When Bob Goudzwaard and Craig Bartholomew speak of transcendence in Beyond the Modern Age, they are referring to the need for a source of meaning, purpose, and value that goes beyond the purely immanent or material realm. For them, transcendence is not about escaping the world or relying on abstract metaphysical ideas but about reconnecting with a sense of the divine, ultimate truth, or moral grounding that can provide a deeper foundation for life, culture, and society.
What Do They Mean by Transcendence?
1. Transcendence as Beyond the Secular:
• They critique modernity’s radical secularization, which often reduces meaning to human-centered concerns (anthropocentrism) or material progress. Transcendence, in their view, involves recovering a connection to a higher order, often through a theistic worldview, particularly Christian faith.
2. Moral and Ethical Grounding:
• Transcendence provides a foundation for moral and ethical values that go beyond relativistic or utilitarian frameworks. It calls for a vision of human flourishing and justice that transcends individual or societal self-interest.
3. Relational and Embodied:
• For Goudzwaard and Bartholomew, transcendence is not abstract or distant. It is relational, rooted in a connection to God, creation, and others. It is deeply embedded in practices like stewardship, solidarity, and care for the environment.
4. Hope and Redemption:
• Transcendence offers hope in the face of modernity’s crises. It invites people to imagine and work toward a world grounded in peace, justice, and sustainability, rather than being trapped in the despair or nihilism often associated with secular modernity.
Is Transcendence “Bankrupt”?
The critique that transcendence is bankrupt is common in modern and postmodern thought, but Goudzwaard and Bartholomew argue against this view. They acknowledge the widespread disenchantment of the modern world, but they believe that the rejection of transcendence has contributed to many of the crises we face today. Here’s how they address this skepticism:
1. The Loss of Transcendence in Modernity:
• They argue that modernity’s rejection of transcendence (e.g., through secularism and materialism) has led to a crisis of meaning, moral relativism, and ecological destruction.
• By focusing solely on immanent concerns (e.g., economic growth, technological progress), modernity has failed to provide a compelling vision of human flourishing.
2. The Persistence of the Sacred:
• While secular thinkers like Nietzsche, Freud, and Marx have critiqued transcendence as illusory or obsolete, Goudzwaard and Bartholomew suggest that the human longing for meaning and purpose persists. Even secular ideologies, they argue, often create “substitutes” for transcendence, such as nationalism, consumerism, or political ideologies.
3. Transcendence as a Rediscovery:
• Rather than seeing transcendence as bankrupt, they propose that it needs to be rediscovered and rearticulated in a way that is relevant to contemporary challenges. For them, transcendence offers a counterbalance to modernity’s excesses, such as individualism, consumerism, and environmental exploitation.
4. Failure of Pure Immanence:
• They argue that purely immanent approaches (e.g., materialism or secular humanism) often fail to address the deeper existential and ethical crises of modernity. Transcendence, they claim, provides the moral vision and hope necessary to move beyond these limitations.
Alternative to “Bankrupt Transcendence”
While traditional notions of transcendence have been critiqued, Goudzwaard and Bartholomew suggest a reimagined transcendence that is:
1. Holistic: Integrating spiritual, moral, and ecological dimensions rather than being confined to metaphysical abstraction.
2. Immanent-Transcendent Relationship: A transcendence that is engaged with the world, fostering care for creation and community rather than detachment or escapism.
3. Practical and Ethical: Focused on lived practices, such as stewardship, justice, and solidarity, that embody transcendence in everyday life.
Why Transcendence Matters Today
For Goudzwaard and Bartholomew, transcendence is not a relic of the past but a necessary component of addressing the crises of modernity. They argue that:
1. Ecological Crisis Requires a Transcendent Perspective:
• Stewardship and care for the Earth require viewing nature as more than a resource for human consumption. A transcendent view restores the sacredness of creation.
2. Ethics Needs a Transcendent Anchor:
• Without a transcendent grounding, ethics can devolve into relativism or self-interest, failing to address systemic injustices or long-term sustainability.
3. Hope in the Face of Nihilism:
• In a world marked by fragmentation and despair, transcendence offers a vision of hope and purpose that transcends the limitations of material progress and individualism.
Conclusion: A Balanced View of Transcendence
While critiques of transcendence as “bankrupt” reflect valid concerns about outdated or oppressive religious frameworks, Goudzwaard and Bartholomew argue for a renewed understanding of transcendence as vital for addressing the crises of modernity. For them, transcendence is not about rejecting the world but about grounding human action in a deeper moral and spiritual vision that can inspire justice, sustainability, and hope. Rather than being obsolete, they see transcendence as a forgotten resource that must be rediscovered for the sake of a flourishing future.
