the unending conversation
Twentieth century American intellectual Kenneth Burke on history, as quoted by Marcus Borg in context of how Christians encounter received traditions in the midst of their own historical context:
"Where does the drama of history get its material? From the 'unending conversation' that is going on at the point in history when we are born. Imagine that you enter a parlor. You come late. When you arrive, others have long preceded you, and they are engaged in a heated discussion, a discussion too heated for them to pause and tell you exactly what it is about. In fact, the discussion had already begun long before any of them got there, so that no one present is qualified to retrace for you all the steps that had gone before. You listen for a while; then you put in your oar. Someone answers; you answer him; another comes to your defense; another aligns himself against you, to either the embarrassment or gratification of your opponent, depending upon the quality of your ally's assistance. However, the discussion is interminable. The hour grows late, you must depart. And you do depart, with the discussion still vigorously in progress."
I love this image of the human community over time. We are all part of the communion of saints, a community that started long before us and will end long after our journey on Earth is complete. Really understanding this in the context of Christian faith requires accepting that our knowledge is always partial. There is a Story, and we are part of that Story -- but we'll never know the whole Story.
* Burke quoted in Marcus Borg, The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a Life of Faith (HarperOne, 2003), pp. 19-20.
"Where does the drama of history get its material? From the 'unending conversation' that is going on at the point in history when we are born. Imagine that you enter a parlor. You come late. When you arrive, others have long preceded you, and they are engaged in a heated discussion, a discussion too heated for them to pause and tell you exactly what it is about. In fact, the discussion had already begun long before any of them got there, so that no one present is qualified to retrace for you all the steps that had gone before. You listen for a while; then you put in your oar. Someone answers; you answer him; another comes to your defense; another aligns himself against you, to either the embarrassment or gratification of your opponent, depending upon the quality of your ally's assistance. However, the discussion is interminable. The hour grows late, you must depart. And you do depart, with the discussion still vigorously in progress."
I love this image of the human community over time. We are all part of the communion of saints, a community that started long before us and will end long after our journey on Earth is complete. Really understanding this in the context of Christian faith requires accepting that our knowledge is always partial. There is a Story, and we are part of that Story -- but we'll never know the whole Story.
* Burke quoted in Marcus Borg, The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a Life of Faith (HarperOne, 2003), pp. 19-20.
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