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Week
of 3/18-23/2024:
Celebrating the Feminism &
Deep Ecumenism of Thomas Aquinas 03/24/2024 |
March 18, 2024: Honoring Thomas Aquinas’s Non-Dualism & Proto-Feminism
A woman devoted to women’s rights asked Matthew to make the case for attending our summer workshop on Aquinas in Orvieto, Italy. Matthew, happy to oblige, calls Aquinas a proto-feminist. He tells us that the late Catholic feminist theologian Dr. Rosemary Ruether has written how the foundation of patriarchy is dualism: the dualism of matter vs. spirit. Aquinas spent his entire adult life putting distance between himself and such dualism, insisting that “we ought to
cherish the body” and “celebrate the wonderful communion of body and soul.” Aquinas rejected Augustine’s understanding of spirit as “whatever is not matter,” and instead defined spirit as “the vitality in everything.” Science has progressed since Augustine’s time. It has proven that matter and light are one and the same, |
March 19, 2024: Aquinas, Ruether, Misogyny & the November Election
Rosemary Ruether, who blames much of the oppression of women on a philosophy of dualism found in the “fathers” of the Christian church,
says: Although women were no more bodily and sexual than men, the male perspective tended to equate the dualism of soul or mind over body with the dualism of male over female. Women came to be regarded as closer to the flesh than men. She continues: The negative view of sex and the body is assimilated into a negative view of women as spiritually inferior to men and more identified with the carnal instincts. This creates a fearful view of sex and a fanatical misogyny
toward women…. She criticizes this anti-sexual attitude as being unbiblical because it is not in keeping with the much more positive view of sexuality espoused by Judaism. This misogyny and fear of sex is very much in the news these days. Even in the 21st century, the SCOTUS position backed by many right-wing politicians declares that they have the right to control women’s bodies. The upcoming election provides an opportunity to regain control over politics gone
awry. |
March 20, 2024: Aquinas, Feminism, Deep Ecumenism
Matthew’s passion
for Thomas Aquinas and his teachings began when he was 15 years old and went to his priest to ask for material so he could engage in philosophical discussions with his Protestant and agnostic friends. The priest gave Matthew G. K. Chesterton’s book on Thomas Aquinas, and Matthew ate it up. When he later trained to be a Dominican, one philosophy professor was Father Weisheipl, who wrote a major book on Aquinas. Then when Matthew attended the Institut Catholique in Paris for his doctoral
studies in spirituality, his mentor, Dominican historian Père Chenu was the greatest scholar of Aquinas ever. Matthew continues this legacy of being an Aquinas scholar. Without question, Aquinas is one of the greatest minds and hearts of Western civilization, and because this year is the 800th anniversary of his birth and 750th anniversary of his death, the decision was made to host a week-long workshop on his life and teachings this summer in Orvieto, Italy. Orvieto is an artists’ town where Aquinas both taught and wrote. |
March 21, 2024: More Feminism and Deep Ecumenism and Scienchttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eimsr83QCOQ&t=11se from Aquinas
Further evidence of the proto-feminism of Thomas Aquinas includes his reminders
that the word “Spirit” in Hebrew is feminine (ruah). He also says, Christ is “like a mother,” which undoubtedly imfluenced Julian of Norwich’s teachings. Aquinas also insisted that compassion is central to Christian faith, as when he said “compassion is the fire that Jesus came to set on the earth.” 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. Aquinas was a deep ecumenist. He
studied and interacted with “pagan” Aristotle, as well as the great Jewish scholar Moses Maimonides, and Muslim philosophers such as Averroes and Avicenna. Said he: “Truth—whoever utters it—comes from the Holy Spirit.” March 22, 2024: Cosmology, Science & A Spirituality of Matter in Aquinas
Aquinas was a proto-feminist, a practitioner of Deep Ecumenism, and a lover of creation and cosmology. He honored science, and his embrace of Aristotle scandalized many. Aquinas wrote an elaborate commentary on the cosmology of Aristotle’s day, where
he both explains and critiques in detail the theories of Eudoxus, Callipus, Plato, Aristotle, and others on planetary movements. One can imagine how fully Aquinas would be throwing himself into today’s science. In a world that was so dualistic, so divided between matter and spirit, Aquinas honored the reality and sacredness of matter, which is derived from the Latin mater, or mother. Aquinas was a major influence on both Thomas Berry and Brian Swimme. Matthew says that he has
probably heard Berry lecture 25 times, and not once did he fail to cite Aquinas. |
A 1661 chart illustrating the heliocentric model of the planets, which overturned previous
belief that the Earth was the center of the cosmos. Chart by Andreas Cellarius. Wikimedia Commons. |
March 23, 2024: Aquinas, Chenu, Feminism, Sheldrake on Nature as Revelation
Aquinas’s respect for matter, nature and science is evident in one of his great teachings: ”Revelation comes in two volumes: Nature
and the Bible.” In the Forward to his book Sheer Joy, British scientist Rupert Sheldrake praises Aquinas for being “a holistic thinker” who “went much further than most modern holists in recognizing the all-pervasive influence of the spiritual realm.” Aquinas compares the pervasive nature of the soul with that of God: ‘The whole human soul is in the whole body
and also in every part of the body, just as God is present to the entire universe.’ Sheldrake observes that in Aquinas’s teachings on angels, if you substitute the word “quantum” for "angel" you have today’s quantum mechanics. Clearly, Aquinas was quite ahead of his time. |
To find out more information about and register for this week-long CS retreat in Italy with Matthew Fox, click HERE. Banner image: Panoramic view of Orvieto, Italy, where Thomas Aquinas taught and wrote. Wikimedia Commons.
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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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The Physics of Angels: Exploring the Realm Where Science & Spirit Meet
By Matthew Fox and Rupert Sheldrake
When was the last time a scientist and a theologian discussed angels together? What are angels? Many people believe in angels, but few can define these enigmatic spirits. Now visionary theologian Matthew Fox and acclaimed biologist Rupert Sheldrake—pioneers in modern religious thinking and scientific
theory—launch a groundbreaking exploration into the ancient concept of the angel and restore dignity, meaning, and joy to our time-honored belief in these heavenly beings. |
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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. "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." - 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, 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 HERE. |
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