Transformative Triangles: Exploring Ted Lasso, Andrew Root, and the Dynamics of Modern Beliefs
Another Andrew Root inspired post
“Triangles TRY ANGLES”
In season 3, episode 6 of the beloved show Ted Lasso, anxious and trying to get his struggling team back on track, Ted drinks the drugged tea offered by his assistant coach Beard. He then visits the Van Gogh museum, eats an American-style theme restaurant, and begins to experience hallucinations while watching an old Chicago Bulls game. Inspired by Tex Winter's use of the triangle offense, and is inspired to develop a new football strategy, built on a triangular style of play called “total football".”1
Essentially, Ted and his experiences are a great example of the modern human, especially one living strictly within the imminent frame or closed spin, a la Charles Taylor. And, true to the process described by Andrew Root in his latest book, The Church in an Age of Secular Mysticism. Ted takes a mystical journey inside himself and experiences transformation and revelation, leading to external success and validation.
Yes, this is another Andrew Root inspired post
One of things I enjoy most about Andrew Root books is the way in which he always has a few incredibly profound observations within his books that are ancillary to the main thesis of the book. In this instance, the main point of the book is stated right up front in the subtitle: why spiritualities without God fail to transform us. Along the way, Root builds his case by talking about triangles, specifically, a triangulated relationship within American culture between three groups of people, what he calls “Beyonders,” “Exclusive Humanists,” and “Counter-Enlightment(s).”
Since this is a book about transformation, Root notes that each of these three groups promote a path or process of transformation. “Beyonders” find transformation through a mystical pathway of surrender and confession, with true transformation being a work of God or at least from beyond themselves. The “EH” group as he calls them, finds transformation via a mystical pathway of inner genius, basically finding your brilliance/strength/wisdom from within yourself. The “CE” group is basically the opposite in that they find a mystical pathway of heroic action—think fitness influencers, gun-toting conservatives, and I think the “trad-wives” social media trend also fits this side.
Triangles and Family Systems Theory
As a student of Family Systems Theory (FST), my attention was immediately piqued, as Triangulation is one the eight key principles of Family Systems/Bowen Theory. The Bowen Center website has this to say about triangles:2
A triangle is a three-person relationship system. It is considered the building block or “molecule” of larger emotional systems because a triangle is the smallest stable relationship system. A two-person system is unstable because it tolerates little tension before involving a third person. A triangle can contain much more tension without involving another person because the tension can shift around three relationships. If the tension is too high for one triangle to contain, it spreads to a series of “interlocking” triangles. Spreading the tension can stabilize a system, but nothing is resolved.
I can’t be sure if Root has FST in mind when he wrote this, but it struck me as I’ve similarly thought of modern society in a sort of triangulated way. In our current times, our differences are often charted linearly, think of the classic “right wing” or “left wing” dynamic. Some describe themselves as being in the middle or “moderate.” In the last few years, as I’ve seen a growing “fundamentalist” tendency in Progressive Christianity,3 I’ve been less and less comfortable using that term to describe myself. Yet, being in the middle didn’t seem to much fit either.
Rather than linearly, I began to wonder if instead my positioning in comparison to others was more of a triangle, with me at one point, and the left and right at their respective other points of the triangle. Sure, if you laid the triangle down and looked at it only on a linear plane, it might look like I was in the middle, but again, standing the triangle up, it could be seen that I am actually at another end of the triangle. I fit, quite comfortably I’d say, on a point in the triangle somewhere near where Root charts MLK, which feels a little presumptuous, but I’m not saying I’m anywhere near the faithfulness of MLK, just that I might hold a similar worldview as him (see below).
Unexpected Connections
Most interesting though, is late I’ve found myself more connected to moderate evangelicals (think Andy Stanley, etc) rather than those on the far reaches of what Root details as the “Mainline/Progressives” corner. And, looking at Root’s triangle, especially where he charts Moderate Mainliners and Moderate Evangelicals, it makes perfect sense. Someone like me is likely closer to an Andy Stanley-type4 than I am a Josh Scott-type;5 meaning while I strongly believe in LGBTQ inclusion and hold to some “liberal” theological perspectives—I still hold strongly to scripture and believe that change and transformation is ultimately dependent on God’s actions, not simply our own.
Interesting Implications
Beyond my own awareness and “positioning” on the triangle, I do think this has interesting implications. Will the “Beyonder” and “Exclusive Humanist” corners/sections of Mainline churches continue to bristle and splinter as they each hold to a different fundamental principle—whether change and transformation comes via God’s actions or our own? And will the Mainline/Progressive “Exclusive Humanists” find more camaraderie working with those outside of traditional religious frameworks but deeply embedded into Andrew Root’s “Exclusive Humanist” corner? Will Moderate Mainliners and Moderate Evangelicals find room/space for collaboration and connection?
In many ways, we’re already seeing this play out.
In regard to the the “Beyonder” and “Exclusive Humanist” corners/sections of Mainline churches continue to bristling and splintering: Think about the recent division in the United Methodist Church. “The flashpoints are the denomination’s bans on same-sex marriages and ordaining openly LGBTQ clergy — though many see these as symptoms for deeper differences in views on justice, theology and scriptural authority.”6 Certainly LGBTQ was a significant source of division, but for those with more traditional values, there were also other “liberal trends” driving a wedge.7
Mainline/Progressive “Exclusive Humanists” are finding camaraderie working with those outside of traditional religious frameworks but deeply embedded into Andrew Root’s “Exclusive Humanist” corner. Some Mainline denominations have utilized the Intercultural Development Inventory, “a widely used and effective cross-culturally valid assessment for building cultural competence.” In a testimony on the site, one participant shares; “the IDI provides such a clear roadmap for what is a personal journey of growth…”8 These words smack of Root’s “Exclusive Humanists” corner.9
Finally, the trend I’ve yet to really see play on a large scale is Moderate Mainliners and Moderate Evangelicals coming together, though I imagine it’s already happening, it just doesn’t get much attention. On a smaller scale, a local non-profit Hope House, which provides “free self-sufficiency programs to parenting teen moms”10 is supported by churches from both Evangelical and Mainline contexts and is explicit about being “Christ Centered” and focused on “the transformation of teen moms and their children.” This is“Beyonder” language.
In Conclusion
It will be interesting to see how these trends continue to play out in the coming years and whether Root’s triangle map continues to be a somewhat accurate mapping of our current context. In our de-institutionalizing culture, I can imagine denominational affiliations continuing to fall away as churches and pastors align themselves with networks and movements, much as is already happening in Evangelicalism. And more, I believe we will continue to see churches and denominations deep in the EH corner of Root’s triangle de-emphasize worship and faith formation and in place emphasize the values of Exclusive Humanism—while churches also deep in the CE corner lean further and further into Christian Nationalism.
Ted Lasso’s core message was about belief, to the extent that he plastered “Believe” on the locker room wall. But this belief was not in a higher power—it was in themselves and their ability to find within themselves the ability to win and perform. Time will tell whether we have within ourselves what we need not simply to win and perform—but ultimately to transform into the image of God.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunflowers_(Ted_Lasso)
“Triangles.” The Bowen Center for the Study of the Family. Accessed January 10, 2024. https://www.thebowencenter.org/triangles.
Brian Zahnd notes this dynamic in his book When Everything’s on Fire
Giatti, Ian M. “Andy Stanley to Host Conference for Christian Parents of LGBT-Identified Kids.” The Christian Post, January 31, 2023. https://www.christianpost.com/news/andy-stanley-to-host-conference-for-christians-with-lgbt-kids.html.
Blair, Leonardo. “Nashville Church Says Bible Isn’t the Word of God, Then Draws Ire.” The Christian Post, February 18, 2021. https://www.christianpost.com/news/nashville-church-says-bible-isnt-the-word-of-god.html.
“United Methodists Lose One-Fifth of US Churches in Schism Driven By ...” USNews.com, October 10, 2022. https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2023-07-06/one-in-five-united-methodist-congregations-in-the-us-have-left-the-denomination-over-lgbtq-conflicts.
Smith, Peter. “One Fourth of United Methodist Churches in US Have Left in Schism over LGBTQ Ban. What Happens Now?” AP News, December 15, 2023. https://apnews.com/article/congregations-leaving-united-methodist-church-lgbtq-bans-70b8c89ea49174597f4548c249bab24f.
“Testimonials.” IDI, LLC. Accessed January 12, 2024. https://www.idiinventory.com/testimonials.
To be clear, cultural understanding and inclusion are very good things—but again, Root would ask how are we achieving these things? Through our own inner journey of learning? Or through surrender and confession to God and the gospel? Again, I want to emphasize this is not a critique but an observation. This training is about people achieving change be embarking on a journey—within themselves. That’s Root’s Exclusive Humanist corner.
What we do - hope House Colorado. Accessed January 13, 2024. https://hopehousecolorado.org/what-we-do/.