Awakenings occur when society’s old institutions break down:
the First Awakening (1730-1760) in North America
ended European forms of religion
and ushered in Protestant Evangelicalism
the Second Awakening (1800-1830)
ended Calvinist dominance of theology
the Third Awakening (1890 – 1920) had two parts:
the social gospel and Pentecostalism
the Fourth Awakening (1962-1965)
was the Second Vatican Council
the Fifth Great Awakening has been happening
since the 1970s thru the new science
which does not prove or disprove the existence of God
nor does it contradict the basic beliefs of our faith
what the believer looks for in science is not proof
but a more accurate understanding of reality
The Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra showed how
outstanding scientists shocked by
relativity and quantum theory
turned to Eastern mysticism to understand reality
and Carl Jung’s belief that all humans
are communally connected and interdependent
led to his theory of the Collective Unconscious
which fit well with the quantum universe
and Jesus, like mystics everywhere, was a unitive thinker
who talked about his unity with the poor:
“To the extent you took care of one of these
sisters and brothers of mine, even the least of them,
you did it to me”
– Matthew 25: 31-46
to love Christ is to take care of the most needy –
that is why ministers of the gospel, as Henri Nouwen put it
must be “wounded healers”
or they cannot enter authentically into the suffering
of a dislocated world/
a rootless generation/
a dying person
unless they have experienced the awakening of suffering
in their own heart.
Intelligent Christian Spirituality 