The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic
Thinkers, Earth Keepers Daily
Meditations with Matthew Fox
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Why an Order of the Sacred Earth? |
At this critical time in human and planetary history, what Buddhist scholar and activist Joanna Macy calls “The Great Turning,” the world does not need a new religion or even a reshuffling of our old religions. It does not need a new
church either. |
What it needs is a new Order, that is to say, a community and movement of people from varied backgrounds of belief systems (or non-belief systems) who share a sacred vow to preserve
Mother Earth and to become the best lovers (mystics) and defenders (warriors) they can be on behalf of Mother Earth. A post-denominational Order and a post-religious Order. Therefore, a Spiritual Order. On September 17, 2014 I
was awakened at four o’clock AM with a simple and clear mandate: “Do this!!!!” Later in the day I wrote the following note to myself on a scrap of paper spelling out what the dream had told me to do: | Group photo of the three Co-Founders of the OSE. Photo originally posted here. |
To launch a new ‘religious’ order which is in fact a spiritual order that is deeply ecumenical and creation centered, allowing for people to more
easily and joyfully carry on their varied vocations to save Mother Earth within a loose but real sense of community. It would take us beyond Institutional Religion and Institutional Education as we know them. History is not calling for another
religious order subject to a religious headquarters or bureaucracy but a spiritual order, an order dedicated to implementing authentic spiritual values in our souls and our institutions and birthing new ones along with societal networks.... |
| OSE is not a religion because portions of humanity may well have outgrown religion. It is a movement to gather humanity to pay attention and to focus on the great issue of our time (Thomas Berry called it “the great work”), which is the survival of our
planet in all its diversity, beauty, and magnificence. |
It is a community of
sisters and brothers dedicated to saving the Earth in whatever ways they can as citizens, as workers, as parents, as elders, as young adults, as humans who care. OSE is in no way anti-religious however. Persons who are religious are welcome
into this community along with those who do not identify as religious. Spirituality, however, is required, and that means a willingness to attempt to live life fully and deeply and not skate along on the surface of superficiality, tribalism, or materialism/consumerism. Spirituality is best tested by our generosity and courage and willingness to stand up for generations still unborn by living lives of gratitude and awe, creativity and healing, compassion, and justice centered on the sacredness of
our common home, Earth. |
| 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 Matthew Fox, Skylar Wilson, Jennifer Listug, Order of the Sacred Earth: An Intergenerational Vision of Love and Action, pp. 4, 17. Banner Image: “Earth in our hands” Photo by TitusStaunton on Pixabay |
Queries for Contemplation Do you sense that new forms of spirituality are required today and that that they may or may not fit into current forms of religion? And that a common commitment (or vow) might be useful to make the connections endure and effective? |
Responses are welcomed. To add your comment, please click HERE
to go to our website and scroll down to the Comments field. |
Order of the Sacred Earth: An Intergenerational Vision of Love and Action
By Matthew Fox, Skylar Wilson, and Jen Listug
In the midst of global fire, earthquake and flood - as species are going extinct every day and national and global economies totter - the planet doesn't need another church or religion. What it needs is a new Order, grounded in the Wisdom traditions of both East and West, including science and indigenous. An Order of the Sacred Earth united in one sacred vow: “I promise to be the best lover and defender of the Earth that I can
be.”
Co-authored by Matthew Fox, Skylar Wilson, and Jennifer Listug, with a forward by David Korten, this collection of essays by 21 spiritual visionaries including Brian Swimme, Mirabai Starr, Theodore Richards, and Kristal Parks marks the founding of the diverse and inclusive Order of the Sacred Earth, a community now evolving around the world. “The Order of the Sacred Earth not only calls us home to our true nature as Earth, but also offers us
invaluable guidance and company on the way.” ~~ Joanna Macy, environmental activist and author of Active Hope. | |
See Matthew Fox's full calendar HERE Join Matthew Fox for the monthly online Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, discussing Original Blessing. Thursday, October 20, 4:00pm-6:00pm PT. Register
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. Creation Spirituality in Conversation |
| Join
scholars Matthew Fox and Thomas G. Hermans-Webster for Progressive Christianity's monthly “Things that Matter” discussion on eco-spirituality: “The Intersection of Faith and Climate Justice.” |
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