The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox |
Our
Earth, a “Rare Gem” in the Universe,
And Us 12/19/2023 |
In Saturday’s and Monday’s DMs, we heard from scientist Marcelo Gleiser how “Exoplanet discoveries reveal Earth’s profound rarity in the cosmos." After studying about 1/3 of the known exoplanets in our solar system, Earth stands out as “a rare gem.” |
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“We’re part of a much grander narrative of creation and destruction. We are a part of the same cycle of life and death as stars are, galaxies are, the universe is.” ~ Marcelo Gleiser, trailer for the 2015 series Belief. Dartmouth |
Global Society, which draws lessons for human behavior from the new cosmology. Joel wrote: I did some research a couple years ago showing that Earth is rare in a previously unknown way: Earth has just the right amount of radioactive heating from thorium and uranium radioactive decay!* He sees the “Goldilocks principle” alive and well in this instance of Earth’s condition as well. |
Joel Primack and Nancy Abrams speak on humanity’s unique position and perspective in “Changing The World Through A Shared Cosmology”. For more information, see http://new-universe.org/ . TheCosmicSociety. | I happily include some of their striking observations in the chapter on “Father Sky” in my book on redefining healthy masculinity. What they share there also fills me with awe. How ours is “the midpoint of time for our solar system”—our sun is about five |
billion
years old and within six billion years will grow hotter, expand and burn Earth to a crisp. The most distant galaxies “are disappearing over the cosmic horizon” and even with advanced telescopes, future humans “will never be able to see as many galaxies as we can see now.” |
Furthermore, the size of a human being is just right for the task at hand. Humans are “at the center of all the possible sizes in the universe” because creatures much smaller than we are could not have sufficient complexity for our kind of intelligence…but intelligent |
Capsule of the short movie Cosmic Eye by astrophysicist Danail Obreschkow, zooming through scales of the universe from minuscule particles out to the cosmic web. Scientificus. |
creatures could not be much larger than we are either. We humans are significant–even “special”–in the universe. Special for our size, special for our intelligence and creativity, and special for the time in the history of the universe in which we are living (of course we are also
special for the amount of havoc we can wreak, otherwise known as evil). |
*Tim Stephens, “Radioactive elements may be crucial to the habitability of rocky planets,” UC Santa Cruz News Center, November 10, 2020.
Adapted from Matthew Fox, The Hidden Spirituality of Men: Ten Metaphors to Awaken the Sacred Masculine, pp. 10-13.
See also, Fox, Hildegard of Bingen, A Saint For Our Times.
Banner Image: Pictorial message placed aboard Pioneer 10 (1972) and Pioneer 11 (1973) in case
either spacecraft was intercepted by extraterrestrial beings. Created by NASA; vectors by Oona Räisänen (Mysid); designed by Carl Sagan & Frank Drake; artwork by Linda Salzman Sagan. Public Domain. Wikimedia Commons. |
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Queries for Contemplation Your thoughts on the “Rare Gem” of our Earth and on the “specialness” of humanity, positive and negative? (And of course this is not
to deny the specialness of all the other creatures we share Earth with and how together, as a “web of creation”—Hildegard’s words—we interact together.) |
Responses are welcomed. To add
your comment, or read other comments and enter into dialog, please click HERE to go to our website and scroll down to the Comments field. |
The Hidden Spirituality of Men: Ten Metaphors to Awaken the Sacred Masculine
To awaken what Fox calls “the sacred masculine,” he unearths ten metaphors, or archetypes, ranging from the Green Man, an
ancient pagan symbol of our fundamental relationship with nature, to the Spiritual Warrior….These timeless archetypes can inspire men to pursue their higher calling to connect to their deepest selves and to reinvent the world.
“Every man on this planet should read this book — not to mention every woman who wants to understand the struggles, often unconscious, that shape the men they know.” — Rabbi Michael
Lerner, author of The Left Hand of God
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Hildegard of Bingen, A Saint for Our Times: Unleashing Her Power in the 21st Century
Matthew Fox writes in Hildegard of Bingen about this amazing woman and what we can learn from
her. In an era when women were marginalized, Hildegard was an outspoken, controversial figure. Yet so visionary was her insight that she was sought out by kings, popes, abbots, and bishops for advice.
“This book gives strong, sterling, and unvarnished evidence that everything – everything – we ourselves become will affect what women after us may also become….This is a truly marvelous, useful, profound, and creative
book.” ~~ Andrew Harvey, author of The Hope: A Guide to Sacred Activism. |
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In the Beginning There Was Joy: A Cosmic Celebration for Kids of All Ages
The first book in the Father Fox’s Fantastical Fables series tells the story of the big bang and how humans fit into the awesome, fantastical,
cosmic picture! With artwork curated from illustrators around the world, this book expresses the joy and wonder of all peoples and cultures, planting seeds of respect, cooperation and hope to work together for the healing of our planet. "Matthew Fox does it again, here for our young ones, who so need a positive, cosmic
vision to thrive, or even survive, in a sad time." - Father Richard Rohr, Author of The Universal Christ "Matthew Fox offers a resounding affirmation of what our souls have always suspected: we are made for joy." - Mirabai Starr, Author of God of Love and Wild Mercy Receive a 20% discount when you buy this and one other book from Matthew Fox’s store! Use Promo Code 20% at checkout. |
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________________________________________________________________ UPCOMING EVENTS See Matthew Fox's full calendar
HERE |
SPECIAL EVENT: 5-DAY WORKSHOP IN AQUINAS’ HOMETOWN OF ORVIETO, ITALY
WITH MATTHEW FOX, MESHI CHAVEZ, AND CLAUDIA PICARDI
JUNE 9-14, 2024
LEARN MORE HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book “Confessions: The Making of a Post-Denominational Priest ” in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat.Thursday, January 18, 4:00-6:00 pm PT Register HERE |
Join Matthew Fox as he lectures on “What the Mystics Tell Us About Dying “ at the Conference on Death, Grief and Belief, “Emerging Spiritualities: Death and Bereavement Across the Spiritual Spectrum,” Saturday, January 20, 9:00am – 5:00pm PT Register HERE |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book “The Lotus & The Rose” in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat. Thursday, February 15, 4:00-6:00 pm PT Register HERE |
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Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Hunger for Wholeness:
What is Wholeness in the Midst of Crisis with Matthew Fox (Part 1) In the midst of increased violence between Israel and Palestine, Ilia Delio and theologian Matthew Fox discuss the state of the world today and how to have courage in Part 1 of their conversation. Ilia and Matt discuss his mentor, Marie Dominique Chenu, the influence of liberation theology
on social justice in the church today, and what can still be learned.
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Inspired by this post? Share your insights on Universeodon, Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #RevDrMatthewFox and tag Matt with @RevDrMatthewFox FOLLOW MATTHEW FOX: |
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