Michel Henry and the Prospect of a Christian Spiritual Inactivism. Issue 1 (May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nemes, Steven
• Is Part Of: Journal of spiritual formation and soul care. Volume 15:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 92
• Page End: 114
• Publication Date: 2022-05
• Subjects: Michel Henry -- Joseph Rivera -- Richard Kearney -- phenomenology -- spiritual inactivism; Spiritual formation -- Periodicals; Pastoral theology -- Periodicals; 248.405
• DOI: 10.1177/19397909211036144
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1939-7909

Abstract

Christian spirituality is often "activist." It consists in the performance of various actions through which a faithful person attempts to secure the presence of God. The argument of the present essay is that spiritual "activism" cannot actually accomplish this goal. For this reason, it is necessary to seek a foundation for all spiritual activism in spiritual "inactivism." This means that all Christian spiritual activity must be reconceived as a response to and celebration of a prior presence of God that comes before any performance. The phenomenological philosophy of Michel Henry makes it possible to appreciate how God is so present in the very fact of being alive. This can make the whole of Christian spiritual practice a Eucharist—a perpetual thanksgiving.