More of one thing leads to another

More of one thing leads to another was demonstrated this morning while reading

The Method of Nature

An Oration delivered before the Society of the Adelphi, 
in Waterville College, Maine, August 11, 1841

by R.W. Emerson

we came across the word inchoation

The method of nature: who could ever analyze it? That rushing stream will not stop to be observed. We can never surprise nature in a corner; never find the end of a thread; never tell where to set the first stone. The bird hastens to lay her egg: the egg hastens to be a bird. The wholeness we admire in the order of the world, is the result of infinite distribution. Its smoothness is the smoothness of the pitch of the cataract. Its permanence is a perpetual inchoation. Every natural fact is an emanation, and that from which it emanates is an emanation also, and from every emanation is a new emanation. If anything could stand still, it would be crushed and dissipated by the torrent it resisted, and if it were a mind, would be crazed; as insane persons are those who hold fast to one thought, and do not flow with the course of nature. Not the cause, but an ever novel effect, nature descends always from above. It is unbroken obedience. The beauty of these fair objects is imported into them from a metaphysical and eternal spring. In all animal and vegetable forms, the physiologist concedes that no chemistry, no mechanics, can account for the facts, but a mysterious principle of life must be assumed, which not only inhabits the organ, but makes the organ.

and knowing from the context that inchoate can't possibly have any meaning we look up inchoation and find a caution about the age of the definition and the age of the source of the definition

Quick definitions (inchoation)

(n.) Act of beginning; commencement; inception.

(This definition is from the 1913 Webster's Dictionary and may be outdated.)

And, of course who can ignore such cautions, so we are led to,

inchoation : Webster's 1828 Dictionary

which is nearer the year of Emerson's address and very likely his reference.  And, what do we find but

Webster's 1828 Dictionary, Electronic Version by Christian Technologies, Inc.

where from the tone of the other books available from Christian Technologies I would doubt that the folks at CTI would be much in line with me or dear old RWE in terms of theology, but I would bet my bottom dollar that CTI claims American culture as Christian in origin.  In fact we find on the page titled The American Student's Package on CD a note at the bottom of the page

*American Quotations includes a comprehensive compilation of nearly 4,000 quotations throughout American history from Presidents and historical figures plus biographies, all based on the US Christian heritage; passages and phrases influencing early and modern American history, referenced according to their sources in literature, memoirs, letters, governmental documents, speeches, charters, court decision and constitutions.

which if it doesn't give the game away certainly begins to make my speculations more solid, eh?  When will these dunderheads realize that Jefferson, Franklin, Emerson, Parker and scores of others were Christians whose theology would mystify if not totally appall the modern American Fundamentalist Christian?

Recently we saw the movie Kingdom of Heaven, and it wouldn't seem to me to be much of a stretch to me to give a sound Biblical basis to a line from the movie, where Balian hammers home the point about the supremacy of religious tolerance when he hands over the Holy City to Saladin, he tells his followers

God is in your head and your heart, not in any particular place.

And, we might logically add not in any particular book. It would seem easy to me to use no more than

Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

and one of the last verses of Matthew

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

to give Balian's line a Biblical basis.   As we mentioned yesterday, the only unforgivable sin Jesus spoke of

Matthew 12:31,32 And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

was to deny the presence or power of the Holy Spirit. So it would seem to me that the only dispute would be the manner in which I choose to see that power and presence expressed and the mode of my connection to it. But, then what do I know, the RC church excommunicated the likes of me a long time ago.

Jesus remains to my mind one of the best kept secrets of the Bible and the most unknown figure of Christianity.  And, America's Christian heritage remains the best kept secret of American history.  A little more reading of American history wouldn't hurt anyone, and a good deal more reading of Emerson and Jefferson would be of great benefit to the "Christian Heritage of America" crowd, they just might realize that they are not in the same room with these folks.  Or, Praise God!, they just might become Christian Deists, or Christian Transcendentalists, or, wonder of wonders, Christians tolerant and accepting of another view of the world.  For a good take on the simplified view of life try "A Little Knowledge" from our friends at Outer Life.

Read more Emerson!

Who knows one thing might lead to another for you too.