Grand Option, The

Beatrice Bruteau

Description

In The Grand Option, renowned author Beatrice Bruteau advances her healing vision for humankind. This collection of beautifully written essays encourages readers to seek personal transformation based on heightened consciousness and Christian spirituality. Bruteau contends that this transformation will produce a profound sense of personal freedom, thus enabling individuals to commune with the Divine and with each other.

Bruteau’s Trinitarian anthropology brings with it the potential for transforming humanity from a collection of individuals in conflict to a community of wholly developed persons working toward a shared vision. Her message is as compelling as it is concrete. Using the disciplines of philosophy, theology, psychological anthropology, and feminist theory, she interprets New Testament texts in ways that speak to contemporary readers. Bruteau also explores the central Christian symbols of the Imago Dei, the Incarnation, and the Trinity, as well as issues such as global spirituality, transcendent freedom, and contemplative insight.

Sujets

• Philosophie
• Philosophie de la religion
• Psychology of Religion
• Religious
• PHILOSOPHY
• Philosophie et théologie
• Imago Dei
• Image of God
• Spirituality
• New Testament
• Christianity
• Religion
• Divine

Informations

• Publié par: University of Notre Dame Press
• Date de parution: 15 juillet 2001
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780268048723
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

G ran The O ption

d

Personal Transformation and a New Creation

Beatrice Bruteau

The G O rand ption

Gethsemani Studies in Psychological and Religious Anthropology

ernest daniel carrere, o.c.s.o. Series Editor

has been funded through a generous grant by richard c. colton, jr.

Also in the series:

Contemplation in a World of Action

Thomas Merton

Freud and Psychoanalysis W. W. Meissner,s.j., m.d.

The G rand O ption :; Personal Transformation and a New Creation

b e at r i c e b ru t e au

University of Notre Dame Press Notre Dame, Indiana

University of Notre DamePress Notre Dame, Indiana46556฀ www.undpress.nd.edu All Rights Reserved

Copyright © 2001 by University of Notre Dame Published in the United States of America Reprinted in 2007

The chapters of this work originally appeared in the following publications:

Chapter1inCistercian Studies19:151–162(1984). Chapter2inAnima(Spring1977) andCross Currents27:170–182(1977). Chapter3inCross Currents31:273–284(1981). Chapter4inThe Theosophist(Sept.1983), pp.527–533and (Oct.1983), pp.21–25. Chapter5inCistercian Studies22:199–212(1987). Chapter6inAnima(Fall1975). Chapter7inCross Currents35:190–205(1985). Chapter8inCistercian Studies18:42–58(1983). Chapter9inWho Do People Say I Am?(Francis Eigo, ed.) Villanova , Pa.: Villanova University Press,1980.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Bruteau, Beatrice,1930– The grand option : personal transformation and a new creation / Beatrice Bruteau. p. cm. — (Gethsemani studies in psychological and religious anthropology) Includes bibliographical references. isbn 0-268-01041-2฀(alk. paper) — isbn-13: 978-0-268-01042-3(pbk. : alk. paper) — isbn-10: 0-268-01042-0฀(pbk. : alk. paper) — isbn฀13:฀978-0-268-04872-3(web pdf)

1. Spirituality—Catholic Chuch.2. Consciousness—Religious aspects— Catholic Church.3. Human evolution—Religious aspects—Catholic Church. I. Title. II. Series. bx2350.65 .b78 2001 233—dc21 00-012456

∞This book was printed on acid-free paper.

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Contents

editor’s preface

Activating Human Energy for the Grand Option

Neo-Feminism and the Next Revolution in Consciousness

FromDominustoAmicus: Contemplative Insight and a New Social Order

Persons in Communion:Perichoresis

Trinitarian Personhood

The Whole World: A Convergence Perspective

Global Spirituality and the Integration of East and West

The Living One: Transcendent Freedom Creates the Future

Freedom: “If Anyone Is in Christ, That Person Is a New Creation”

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Editor’s Preface

Beatrice Bruteau has been in dialogue with the monks of Geth- semani for over twenty years. With presentations to the community, conferences to our junior professed, and ongoing discussions with various monks, she has been a vitalizing and sapiential presence be- yond her annual visits. Always ahead of her time, Dr. Bruteau is a creative thinker whose integral vision is as powerful and inspiring as it is realistic and con- crete. “A new way of seeing,” Teilhard de Chardin has exclaimed, * “combined with a new way of acting—that is what we need.” This is precisely what we are given inThe Grand Option. Ages ago I urged Dr. Bruteau to gather together in a single vol- ume the talks and essays that had so animated those of us who regu- larly met with her. I’m grateful that other projects intervened, for we now have the opportunity to include these rich contributions in our series. The essays are not only as dynamic and vital as in their first presen- tation, but our world has evolved—both positively and negatively— into readiness for Dr. Bruteau’s convergent perspective and global insight. Positively, the world that has been drawing together through the miracle of cable news for over two decades is now on the verge of realizing Teilhard’s anticipation of an intercommunicating “noosphere” of human reflective energies embracing and “planetizing”

*Activation of Energy,p.295(New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich,1970). vii

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Editor’s Preface

the earth, as both satellite links and the internet profoundly unite us as a global, interconnected, wholistic community. At the same time, it is traumatically evident that a paleolithic tribalism, perhaps more than ever, is brutally rampant throughout our earth. It is precisely this riven world that can most urgently benefit from Dr. Bruteau’s healing vision of communion consciousness transforming us from conflicted and conflicting individuals into open, sharing, interpenetrating per- sons of a new creation. This is a bold possibility whose reality depends on you and me. “I know of scarcely anybody,” Bede Griffiths has said, “who goes to the heart of reality as profoundly as Beatrice Bruteau does.” I con- cur; and for this reasonThe Grand Optionis the third volume of Gethsemani Studies. If earnestly engaged and put into practice, this work of philosophical, theological, and psychological anthropology has the power to initiate a psychic revolution. Gethsemani Studies in Psychological and Religious Anthro- pology is a series of books that explores, through the twin perspec- tives of psychology and religion, the dynamics and depths of being fully human. An integrated or dialogical perspective is always antici- pated in the works; nevertheless, a title favoring the religious stand- point may appear if it bears psychological ramifications, while a title devoted to psychological issues may appear if it is foundational or contributes to the integrated and humanizing dialogue. This dialogue embraces the entire range of dynamic psychology, from Freud and Jung to Kohut and Lacan, with special predilection, perhaps, for the insights of psychoanalytic object relations theory, while the work of Kernberg, Spotnitz, and Searles, to name only three, offers the promise of equal enrichment. Gethsemani Studies would have remained an impossibility with- out the presence of Dick Colton. Dick recognized in the earliest, most speculative discussions that the series represented a worthy pro- ject. His dedicated interest cut through the hesitation that impedes new endeavors, inspiring the involvement of all, while his generous grant underwriting the series enabled Notre Dame and the Abbey of Gethsemani to work concretely toward its realization. Jeff Gainey of the University of Notre Dame Press immediately perceived the potential of such a series and has labored as a wonderful

Editor’s Preface

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colleague to realize its possibilities. Barbara Hanrahan, director of the press, has brought a rich publishing experience as well as a delightful collegiality to our deliberations. It is a pleasure to acknowledge anew Wendy McMillen’s superla- tive book designs. Margaret Gloster’s covers have been extraordinary creations. Ann Bromley and Juanita Dix have contributed magnifi- cent skills; and it has been wonderful to work with and to rely upon the editorial expertise of Rebecca DeBoer, Ann Hoade, and execu- tive editor Ann Rice. No mention of the staff would be complete without acknowledging my appreciation of and indebtedness to both Gina Bixler and Diane Schaut. I especially appreciate the response of Chris Catanzarite, newest member of the staff, to her early reading of the manuscript. Richard and Janita Rawls, as wonderful friends and wise col- leagues, were primary consultants at the threshold of the series who continue to provide faithful counsel. Eleanor Ash bestowed essential help throughout our preparations for this volume, while John Shea was of great assistance at a crucial moment. Clair Mahinske, Paula Mahinske, Theresa Sandok and Brinton Lykes all generously contributed to the project. Most impor- tant, Elsa Kirk was indispensable.