FUNDAMENTAL MERTON/CARDIJN OPTION #3

The concept of the fundamental option in ethics as a way of life is a profoundly significant theory. It emphasizes the basic orientation of an individual’s moral life as a continuous and overarching commitment rather than a series of isolated actions—think of the whole versus the parts. Rooted in Christian theology, it seeks to explain how humans make profound moral decisions that define their relationship with God, other human beings, and ultimate moral direction.

Today, we will examine Thomas Merton more deeply, and next week, we will focus a bit more on Joseph Cardijn and the role of a fundamental option.

But first:

Four Key Features of Fundamental Option Theory

1. Basic Orientation of Life: According to this theory, every person establishes a fundamental direction in life—either towards God, characterized by love and service to others, or away from God, marked by self-love and selfishness.
2. Continuous Process: The essential choice is not a static decision but a dynamic and constant process. It’s not just a one-time action but a series of actions that reflect, affirm, or alter this fundamental orientation. This dynamic nature keeps us engaged in our moral decision-making process.
3. Relationship Between Acts and Moral Disposition: The theory differentiates between individual actions and one’s moral stance. It’s important to consider how specific actions may contradict one’s core orientation (e.g., sinning despite being directed toward God) and how they do not necessarily change the fundamental option unless they signify a conscious rejection of God. This understanding can lead to a deeper introspection about our moral stance.
4. Transcendental Commitment encompasses a profound level of freedom and self-determination that goes beyond specific choices, emphasizing the individual’s fundamental relationship with God rather than separate moral actions. Think of marriage here: People either grow into their marriage or they grow out of their marriage. It is an ongoing process.

Historical Context

The idea gained prominence in the 1960s as theologians sought to move beyond an atomistic view of morality and emphasize the interior dimension of moral life.

• The concept originates in the Christian tradition, particularly St. Augustine’s distinction between the “City of God” and the “City of Man” and St. Thomas Aquinas’s writings, which explored a person’s Commitment through actions.
• Modern advocates, including Karl Rahner, described the fundamental option as a transcendental human response to God’s offer of grace, which is expressed and constituted by our concrete actions.

Thomas Merton and Fundamental option

Thomas Merton’s exploration of the fundamental option in Christian ethics emphasizes the integration of contemplation and action as a holistic response to God’s call. His work, especially when viewed alongside Joseph Cardijn’s social activism, forms what I am referring to as the “Merton-Cardijn Option”—a moral framework that connects inner spiritual transformation with active engagement in social justice. This ‘Merton-Cardijn Option’ is a unique approach that combines Merton’s emphasis on contemplation and Cardijn’s focus on social activism, creating a comprehensive moral framework and providing us with a tool to make choices.

Merton’s Vision of the Fundamental Option

Merton’s understanding of the fundamental option centers on authenticity and self-transcendence:

• Inner Transformation: He regarded contemplation as vital for redirecting one’s life toward God. Through prayer, meditation, and self-awareness, individuals challenge their “false self” (ego-driven desires) and connect with their “true self,” which embodies the divine image.
• Sin as Self-Rejection: Merton identified the “basic sin of Christianity” as prioritizing oneself above others and God, thereby rejecting communal and divine solidarity. This perspective aligns with the traditional Catholic view that mortal sin interrupts one’s essential orientation toward God.

The Merton-Cardijn Synthesis

The Merton-Cardijn Option bridges contemplation and activism:

• Contemplative Activism:
  • Merton’s Contribution: Spiritual depth fosters empathy and nonviolence. For Merton, inner peace was inseparable from outward justice: “The duty of the Christian… is to work for the total abolition of war”.
  • Cardijn’s Method: Cardijn’s See-Judge-Act framework encourages followers to analyze societal structures, evaluate them through faith, and take transformative action.

Shared Principles:

• Integration of Faith and Action: Balancing prayer with social responsibility.
• Dignity of Labor: Work as a form of worship and a means to uphold human dignity.

Merton’s legacy lies in his insistence that the fundamental option is not a static choice but a dynamic, lifelong journey of aligning one’s inner life with external action. By merging contemplation and activism, the Merton-Cardijn Option offers a roadmap for living authentically in a fractured world, challenging you and me to embody Christ’s love through prayer and justice.