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 Non-Dualism Is Important,
MLK & Chenu, continued 01/20/2023 |
We are discussing how Martin Luther King, Jr. and Pere Chenu agree that dualism is a “strange” and “unbiblical” (or unJewish) way to look at ourselves and the world. |
King says religion succumbs to fear when it separates matter and spirit, body and soul, the sacred and the profane. Many other thinkers and activists agree. Catholic Feminist theologian Rosemary Ruether says | Rupert Sheldrake, famous scientist and best-selling author, explains the dualism of Descartes and the history of the mind-body problem. Rational Religion |
that the foundation of patriarchy
is dualism. (Thus to deconstruct dualism is to move beyond patriarchy and open the doors to women.) Thich Nhat Hanh declared that if Christianity can recover its non-dualistic tradition, the gems and treasures it holds could come
alive again. Julian of Norwich defines mysticism as “oneing.” Oneing names mystical experience where we taste the non-dualism of God and us. |
The Rev. Glynn Cardy of The Community of St Luke Remuera, Auckland, NZ, reflects on the message of mystics, especially Dorothee Soelle, on oneness with the Divine. | Meister Eckhart calls God “the One” and calls us to “separate ourselves from all twoness.” That is mysticism. His term for the “oneing” that is a mystical experience is "breakthrough." In breakthrough “I learn that God and I
are one.” |
Dorothy Soelle says that mysticism—”the truth that nothing can separate us from the love of God”–eradicates the masculine hierarchical consciousness that renders patriarchy possible. Chenu championed the non-dualism of Thomas Aquinas and in an article in my book, Western Spirituality: Historical Roots, Ecumenical Routes, entitled “Body and Body Politic in the Creation Spirituality of Thomas Aquinas,” he
writes: |
Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) was a champion of creation spirituality [who] trusted the Creator and the creature to work dialectically with the spirit of creation. On more than one occasion, Aquinas wrote that to take something away from the | Hildegard of Bingen’s chant to the divine spirit in creation: O noblest green viridity, you’re rooted in the sun and in the clear bright calm you shine within a wheel no
earthly excellence can comprehend: R. You are surrounded by the embraces of the service, the ministries divine. V. As morning’s dawn you blush, as sunny flame you burn. Sequentia – Topic |
perfection of the creation is to abstract from the perfection of the creative power itself. Chenu comments that this statement …contains both a metaphysical and a mystical principle for Aquinas and lays open the key to his entire spirituality. For him (as for Francis of Assisi), nature
is not a mere shadow of the supernatural but contains spiritual energies in itself. To study nature and existence was for Aquinas a form of prayer and meditation, indeed, a ‘liturgy’ as he insisted in his running debates with cloistered monks of his day. |
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Adapted from M. D. Chenu, O.P., “Body and Body Politic in the Creation Spirituality of Thomas Aquinas” in Matthew Fox, ed., Western Spirituality: Historical Roots, Ecumenical Routes, pp.
192f.
Also: Fox, Christian Mystics, pp. 277-279, 325, 329-333.
Banner Image: “Mahamudra: One aware about two.” Photo by Hartwig HKD on Flickr. |
Queries for Contemplation Do you agree with Chenu and Aquinas and Francis of Assisi that nature is not a mere shadow of the supernatural but contains spiritual energies in itself? What follows from that? |
Responses are welcomed. To add your comment, please click HERE
to go to our website and scroll down to the Comments field. |
Western Spirituality: Historical Roots, Ecumenical Routes In this book, Fox gathers scholars from various cultures and traditions such as Helen Kenik, Jon Sobrino, Nicolas Berdyaev, Rosemary Ruether, M. D. Chenu, Mary Jose Hobday, Ronald Miller, Monika Hellwig, James Kenney, Justin O’Brien and others to approach creation spirituality from many traditions and many angles.
“An
exciting and important book…a pleasant alternative to the oppressive burden of the fall/redemption tradition.” ~ New Review of Books and Religion | |
Christian Mystics: 365 Readings &
Meditations As Matthew Fox notes, when an aging Albert Einstein was asked if he had any regrets, he replied, “I wish I had read more of the mystics earlier in my life.” The 365 writings in Christian Mystics represent a
wide-ranging sampling of these readings for modern-day seekers of all faiths — or no faith. The visionaries quoted range from Julian of Norwich to Martin Luther King, Jr., from Thomas Merton to Dorothee Soelle and Thomas Berry. “Our world is in crisis, and we need road maps that can ground us I wisdom, inspire us to action, and help us gather our talents in service of compassion and justice. This revolutionary book does just that. Matthew Fox takes some of the most profound spiritual
teachings of the West and translates them into practical daily mediations. Study and practice these teachings. Take what’s in this book and teach it to the youth because the new generation cannot afford to suffer the spirit and ethical illiteracy of the past.” — Adam Bucko, spiritual activist and co-founder of the Reciprocity Foundation for Homeless Youth | |
See Matthew Fox's full calendar HERE |
Join Matthew Fox as he speaks on “The Tao of Thomas Aquinas: Fierce Wisdom for Hard Times” in a virtual event hosted by the Weber Retreat and Conference Center Thursday, January 26, 4:00pm-5:30pm PT. Register HERE. Join Matthew Fox for a lecture and Q&A on “The Reinvention of Work – A New Vision of Livelihood for Our Time” in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat. Thursday, March 16, 4:00-6:00 pm PT. Register HERE. Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Matthew Fox at the Center for Contemporary Mysticism discusses “Birthing a New World: Can Creation-Centered Spirituality Help Reclaim the Sacredness of the Earth?" | |
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