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Kudos to the French
Daring a New
Olympic Opening Ceremony 07/31/2024 |
Speaking of creativity that should mark the spirituality and value system of a post-mechanistic universe based on “cosmogenesis,” I wish to cheer the courage and creativity on display in the opening ceremonies of the French-designed Olympic Games of 2024. |
Instead of athletes entering a stadium under their national flag, the French offered up the city of Paris and the river Seine as the preferred locale. Each team appeared in a caravan of 85 boats. Along the way were dancers of all kinds and music that ranged from opera, to rappers, |
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to Lady
Gaga, to Celine Dion coming back from a serious disease. Instead of lighting a fire in a cauldron in a stadium, the Olympic flame also came by boat and was lit in the Tuileries Gardens in a ceremony that launched a hot air balloon that then hung over the Gardens. The historical context surprised many—the French invented the hot air
balloon in 1783, 241 years ago. |
The flaming cauldron of the "green Olympics" of Paris 2024, an illusion of LED lights and water mist, rises nightly by a hot-air balloon honoring the Montgolfier brothers. Photo by Superbenjamin on Wikimedia Commons. | I confess that I hold a warm spot for Paris and the French as I lived and studied there for three years (1967-1970). I remain indebted to them for the quality of education I received from thinkers like my mentor, Père Chenu, OP, who named the Creation Spirituality tradition for me and many others with whom I studied. |
I salute the French for their commitment to creativity including brilliant philosophers like Gabriel Marcel and Gaston Bachelard, author of Poetics of Space, to name just two. And Paris being the landing spot for the brilliant psychologist Otto Rank, after being effectively expelled from Vienna and his Freudian brothers. In Paris he authored the iconic study on Art and Artist for which Anaïs Nin, a former client of his,
wrote a memorable Foreword. |
The French designers of the Olympics wrapped the Sports of the Olympic Games in the arms of Art, and in my opinion the result was a brilliant and memorable experience—indeed a spiritual experience—that reminded us of the |
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brilliance and diversity of our multi-gifted species. Both Sports and Art bring out the glory of our species, our excellence and our talent. They unite us as a species. Beauty does that. Creativity and the striving for excellence do that. Let us acknowledge too the immense
courage it took to propose a whole new paradigm for the Olympic Games such as France served up.
To be continued.
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See Matthew Fox, Creativity: Where the Divine and the Human Meet.
And Fox, Original Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality.
And Fox, “The Paris Years: A Culture in Revolution—1967-1970)”, in Confessions: The Making of a Postdenominational Priest, pp.
70-98.
Banner Image: Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower, Paris 2024. Photo by Ibex73 on Wikimedia Commons. |
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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 |
Did you watch the opening Olympic ceremonies? What was your response to the French daring to move it out of a traditional stadium to the city and the river Seine? |
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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Original Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality
Matthew Fox lays out a whole new direction for Christianity—a direction that is in fact very ancient and very grounded in Jewish thinking (the fact that Jesus was a Jew
is often neglected by Christian theology): the Four Paths of Creation Spirituality, the Vias Positiva, Negativa, Creativa and Transformativa in an extended and deeply developed way.
“Original Blessing makes available to the Christian world and to the human community a radical cure for all dark and derogatory views of the natural world wherever these may have originated.” –Thomas Berry, author,
The Dream of the Earth; The Great Work; co-author, The Universe Story |
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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 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 Order of the Sacred Earth: An Intergenerational Vision of Love and Action in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, Thursday, August 15, 4:00-5:30 pm PT.
Register HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, Thursday, September 19, 4:00-5:30 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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