The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox |
Watch for Matthew Fox's video meditation -- now appearing every Monday! |
The
Wisdom of Frederick Douglass, continued 02/27/2024 |
We continue our meditations on the courage and accomplishments that emanate from the holiness of Frederick Douglass. |
The following teaching has by no means grown old. Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to suppress, rob and degrade them, neither person nor property will be
safe. |
The Rev. Al Sharpton introduces a brief biopic on the life and legacy of Frederick Douglass. HISTORY. |
Politicians of our time who seem bereft of shame might consider this observation from Douglass: All human experience proves over and over again, that any success which comes through meanness, trickery, fraud and dishonor, is but emptiness and will only be a torment to its
possessor. |
Mini-documentary on the friendship between Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln’s that led to Lincoln becoming the “abolitionist president.” National Geographic. | The insight shared here seems obvious and speaks to the real meaning of redemption: Redemption is for everyone, but one must confess that one needs it–otherwise, the trickery and fraud persist. Douglass was not naïve about power and politics. He
says: |
Power and those in control concede nothing…without a demand. They never have and never will. What to do? Each and every one
of us must keep demanding, must keep fighting, must keep thundering, must keep plowing, must keep on keeping this struggling, must speak out and speak up until justice is served because where there is no justice there is no peace. His support of women and the women’s movement is evident in these
words: |
A woman should have every honorable motive to exertion which is enjoyed by man, to the full extent of her capacities and endowments. The case is too plain for argument. Nature has given woman the same powers, and subjected her to the same earth, breathes the same air, subsists on the same food, physical, oral, mental, |
Frederick Douglass with Sojourner Truth: Reenactment produced by the late activist in race relations, Dr. Lana
Walton. |
and spiritual. She has therefore, an equal right with man, in all efforts to obtain and maintain a perfect existence. Douglass met with Lincoln on three different occasions, including one month before his assassination. Douglass was a big backer of the Emancipation Proclamation and of
getting black soldiers into the war. He summarized his experience of Lincoln this way: Mr. Lincoln was not only a great President, but a great man—too great to be small in anything. In his company, I was never in any way reminded of my humble origin, or of my unpopular
color. |
See Matthew Fox, Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth.
And Fox, Original Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality
And Fox, A Spirituality Named Compassion.
Banner Image: Frederick Douglass with Helen Pitts Douglass (seated, right) and her sister Eva Pitts (standing, center), c. 1880. Wikimedia Commons |
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Queries for Contemplation What observations by Frederick Douglass from this meditation seem most pertinent to our troubles today? “Where there is
no justice there is no peace.” Do you agree? |
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. |
Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth
Fox’s spirituality weds the healing and liberation found in North American Creation Spirituality and in
South American Liberation Theology. Creation Spirituality challenges readers of every religious and political persuasion to unite in a new vision through which we learn to honor the earth and the people who inhabit it as the gift of a good and just Creator.
“A watershed theological work that offers a common ground for religious seekers and activists of all stripes.” — Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality
and Practice. |
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Original Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality
Matthew Fox lays out a whole new direction for Christianity—a direction that is in fact very ancient and very grounded in Jewish thinking (the fact that Jesus was a Jew
is often neglected by Christian theology): the Four Paths of Creation Spirituality, the Vias Positiva, Negativa, Creativa and Transformativa in an extended and deeply developed way.
“Original Blessing makes available to the Christian world and to the human community a radical cure for all dark and derogatory views of the natural world wherever these may have originated.” –Thomas Berry, author,
The Dream of the Earth; The Great Work; co-author, The Universe Story |
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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 |
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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. "This delicious book for children of all ages
celebrates joy as the essential truth of reality." - Andrew Harvey, Author of The Hope and Radical Regeneration "I absolutely LOVED reading this beautiful, creative, stirring story—a
charming, whimsical, powerful, parable." - Robert Holden, Author of Happiness NOW! and Higher Purpose 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 |
February 27, 2024 (Tue) Virtual Event Order of the Sacred Earth 4:00-5:00pm PT – Join Matthew Fox, Mariko Middleton and Skylar Wilson in a free virtual meeting for connection and networking with other mystic warriors. Learn more at www.orderofthesacredearth.org |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book Passion for Creation: The Earth-Honoring Spirituality of Meister Eckhart in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, Thursday, March 21, 4:00-5:30 pm PT.
Register HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book Sheer Joy: Conversations with Thomas Aquinas on Creation Spirituality in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, Thursday, April 18, 4:00-5:30 pm PT.
Register HERE. |
Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Matthew Fox speaks on "What the Mystics Tell Us About Dying" at the 2024 Symposium on Death and Bereavement Studies. To listen, click the video thumbnail at right. |
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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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