The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers |
Week of 5/22 - 5/27, 2023:
Moving beyond Fear, Hatred & Violence 05/28/2023 |
May 22, 2023. Love, Courage & Moving beyond Fear
In our continuing exploration of courage, we celebrate those who put aside fears of losing their job in order to do the right thing. Loving something more than the fear of death (as MLK said), or more than the fear of losing one’s job or
reputation, takes great courage. Meanwhile, fear can be helpful at times (i.e., when one is motivated to run from a bear), but many times it is paralyzing. It can also, when employed on a large scale, result in social hysteria and hatred of those who are “other.” And the media uses fear as a way to increase their ratings. A more helpful approach to fear is espoused by Lakota elder Buck Ghosthorse, who taught that prayer is standing up to fear by making the heart
strong. |
MSNBC discusses one of the very few Republicans who put integrity above job security. MSNBC |
May 23,
2023. Fear and Guns in America
We examine the fact that there are 393 million firearms owned by American citizens, far and away more than there are in any other country on the planet. The title of a Washington Post article by Christine Emba says it all: “Why do Americans want guns? It comes down to one word.” That one word is the “F” word: Fear. Most gun-owners, as well as gun-sellers, say that guns are
for one primary reason: protection. But at what price is this protection when guns are now the leading cause of death for both children and teenagers? Emba says, “The paranoia that fuels gun-buying has come to seem like a mental health issue in its own right.” Fear as an emotion is natural, but fear as a choice can be so unhealthy. As Aquinas said, there is a difference between “chaste fear” and “servile fear.” |
The United States has the most civilian-held and illicit firearms by far and it actually has more guns than people. The research estimates that the U.S. had 393.3 million civilian and illicit firearms in 2017 - 120.5 for every
100 of its residents (2020). Image by Statista.com; Creative Commons license. May 24, 2023. Moving beyond Fear
Why do people fear? Both
corporations and politicians sell fear for their own selfish reasons. As for individuals, Aquinas says, “All fear arises from love because no one fears anything except what is contrary to something he or she loves.” Aquinas suggests, “Those who are in great fear… are so intent on their own passion that they pay no attention to the suffering of others.” Meanwhile, Jesus gently tells us to “fear not.” And John tells us that “perfect love casts out fear.” (I John 4:18) If we need support with
learning not to fear, Aquinas advises that we call on the Holy Spirit to make us strong. |
May 25, 2023. Searching the Roots of Fear & Pessimism
The great psychologist Otto Rank offers a profound observation when he says that pessimism is a philosophy of hatred that springs from self-hate. And both fear and self-hate are linked to pusillanimity
(the quality of having a small soul). Aquinas teaches that pusillanimous pride or arrogance causes a person to settle for his or her bad opinion of himself rather than learning one’s gifts. This is a loss, then, for the entire community who might have benefited from those gifts. |
“‘They’ say all the answers are within. I believe that because I have experienced moments of clarity so bright that I dazzle myself. But these moments are fleeting, and the past still so heavy to
bear. So I keep searching for my own eternal flame.” Photo by Gwynydd Michael on Flickr. |
May 26, 2023. Rank & Rich on Moving from Pessimism to Creativity
As we continue to explore the roots of pessimism, psychologist Otto Rank points out that the true source of pessimism lies in self-hatred. Pessimism is the projection we
make upon the world of our own self-worth. And if our love of self is shallow, the love we put into the world will be also. In such a state, we lose our connection to the Divine. When that connection is gone, melancholy moves in. And as Aquinas observed, when melancholy reigns, the heart shrinks and joy is harder and harder to find. Feminist poet Adrienne Rich has some advice: “Move beyond patriarchy.” Incorporate and embody the healthy feminine and masculine aspects of our soul. Embrace
creativity. To be creative is to be in contact with the Divine Feminine and the Creatrix. |
May 27, 2023. Fascism, Politics, SCOTUS: Institutionalizing Fear & Hatred
When fears are exploited by fascist politicians, it gives rise to hatred and violence. Fascism manifests itself in book burnings, unethical judges, degradation of the environment, the loss of human rights, and ultimately holocausts. Compassion falls by the wayside. Nothing is sacred in a fascist world. It behooves us to
find ways to curb our fears so we aren’t so easily manipulated by those who are in control, as well as to work fiercely to create healthier leadership. |
Banner image: "Street art in Passage Sainte-Anne Popincourt: a gun ends in a photo camera, from which sprouts a flower bouquet." Wikimedia Commons
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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 | |
A Spirituality Named Compassion:
Uniting Mystical Awareness with Social Justice In A Spirituality Named Compassion, Matthew Fox delivers a profound exploration of the meaning and practice of compassion. Establishing a spirituality for the future that promises
personal, social, and global healing, Fox marries mysticism with social justice, leading the way toward a gentler and more ecological spirituality and an acceptance of our interdependence which is the substratum of all compassionate activity.
“Well worth our deepest consideration…Puts compassion into its proper focus after centuries of neglect.” –The Catholic Register | |
See Matthew Fox's full calendar
HERE |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses “The A.W.E. Project – Reinventing Education, Reinventing the Human” in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, Thursday, June 15, 4:00-6:00 pm PT. Register HERE. |
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: https://parliamentofreligions.org/ |
Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Tikkun Magazine releases a new Interview of Matthew Fox by Andrew Harvey regarding Matthew Fox: Essential Writings on Creation Spirituality (Orbis, 2022) edited by Charles Burack. Read the interview HERE.
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