The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers |
08/02/2023
by Rick Reich-Kuykendall |
Today we will consider some of Matthew's writings on the subject of evil. To get an even better
understanding of this introduction, read Matthew’s Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul and Society. |
Perhaps evil is inevitable in a universe as powerful and creative and full of eating and being eaten, living and dying as
ours is. Perhaps evil is to blessing what terror is to beauty. Perhaps evil is the moral equivalent of terror, the moral counterpoint of beauty. Just as beauty and terror go together, | Evil on wings, emblem of a fallen world? Asian tiger mosquito, disease vector and critical food source for birds, bats, insects. Photo by FotoshopTofs on Pixabay. |
so do goodness and evil, blessing and malice.
Perhaps. We ought to be teaching about humanity’s capacity for evil so that we can consciously move beyond it. Evil has everything to do with our capacity for creativity, with what we choose to do with it, and with our not turning it over to others. Gas ovens and hydrogen bombs are born of human creativity after
all. |
| Evil is faceless
because it can take over any one of our beings.
No one is exempt from the possibility of evil.
The reality of evil calls for
alertness. |
Pain is a teacher.
The darkness is a teacher.
The shadow is a teacher.
Those who awaken our
shadows
are teachers.
Even evil is a teacher. |
See Matthew Fox, Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul and Society, pp. 9, 160. See also Fox, The A.W.E. Project: Reinventing
Education, Reinventing the Human, p. 112. See also Fox, Creativity: Where the Divine and Human Meet, p. 169. Banner Image: Aerial view of the dry bed of the Kakhovka Water Reservoir in Ukraine, drained through the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam by Russian forces on June 6, 2023,
causing the biggest environmental catastrophe in Ukraine since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster: 24 villages flooded, 58 humans dead, along with tens of thousands of farm animals and tons of fish, as well as innumerable wildlife. Sentinel-2 L2A satellite image taken on 15 July, 2023. Wikimedia Commons. |
Queries for Contemplation When it comes to good and evil, do you feel there are moral absolutes? And if so what are they? And
if not, why do you think so? |
Responses are welcomed. To add your comment, please click HERE
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 | |
The A.W.E. Project: Reinventing Education, Reinventing the Human The A.W.E. Project reminds us that awe is the appropriate response to the unfathomable wonder that is creation… A.W.E. is also the acronym for Fox’s proposed style of learning – an approach to balance the three R’s. This approach to learning, eldering, and mentoring is intelligent enough to honor the teachings of the Ancestors, to nurture Wisdom in addition to imparting knowledge, and to Educate
through Fox’s 10 C’s. The 10 C’s are the core of the A.W.E. philosophy and process of education, and include: compassion, contemplation, and creativity. The A.W.E. Project does for the vast subject of “learning” what Fox’s Reinvention of Work did for vocation and Original Blessing did for theology. Included in the book is a dvd of the 10 C’s put to 10 video raps created and performed by Professor Pitt. “An awe-based vision of educational renewal.” — Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice. | |
Creativity: Where the Divine and Human Meet
Because creativity is the key to both our genius and beauty as a species but also to our capacity for evil, we need to teach creativity and to teach ways of steering this God-like power in directions that promote love of life (biophilia) and not love of death (necrophilia). Pushing well beyond the bounds of conventional Christian doctrine, Fox’s focus on creativity attempts nothing less than to shape a new ethic.
“Matt Fox is a
pilgrim who seeks a path into the church of tomorrow. Countless numbers will be happy to follow his lead.” –Bishop John Shelby Spong, author, Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism, Living in Sin | |
See Matthew Fox's full calendar
HERE |
Join Matthew Fox and Brian Swimme in a new 7-week online course hosted by The Shift Network: "Science, Spirituality & the Noosphere: Deepen the Meaning of Your Life & the Power You Hold to Create Fulfillment & Happiness," beginning August 8. Register
HERE and receive access to a free introductory video. Join Matthew Fox for a Cosmic Mass and Panel Forum at the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions - A Call to Conscience: Defending Freedom & Human Rights, August 14-18 in Chicago, IL Wed., 8/16, 7:00pm CT - The Cosmic Mass - Honoring Gaia, Solidarity for Our Earth Thurs., 8/17, 1:00pm CT – Panel and Response to The Cosmic Mass Register HERE. |
Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Aaron Perry hosts Matthew Fox on the Y On
Earth podcast, on “Hildegard von Bingen & Her “Viriditas,” sharing profound wisdom and deep insights about the essential importance of our relationship with Mother Earth, our celebration of the Divine Feminine, and our connection with Creation Spirituality, drawing upon centuries
of knowledge and wisdom from indigenous and mystical traditions world-wide… particularly from the Rhineland Mystic Movement of the medieval European Renaissance, and a most extraordinary woman at its helm: Hildegard von Bingen. | |
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