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Aquinas and the Via Creativa, continued 03/26/2024 |
Aquinas sees all creation carrying the mark of creativity, because “things were made like God not only in being but also in acting.” Furthermore, “the dignity of causality is imparted even to creatures.” |
Yes! And to a special degree, the human creature has been blessed with this “dignity of causality.” Do we feel such dignity? Or do we take it for granted, wallowing instead in feelings of powerlessness or victimhood? |
Former NASA engineer Mark Rober spent a month
of COVID home time affectionately matching his creative guile against that of his backyard squirrels (the squirrels won). |
In my book Creativity: Where the Divine and the Human Meet, I propose that creativity is the very definition employed by anthropologists for our species. We are bipeds who make things. Our languages and music and more are profoundly creative and diverse. According to
Aquinas, the human intellect can “conceive an infinite number of things in order to make for ourselves an infinite number of instruments.” We make an “infinite variety” of meals, modes of transportation, communication, entertainment, weapons, clothing, and other necessities of life because we are endowed “with both reason and our hands.” |
National Geographic offers a mini-feature on the development and mission of the James Webb Space
Telescope. | Our intellects are vast and open and free—they have a form that is not determined to one thing
alone, as is the case with a stone, but have a capacity for all forms. It is amazing that Aquinas repeats the word infinite so readily when he is describing who we are. We are almost infinite in our creative capacities. |
Unfortunately, we must be on guard, for our powers of choice and creativity can also bring evil into the world. We are not pre-programmed to do the good. We must work at that. The unjust person is worse than injustice and the evil person worse
than a brute, because an evil person can do ten thousand times more harm than a beast, because we can use our reason to devise many diverse evils. |
Thus our creativity is a double-edged sword. We can do wonderful and awesome things with it—and we can do evil and awful things. The choice is ours to make. That choice is the very meaning of morality. At this time in human history—and surely in American
history—we |
J. Robert Oppenheimer reflects on the atomic bomb in the light of Vishnu’s words in the Bhagavad-Gita: “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” Plenilune Pictures |
need to be especially on guard about the dangers of religious hypocrisy and domination politics, the rising popularity of authoritarianism, and our powers for wrecking Earth, God’s “special work of art.” |
Adapted from Matthew Fox, The Tao of Thomas Aquinas: Fierce Wisdom for Hard Times, pp. 52-55.
See also: Fox, Creativity: Where the Divine and the Human Meet.
And Fox, Sheer Joy: Conversations with Thomas Aquinas on Creation Spirituality, pp. 255, 259f., 261,
245-382.
Banner Image: Ron Finley, the Gangsta Gardener (or Guerrilla Gardener) of South Central L.A., creates temporary art works in the form of public food gardens as an activist for sustainability, food security and food justice. Photo by the New Zealand Embassy on Wikimedia Commons. |
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Queries for Contemplation What does it feel to you to hear about humans and other creatures sharing in the divine “dignity of causality”? What does
that phrase mean to you, “the dignity of causality”? |
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. |
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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Creativity: Where the Divine and Human Meet
Because creativity is the key to both our genius and beauty as a species but also to our capacity for evil, we need to teach creativity and to teach ways of steering this God-like power in
directions that promote love of life (biophilia) and not love of death (necrophilia). Pushing well beyond the bounds of conventional Christian doctrine, Fox’s focus on creativity attempts nothing less than to shape a new ethic.
“Matt Fox is a pilgrim who seeks a path into the church of tomorrow. Countless numbers will be happy to follow his lead.” –Bishop John Shelby Spong, author, Rescuing
the Bible from Fundamentalism, Living in Sin |
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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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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, 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 speaks on “The Deep Feminine and the Deep Masculine and their importance in elevating consciousness and healing our world” at the The Heart of Nature 7-Day Summit with Jane Fonda, Marianne Williamson, Paul Hawken, Nina Simons and over 30 leading experts,
Tuesday-Monday, April 16-22. 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. |
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 |
Ilia Delio and theologian Matthew Fox pick up on their conversation about the viability of contemporary religious institutions in an evolutionary world. They discuss death and resurrection—the enduring challenge of modern approaches to the subject and what we can learn from mystics, past generations and ancient peoples alike. To listen, click HERE. |
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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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