The Heart of Matter

by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

The final volume of Teilhard's collected essays, containing two texts of key importance published for the first time: "The Heart of Matter" and "The Christic." Foreword by N. M. Wildiers; Index. Translated by René Hague. A Helen and Kurt Wolff Book

Genres: Philosophy, Science, Spirituality, Religion, Theology, Christianity, Nonfiction

280 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin was a visionary French Jesuit, paleontologist, biologist, and philosopher, who spent the bulk of his life trying to integrate religious experience with natural science, most specifically Christian theology with theories of evolution. In this endeavor he became enthralled with the possibilities for humankind, which he saw as heading for an exciting convergence of systems, an "Omega point" where the coalescence of consciousness will lead us to a new state of peace and planetary unity. Long before ecology was fashionable, he saw this unity as being based intrinsically upon the spirit of the Earth. Studied in England. Traveled to numerous countries, including China, as missionary.

Died in New York City on Easter 1955

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have wanted to tackle this book since reading The Jesuit and the Skull. A worthy book. Brilliant and poetic. 4 stars only because the first part, The Heart of Matter, was dense (but fascinating). I didn’t completely understand it, but it was a start. Teilhard’s Hymn to Matter and The Mass on the World are beautiful!

[Aran Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Good Introduction to an Abstruse System

The Heart of Matter is mostly Father De Chardin’s autobiographical writings on the origins of his spiritual/philosophic system. Notoriously difficult to understand, with its neologisms and abstract concepts, these reflections on his intellectual genesis are actually a good starting point for the neophyte to De Chardin’s thought.

Succinctly, De Chardin saw the cosmos evolving towards a consummation point in Christ. Thus, from the origins of the solar system, to the origin of life, to the origin of consciousness in human reflection the cosmos is moving directionally towards what Christians have historically called the consummation of all things in Christ.

He sought to unite this vision with a spirituality that saw God in the world and turned the Christian’s focus away from the traditional denigration of the body. He wanted to unite the ascetic tradition in Christianity with a love of matter, a vision of a scientifically understood universe with the revelation of the New Testament, all giving birth to a renewed and transformed version of Christianity.

How accurate was Teilhard’s vision? That’s best left to the judgment of each reader. Suffice it to say that despite respect for the immense creativity and ambition that Teilhard displays, I find it difficult to perceive in the cosmos an evolution towards a consummation in the man who was crucified under Pontius Pilate some two thousand years ago. But I do recommend this work as a good introduction to the thought and person of one of the most original minds of the twentieth century.

[Bill Pritchard · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just finished "The Heart of the Matter" by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. Perhaps it was my state of mind while working my way through this collection of works, or perhaps I am not ready for the material, but I found it a very challenging read. The material is challenging - This scientist spent much of his life struggling to connect the very separate but obviously connected roads of Science and Religion. And at least for me - this work did not connect the two. But like many works of Philosophy, so much of the effectiveness is the time in one's life one finds a work and their place in it. So perhaps it is not my time nor place..... Oh well... The best parts for me were the letters he wrote to friends to celebrate wedding events. These personal letters do more to expose the heart of de Chardin than his more scholarly works. Enjoy your summer.

[Tyrone_Slothrop (ex-MB) · Rating 4 out of 5]

quando il pensiero non ha paura

un libro non facilissimo, da affrontare con calma e tempo: magari in vacanza d'estate in qualche valle alpina per entrare nello spirito dell'autore... grande ammirazione per il coraggio di un uomo di chiesa (finchè glielo hanno permesso) ad avventurarsi su sentieri del pensiero che portano molto lontano. Per chi non ama le idee scritte sulla pietra e non ha paura di mettere in discussione i propri (pre-)giudizi

[Leonardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

No es tan complicado como dicen algunos. No es sencillo tampoco. Habla de cosas sencillas pero de forma complicada.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Teilhard

[Ephrem Arcement · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the most extraordinary writing I’ve ever read with some of the most pregnant ideas that have the power to alter the way we perceive reality.

[Philip Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A personal journey of the author thinking.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mind expanding. Difficult, but interesting

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the finest minds of the 20th Century. A formative book for
me @ age 16.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dense and very Catholic. Beneath all that is quite a compelling proposal on the teleology of the universe and our place in it.