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Resurrection and
Reincarnation, continued 07/16/2024 |
We are responding to a question posed in yesterday’s DM about whether Reincarnation makes more sense than Resurrection. I believe that Resurrection and Reincarnation share more in common than we have been told. |
The Resurrection traditions are found in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. We tend to identify the Reincarnation tradition with the East but in fact Origen, a Christian theologian in the West, proposed a (rather convoluted) version of reincarnation. It was condemned by a church Council. To me it is striking that that is the only condemnation of reincarnation from institutional Christianity. There is more room for dialog between Resurrection and Reincarnation than we generally imagine. |
Image of the Resurrection by Indigenous Artist, Ullrich Javier Lemus, which can be found in Matthew Fox’s book, Stations of the Cosmic Christ. |
I think the two overlap considerably. Both are saying that the life we are living now is not the sole version of our existence. As Eckhart said, “Life dies, existence goes on.” But of course, we want to push that: What kind of existence? Where? How? I see two doctrines in the West that coincide with
Reincarnation themes. One is the communion of saints, namely that we do join our ancestors in some modality. And the other is the idea of purgatory which is essentially telling us that we are here to learn love, and if we don’t learn it this time around, we will learn it some place, some time around. |
Life, death, and rebirth: “Life Cycle.” David Paladin.
Used with permission. | Then we have the Resurrection teachings of Thomas Aquinas: That there
are two resurrections. One is waking up in this lifetime and that is the resurrection of the soul. And the other, the resurrection of the body, we need not worry about if the first resurrection occurs. And that Christ’s resurrection constituted the second only because he was already awake in this
lifetime. But that Christ assists the rest of us in both our resurrections. |
Navajo painter David Paladin, who practiced both his indigenous and his Christian religion, and near the end of his life, became a UU minister serving both prisoners and police, said this about his experience of deep suffering that initiated him as a shaman. You can gift the world as a
shaman because you’re a wounded warrior. A wounded healer and a wounded warrior are one. Instead of returning pain for pain, the warrior-shaman raises above his own dead body and says, ‘I have died, too. Now let’s dance. We’re free. The spirit is ours because we have died. Now we are resurrected from the ashes.’ To be continued. |
Adapted from Matthew Fox, Creativity: Where the Divine and the Human Meet, p. 173.
And Fox, Sheer Joy: Conversations with Thomas Aquinas on Creation Spirituality, pp. 147f., 359-364, 466, 498.
And Fox, One River Many Wells: Wisdom Springing from Global
Faiths, pp. 335-376.
Banner Image: Detail: “Circles of Beginning” by David Paladin. Used with permission. |
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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. |
Queries for Contemplation |
What connections do you see between Reincarnation and Resurrection? How does David Paladin’s story speak to you? |
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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One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing from Global Faiths
Matthew Fox calls on all the world traditions for their wisdom and their inspiration in a work that is far more than a list of theological position papers but
a new way to pray—to meditate in a global spiritual context on the wisdom all our traditions share. Fox chooses 18 themes that are foundational to any spirituality and demonstrates how all the world spiritual traditions offer wisdom about each.“Reading One River, Many Wells is like entering the rich silence of a masterfully directed retreat. As you read this text, you reflect, you pray, you embrace Divinity. Truly no words can fully express my respect and awe for this
magnificent contribution to contemporary spirituality.” –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 has created a narrative, for every parent, grandparent, both spiritual and
scientific, that is a gift for all elders who recognize their responsibility in initiating the young ones into the grandeur of existence." Cosmologist Brian Swimme, Author of Cosmogenesis and The Universe Story "Matthew Fox has given all of us, children included, a wondrous and enchanting view of creation
and all that humanity should aspire to." - Caroline Myss, Author of Anatomy of the Spirit and A Time for Grace |
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UPCOMING EVENTS See Matthew Fox's full calendar
HERE |
MONTHLY: 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. Last Tuesday of every month, 4:00-5:00pm PT.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88665302478
Meeting ID: 886 6530 2478 Learn more at www.orderofthesacredearth.org |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book Prayer: A Radical Response to Life in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, Thursday, July 18, 6:00 - 7:30 pm PT.
Register HERE. |
Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Matthew Fox speaks on "Preserving Things in the Good" at the Unity of Walnut Creek Earth Day worship service held on April 21, 2024. |
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