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Meditations with Matthew Fox
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Lies, Violence and Politics |
Lies beget violence. Lies have consequences. We saw this on January 6 live in our living rooms. The insurrection was a response to a “Big Lie” and many have been the lies of some media and politicians telling us what a minor infraction that was ever since. |
And we see it in today’s political scene including the recent violence against the 82 year-old husband of Nancy Pelosi in their home in San Francisco. The perpetrator of that violence tells us that he was deeply
affected by | Joy Reid and guests including Rep. Eric Swalwell discuss the attack on Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband by a maniac with a reported history of posting extreme right-wing memes and
conspiracy theories on social media. MSNBC. |
January 6 and its violence. We are told that on entering Pelosi’s home, he was shouting, “Where is Nancy Pelosi?” just as were the invaders of the nation’s capitol on January 6. What is
violence? Interestingly, the word in English comes from the Latin word vis which means strength. It is related to the word vim and means strength or vigor or “robust energy and enthusiasm." Vigorous action, “carried through forcefully and energetically” according to Webster’s dictionary. “Vim and vigor” is a familiar phrase in our language. Violence is employing our strength and energy, vim and vigor, to harm others, to force others, even to desecrate, attack, cause extreme and intense pain on others. |
MSNBC Senior
Reporter Ben Collins discusses the anti-democratic impact of new Twitter owner Elon Musk tweeting an anti-LGBTQ QAnon conspiracy theory about Paul Pelosi attack. | It is not acedia understood as a lack of energy to begin new things, but its blunt opposite: Energy to do extreme harm and to violate (as in rape). One feels violated when hearing of the invasion of the home |
of the second person in line for the presidency (following on the
vice president). Hers is a very public office after all. Lies beget violence and violence begets more violence. All those politicians, media personalities and media barons who have belittled the January 6 insurrection and its violence are part and parcel of the violence that is ensuing. |
Until they repent and admit how dangerous their silence or embracing of lies and violence truly are, they are genuinely part of the problem. Silence about violence begets violence. And
mis-naming violence begets violence. | "This guy had conspiracy theories about January 6th, Covid, and other nonsense that looks just like the Facebook pages of Ted Cruz, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert,” says
Rep. Eric Swalwell on the Pelosi attack suspect's social media. MSNBC |
All this is on the ballot in the upcoming mid-term elections—lies and truths, violence and non-violence. |
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See Matthew Fox, Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul and Society, pp. xx, 166-171, 253, 262f., 275-277. Banner Image: Sarah Palin poster: “Enrage them with fear until they feel justified in their violence” by Eddie Colla 106. Photo by Steve Rhodes on Flickr |
Queries for Contemplation Consider non-violence as an alternative to violence. Truth as an alternative to lies. Breathe in both, breathe out both. Breathe in Truth and breathe out Lies. Breathe in Violence and breathe out non-violence. |
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to go to our website and scroll down to the Comments field. |
Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul and Society Visionary theologian and best-selling author Matthew Fox offers a new theology
of evil that fundamentally changes the traditional perception of good and evil and points the way to a more enlightened treatment of ourselves, one another, and all of nature. In comparing the Eastern tradition of the 7 chakras to the Western tradition of the 7 capital sins, Fox allows us to think creatively about our capacity for personal and institutional evil and what we can do about them.
“A scholarly masterpiece embodying a better vision
and depth of perception far beyond the grasp of any one single science. A breath-taking analysis.” — Diarmuid O’Murchu, author of Quantum Theology: Spiritual Implications of the new Physics | |
See Matthew Fox's full calendar HERE |
Join Matthew Fox at the Louisville Festival of Faiths for an online/onsite workshop on “Significant Stories for Our Times: A Workshop with Matthew Fox: Earth Survival
from Thomas Merton, Science, Creation Spirituality Mystics and Ourselves” November 9-12, 2022 (Wed-Sat) Louisville, KY: Onsite and Virtual - Friday Workshop – 4:00pm-5:15pm ET on-site (1:00pm-2:15pm PT virtual)
- Saturday Spiritual Practice – 8:30am-9:15am ET on-site (5:30am-6:15am PT virtual)
https://festivaloffaiths.org/ Purchase a Friday ticket HERE Join Matthew Fox for the monthly Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, discussing Matthew Fox: Essential Writings on Creation Spirituality. Thursday, November 17,
4:00pm-6:00pm PT. Register HERE. Join Matthew Fox for the monthly Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, discussing Christian Mystics: 365 Readings and Meditations. Thursday, December 15,
4:00pm-6:00pm PT Register HERE. Creation Spirituality Conversations |
In a podcast episode with the Earth and Spirit Center, Matthew Fox reflects on how creation-centered spirituality, and the marriage of the divine feminine and sacred masculine, can help us respond with hope
to the troubles of our apocalyptic times. Listen HERE. | |
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