The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic
Thinkers, Earth Keepers Daily
Meditations with Matthew Fox
|
Deep Ecumenism, continued |
We continue contemplating the topic of deep ecumenism, with an excerpt from Occupy Spirituality by Matthew Fox and Adam Bucko… |
Like Adam Bucko, Matthew too comes from the Christian tradition and remains in it but not at all in an enclosed way. He admits that his sharing of prayer in sweat lodges, sundances, vision quests and more with indigenous people for example have been essential to his spiritual
growth and well | Sweat lodge. Photo by Hvoenok, Adobe Stock |
being. Along with Buddhist encounters and practices, Tai Chi, Taoist readings, Jewish rabbis and much more including in depth psychological thinkers and practitioners. We are already living in a time of deep ecumenism. Therefore a time of spiritual democracy. Life trumps religion. Life and existence in this universe are 13.7 billion years old and religions are 5,000 years old or 100,000 years old when you include the oldest which are the shamanistic and the indigenous. But the point is that, why would we be driven to put religion before
life? |
In his DM video of 10/27/2021, Matthew Fox reflects on the themes of deep ecumenism as archetypal myths, “foundations of values and ethics.” | And then, of course, go to war with other religions—take life, destroy life, in their name? So hopefully this is one element of human evolution of consciousness that is shaking down at this time. Many people are rejecting the
notion that my God beats up on your God or Goddess. |
In my book on Deep Ecumenism, One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing from Global Faith Traditions, I celebrate instead of rue the
diversity of our traditions—but also their common unity. I offer 18 themes and issues and myths that are common to all our world religions. Among them are diverse names for Divinity; meditation; sacredness of creation; compassion; spiritual warriorhood; creativity and imagination as a gift from God; and much more. In other books I have tried to utilize deep ecumenism as a method of approaching important topics. For example, work. In my Reinvention of Work book I draw from many world spiritual traditions to form and formulate a spirituality of work. In my research I found a great amount of unanimity among world spiritual traditions on issues of
spirituality and work. For example, on the importance of joy and work. Consider these teachings: |
In work, do what you enjoy. (Tao te Ching) They
all attain perfection when they find joy in their work. (Bhagavad Gita) Always rejoice in the good work that you do. (Thomas Aquinas) | Flash Mob – Ode an die Freude ( Ode to Joy ) Symphony No.9. Beethoven’s last symphony, written despite depression and impending death as a hymn to freedom and joy for all people, is now the anthem of the European Union. Video by cd
tube. |
| To view today's video, please click the image. You will be taken to today's post on the Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox website, where you can see the meditation in a larger version and also view and post your Comments. In the sharing that follows, a kind of community is developing around the DM.
If you can't reach Matthew's video on the website, try his Vimeo channel HERE. |
Adapted from Adam Bucko and Matthew Fox, Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation, pp. 207f. And Fox, The Reinvention of Work, p. 91.
Also see Fox, One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing from Global Faiths Banner Image: “Coexist” bumpersticker. Original design by the Coexist Foundation. |
Queries for Contemplation Do you employ deep ecumenism when bringing wisdom to topics and decisions that are important to you? |
Responses are welcomed. To add your comment, please click HERE
to go to our website and scroll down to the Comments field. |
Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation Authors Adam Bucko and Matthew Fox encourage us to use our talents in service of compassion and justice and to move beyond our broken systems–economic, political, educational, and religious–discovering a spirituality that not only helps us to get along, but also encourages us to reevaluate our traditions, transforming them and in the process building a more sacred and just world. Incorporating the words of young activist leaders culled from interviews and surveys, the
book provides a framework that is deliberately interfaith and speaks to our profound yearning for a life with spiritual purpose and for a better world. “Occupy Spirituality is a powerful, inspiring, and vital call to embodied awareness and enlightened actions.” –—Julia Butterfly Hill, environmental activist and author of The Legacy of Luna: The Story of a Tree, a Woman, and the Struggle to Save the Redwoods | |
The Reinvention of
Work: A New Vision of Livelihood For Our Time Thomas Aquinas said, “To live well is to work well,” and in this bold call for the revitalization of daily work, Fox shares his vision of a world where our
personal and professional lives are celebrated in harmony–a world where the self is not sacrificed for a job but is sanctified by authentic “soul work.” “Fox approaches the level of poetry in describing the reciprocity that must be present between one’s inner and outer work…[A]n important road map to social change.”
~~ National Catholic Reporter | |
One River, Many Wells: Wisdom
Springing from Global Faiths Matthew Fox calls on all the world traditions for their wisdom and their inspiration in a work that is far more than a list of theological position papers but a
new way to pray—to meditate in a global spiritual context on the wisdom all our traditions share. Fox chooses 18 themes that are foundational to any spirituality and demonstrates how all the world spiritual traditions offer wisdom about each. “Reading One River, Many Wells is like entering the rich silence of a
masterfully directed retreat. As you read this text, you reflect, you pray, you embrace Divinity. Truly no words can fully express my respect and awe for this magnificent contribution to contemporary spirituality.” –Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit | |
See Matthew Fox's full calendar HERE |
Join Matthew Fox as he leads a new course hosted by The Shift Network: Answer the Call for an Uncommon Life Through the Mystical Teachings of St. Hildegard. New 16-module video training with two live Q&A events starts Monday,
November 28, 12:00 PM 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. | |
Please share this post! Just click the buttons below.
OR share your insights on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #RevDrMatthewFox and tag Matt with @RevDrMatthewFox
|
|
|
|
