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Feminism and Deep Ecumenism and Science from Aquinas 03/21/2024 |
Further evidence of the proto-feminism of Thomas Aquinas includes his reminding his readers on several occasions that the word “Spirit” in Hebrew is feminine (ruah). |
He also says, Christ is “like a mother”—which no doubt impacted Julian of Norwich who developed that concept more richly than any theologian until the late 20th century. That and Aquinas’s insistence on compassion as central to Christian faith as when he said, “compassion is the fire that Jesus came to set on the earth" |
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“compassion is the imitation of God” who is both “compassion and justice.”(Julian says compassion is central to motherhood.) Aquinas had an immense impact on Mechtild of Magdeburg, a contemporary of his, who was a Beguine or member of the women’s movement of the Middle Ages. As for Deep Ecumenism, Aquinas’s devotion to Aristotle who was a “pagan” and not from the Biblical tradition was a scandal to many. He wrote entire commentaries on Aristotle’s books on Physics, Psychology, Ethics, Politics, Metaphysics and more. He adds that “the old pagan virtues were from God” and “revelation has been made to many
pagans.” |
Fr. Dominic Legge, O.P., a Dominican friar from the Province of St. Joseph, explores how God is the source of what science studies. The Thomistic Institute. | His defense of his deep ecumenism, that “Truth—whoever utters it—comes from the Holy Spirit” lays bare the very essence of deep ecumenism: Humanity’s search for truth is never done and never found in only one place. |
Aquinas
studied and interacted with the great Jewish scholar Moses Maimonides as well as Muslim philosophers such as Averroes and Avicenna. Science was primary for Aquinas—which is why he studied Aristotle so profoundly. Aquinas insists that “a mistake about creation results in a mistake about God.” He was voracious in studying the
universe and said, “God has produced a work in which the likeness of God is clearly reflected—that is, the world itself.” |
And: In this life we cannot know God directly without first knowing something else….We do not know God by seeing the divine essence, but we do know God from the order of the whole universe. For the universe of creatures is itself presented to us by |
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God so that through it we may know God insofar as it possess certain images and likenesses—albeit imperfect—of divine things. These images are compared to divine ones as primary models to their images. How central cosmology is to Aquinas’s theology! To be continued. |
Adapted from Matthew Fox, Sheer Joy: Conversations with Thomas Aquinas on Creation Spirituality, pp. 31, 382, 37-48, 158, 202.
See also: Fox, Julian of Norwich: Wisdom in a Time of Pandemic—and Beyond, pp. 45-58, 102f.
See also: Fox, The Tao of Thomas Aquinas:
Fierce Wisdom for Hard Times.
Banner Image: “Veni, Creator Spiritus: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth.” Detail from a window by Douglas Strachan in Edinburgh’s St Giles Catheral. Photo by Lawrence O.P. on Flickr.
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Queries for Contemplation “We do know God from the order of the whole universe.” Do you sense that today’s new cosmology from science as well
as Webb Telescope have the potential to deepen our God-knowledge? How so? |
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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Julian of Norwich: Wisdom in a Time of Pandemic–and Beyond
Julian of Norwich lived through the dreadful bubonic plague that killed close to 50% of Europeans. Being an anchoress, she ‘sheltered in place’ and developed a
deep wisdom that she shared in her book, Showings, which was the first book in English by a woman. A theologian way ahead of her time, Julian develops a feminist understanding of God as mother at the heart of nature’s goodness. Fox shares her teachings in this powerful and timely and inspiring book.
“What an utterly magnificent book. The work of Julian of Norwich, lovingly
supported by the genius of Matthew Fox, is a roadmap into the heart of the eco-spiritual truth that all life breathes together.” –Caroline Myss
Now also available as an audiobook HERE. |
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The Tao of Thomas Aquinas: Fierce Wisdom for Hard Times
A stunning spiritual handbook drawn from the substantive teachings of Aquinas’ mystical/prophetic genius, offering a sublime roadmap for spirituality and
action.
Foreword by Ilia Delio.
“What a wonderful book! Only Matt Fox could bring to life the wisdom and brilliance of Aquinas with so much creativity. The Tao of Thomas Aquinas is a masterpiece.”
–Caroline Myss, author
of Anatomy of the Spirit |
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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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