerging into a more expansive understanding based on relationships rather than on structures.

Likewise, the so-called emergent churches are not totally rejecting the modern church of their youth, but rather emerging into something better based on relationships (not just structures and linearity – old notions of cause and effect).

Convergence is something that can only come after a period of emergence from within various groups (a dialogic process involving a period of divergence, listening to one another’s differences, and finding common frameworks of understanding).

Then, there comes realization of shared truths and a convergence on a higher level (some would say a mystical level) based on a greatly enhanced understanding of shared values. This does not mean syncretism or dilution of one’s beliefs but rather a convergence of spirit in those matters that are most important.

My experience as an ecumenical-minded Quaker has been one of encouraging and honoring the emergence of greater understanding and relationships from within many faith traditions, followed by a convergence of important viewpoints on a higher spiritual level across traditions. Even as I use the words “followed by” I am reminded that this is not a linear process. Emergence and convergence are occurring cyclically and sometimes concurrently (Teilhard de Chardin’s spiral toward Christ?) as we become more aware in our relationships with God and each other. This is very gratifying when it occurs, an emerging grace. It is a continuous process, though, forged in relationship resulting from conversation and dialogue across boundaries that we might never have imagined could be crossed.

For me, convergence is not a place that I have reached or a state that I have attained, but rather something that I am always seeking – emerging and converging on multiple levels, but never forgetting or forsaking the foundations of my faith, the beginnings of my journey, and points along the way.

This is the glorious and remarkable way the Spirit is working in the post-modern era.