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Aquinas, Feminism, Deep Ecumenism 03/20/2024 |
Yesterday I received an e mail from a reader of our DM, who told me that my perspective on Thomas Aquinas and his proto-feminism was unique, compared to that she had learned from Roman Catholic teachers. |
I have been living with Aquinas since I was fifteen years old, when I went to my parish priest (the parish I grew up in was a Dominican parish) for material to assist me in engaging philosophically with my friends in my high school who were Protestant or agnostic. He gave me G. K. Chesterton’s book on Thomas Aquinas and I ate it |
Matthew Fox’s parish church during his childhood and teen years: Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Madison, WI. Photo by Corey Coyle, on Wikimedia Commons. |
up. Then he gave
me more writings from Aquinas. In many ways it was Aquinas and Leo Tolstoy (reading War and Peace during summer vacation before my senior year and having a mystical experience doing so) that attracted me to the Dominican Order. And of course, in my training as a Dominican in both philosophy and theology, Aquinas played a big role. |
“Marie-Dominique Chenu,” from biography in Backward View blog, 2/12/2012; photographer unknown | One of my philosophy professors was Father Weisheipl, who later joined the Medieval Institute in Toronto and wrote a major book on Aquinas. When I attended the Institut Catholique in Paris for my doctoral studies in spirituality, during the Spring of 1968, I |
had the Dominican historian Père Chenu as my teacher, he being the greatest scholar of Aquinas ever. It was he who named the creation spirituality tradition for me. Peruvian theologian Gustavo Guttieriez has called liberation theology “the daughter of Père Chenu.” I have just
finished writing a major book on Chenu. So, Yes, I do have a special interpretation and appreciation of Aquinas, especially at this time, the 800th anniversary of his birth and 750th anniversary of his death. |
No question that he is one of the greatest minds and hearts of Western civilization, and this inspired our decision to throw a week-long workshop on his life and teachings this summer in
Orvieto, an artists’ town in Italy, where he both taught and wrote. |
Matthew Fox reflects on Thomas Aquinas’ deep ecumenism as he interacted with ideas of non-Christians, including Aristotle, Moses Maimonides, Avicenna, Averroes, Plato, and Boethius. |
In addition to his non-dualism that is so integral to feminist philosophy that we have been discussing, Aquinas was a pioneer in Deep Ecumenism or Interfaith. After all, he devoted his entire life to bringing Aristotle—a “pagan” scientist—into the Christian faith. And, when attacked
viciously for this, he said, “All truth, whoever utters it, comes from the Holy Spirit.” To be continued. |
Adapted from Matthew Fox, Sheer Joy: Conversations with Thomas Aquinas on Creation Spirituality, pp. 31f, 149-156.
See also: Matthew Fox, Confessions: The Making of a Post-denominational Priest, pp. 62-82, 97, 239, 285, 311, 451.
Banner Image: “Saint Thomas Aquinas, Protector
of the University of Cusco.” Artist unknown. Wikimedia Commons.
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Queries for Contemplation Do you agree with Aquinas that “all truth—whoever utters it—comes from the Holy Spirit”? What follows from
that? |
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. |
Sheer Joy: Conversations with Thomas Aquinas on Creation
Spirituality
Matthew Fox renders Thomas Aquinas accessible by interviewing him and thus descholasticizing him. He also translated many of his works such as Biblical commentaries never before in English (or Italian or German of French). He gives Aquinas a forum so that he can be heard in our own time. He presents Thomas Aquinas entirely in his own words, but in a form designed to
allow late 20th-century minds and hearts to hear him in a fresh way.
“The teaching of Aquinas comes through will a fullness and an insight that has never been present in English before and [with] a vital message for the world today.” ~ Fr. Bede Griffiths (Afterword).
Foreword by Rupert Sheldrake |
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Confessions: The Making of a Post-Denominational Priest (Revised/Updated Edition)
Matthew Fox’s stirring
autobiography, Confessions, reveals his personal, intellectual, and spiritual journey from altar boy, to Dominican priest, to his eventual break with the Vatican. Five new chapters in this revised and updated edition bring added perspective in light of the author’s continued journey, and his reflections on the current changes taking place in church, society and the environment.
“The unfolding story of
this irrepressible spiritual revolutionary enlivens the mind and emboldens the heart — must reading for anyone interested in courage, creativity, and the future of religion.”
—Joanna Macy, author of World as Lover, World as Self |
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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 |
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. |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book Natural Grace: Dialogues on Creation, Darkness and the Soul in Spirituality and Science in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, Thursday, May 16, 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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