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Douglass: Learning, Education, &
2 Versions of Christianity 02/28/2024 |
Learning meant everything to Douglass who as a child found ways to learn to read and write even though it was forbidden to slaves. He tells us: |
Education means emancipation. It means light and liberty, it means the uplifting of the soul of man into the glorious light of truth, the light by which men can only be made free. It is said that underpinning all Douglass’s’ life was his relentless process of self-education—a
theme |
Mini-bio tracing Frederick Douglass’ rise from slavery to service at the highest levels of government. Daily Dose
Documentary |
that runs throughout Douglass’s life story.* When his former slave master was dying, Douglas went to see him on his deathbed. His ex-master told him he too would have run away were he a slave and asked for his forgiveness. Once asked whether slave masters would be in
heaven, Douglass responded that some would because they were masters out of ignorance. |
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| Douglass believed in a faith that led to action. I love the religion of Christianity…full of good fruits and without hypocrisy….I prayed for twenty years but received no answer until I prayed with my
legs. |
Douglass would have plenty to say about the so-called “Christian Nationalism” and crackpot Christianity being preached by certain politicians and preachers of our day. He distinguished between what he called The Christianity of this land and the Christianity of Christ. The difference is so wide that to receive the one as good, pure and holy is of necessity to reject the other as bad, corrupt and wicked. I hate the corrupt slaveholding, women whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land. |
I can see no reason, but the most deceitful one, for calling the religion of this land Christianity. I look upon it as the boldest of all frauds, and the grossest of all libels. I am filled with unutterable loathing when I contemplate the religious pomp and show together with the horrible inconsistencies that surround me. |
“We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest.” Mural by Parris Stancell, Philadelphia, sponsored by the Freedom School Mural Arts Program. Left to right; Malcolm Shabazz (Malcolm X), Ella Baker, Martin Luther King, Frederick Douglass. Photo by Tony Fischer, on Flickr. |
He who claims it a religious duty to read the Bible denies me the right of learning to read…..We have men sold to build churches, women sold to support the gospel, and babies sold to purchase bibles for the poor heathen! All for the glory of God and the good of the souls! The slave
auctioneer’s bell and the church-going bell chime in with each other. Christofascism was not Douglass’s version of the Christ message. |
* Yohuru Williams, “Why Frederick Douglass Matters,” on History.com
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: Uniting Mystical Awareness with Social Justice.
Banner Image: Statue of Frederick Douglass on the campus of West Chester University,
where he delivered his last public lecture in 1895. University photo on Flickr. |
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Queries for Contemplation Do you resonate with Douglass’s teachings about the difference between the “Christianity of this land” and the “Christianity
of Christ?” Do you see this as applicable to today’s politics still? |
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 |
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, Mariko Middleton and Skylar Wilson of the Order of the Sacred Earth in a free virtual meeting for connection and networking with other mystic warriors, Tuesday, March 26, 4:00-5:00pm PT. Learn more at www.orderofthesacredearth.org 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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