The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers Daily Meditations
with Matthew Fox |
Watch for Matthew Fox's video meditation — now
appearing every Monday! Don't miss Matthew's exciting upcoming webinars and courses, listed at the bottom of this DM! |
The War Against Empathy (in the Names
of Trump & Christ) 4/16/2025 |
As the impacts of the new regime ripple out, learn the deeper stakes involved. Get your copy of Trump & the MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ today! Choose your format in the book block below. |
Yesterday we meditated on the essential lesson of Passover: that of empathy. Empathy is the “central message” of the 8-day season of Passover, said Rabbi Jonathan Sacks of the UK. |
Empathy and compassion lie at the center of Jesus’ teachings as well. “Be compassionate as your Creator in heaven is compassionate” summarizes his life and teaching and even the reason for his death that we remember this week. Thomas Aquinas called compassion “the fire that Jesus came to set on the earth.” |
Democracy vs. oligarchy: the First Felon corrects the Beatitudes. Anonymous meme on Starecat.com |
Teachings of
compassion lie at the core of abundant parables of Jesus, from the Good Samaritan to Matthew 25 and many more. In contrast to the Passover tradition of Judaism and from Jesus, this headline arose recently in The Guardian: “Loathe thy neighbor: Elon Musk and the Christian right are waging war on empathy.”* Author Julia Carrie Wong underscores how “Trump’s actions are irreconcilable with Christian
compassion. But an unholy alliance seeks to cast empathy as a parasitic plague.” The lawless effort to keep union member, father of three and admittedly innocent prisoner Kilmar Abrego Garcia in a notorious Salvadoran prison by the current administration is not only blatantly illegal but also blatantly without
empathy for him, his wife and family, co-workers and more. Arguments why it is possible emanating from the current regime (including lawyers who should know better) are strongly suggesting that a war against empathy is at the heart of the administration’s agenda– even though all nine SCOTUS judges agreed that he
should be returned. |
The Holy Post panel discusses two popular christianist books which claim empathy is manipulative at best, or downright sinful at worst. | I highly recommend reading Wong’s article and what it tells us about the current regime and all those Congress people who support it without so much as a peep. Many of them love to show off their so-called Christianity at a drop of the hat (Mr. Johnson, |
Republican House
Speaker, primary among them). Wong begins her article with a public statement from Elon Musk about how empathy is “the fundamental weakness of western civilization,” and the “empathy response” constitutes “a bug in western civilization." Instead of being “your standard, golden rule-type stuff,” Wong points out, evangelical creationists and
vice president JD Vance, reprimanded by Pope Francis, both want to declare that immigration and foreign aid constitute a sin of too much empathy. The goal of the rightwing movement against empathy is to squash “our capacity to recognize and respond to suffering” and is “a flashing red light warning of fascist
intent.” It makes room for mass deportation without due process, draconian cuts to domestic and foreign aid programs, and a set of “foreign policies that amount to a prescription for mass suffering and death.” |
Let us not leave out domestic policies promising mass suffering and death by deconstructing Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, Obamacare, scientific research and more. When Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde preached to Trump on inauguration day asking for “mercy upon people in our country who are
scared now,” a “Christian podcaster” named Ben Garrett tweeted: “Do not commit the sin of empathy. This snake (Budde) is God’s enemy and yours too.” Pastor Joe Rigney excoriated Bishop Budde for her “clear example of the man-eating weed of Humanist Mercy.” His book, |
Response of “Christian husband and father, pastor” Ben Garrett to Bishop Mariann Budde’s admonition to the newly-installed White House tenant. X.com |
The Sin of Empathy: Compassion and Its Counterfeits, was released this February. Wong tells us that “Rigney’s views are increasingly appealing to evangelical Christians.” For Susan Lanzone, author of Empathy: A History, “the disparagement of empathy is…a deliberate
effort to set up a permission structure to dehumanize others.” |
SIGN THE PLEDGE: Boycott pro-Trump corporations for Lent this year. Faithful America. EngageForDemocracy offers curated trustworthy reporting, educational resources, and action campaigns to hold government accountable to the Constitution and democratic norms. * Julia Carrie Wong, “Loathe thy neighbor: Elon Musk and the Christian right are waging war on empathy,” The Guardian, April 8, 2025.
See Matthew Fox, A Spirituality Named Compassion: Uniting Mystical Awareness with Social Justice..
See Fox, Trump & The MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ.
And Fox, Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul and
Society.
And Fox, The Pope’s War: Why Ratzinger’s Secret Crusade Has Imperiled the Church and How It Can Be Saved
And Fox, Original Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality.
And Fox, Creation Spirituality:
Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth.
Banner Image: “The Parable of the Good Samaritan, Messina Church of the Miraculous Medal House of Hospitality, Collereale,” G. Conti. Wikimedia Commons |
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 |
How concerned are you about the disappearance of empathy being perpetrated by so-called Christians and others in league with Trumpian policies and politics and the structure it is creating to dehumanize others? |
A Spirituality Named Compassion: Uniting Mystical Awareness with Social Justice
In A Spirituality Named Compassion, Matthew
Fox delivers a profound exploration of the meaning and practice of compassion. Establishing a spirituality for the future that promises personal, social, and global healing, Fox marries mysticism with social justice, leading the way toward a gentler and more ecological spirituality and an acceptance of our interdependence which is the substratum of all compassionate activity.
“Well worth our
deepest consideration…Puts compassion into its proper focus after centuries of neglect.” –The Catholic Register |
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Trump & The MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election Matthew Fox tells us
that he had always shied away from using the term “Anti-Christ” because it was so often used to spread control and fear. However, given today’s rise of authoritarianism and forces of democracide, ecocide, and christofascism, he turns the tables in this book employing the archetype for the cause of justice, democracy, and a renewed Earth and humanity. For immediate access to Trump & The MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election, order the e-book with 10 full-color prints from Amazon HERE. To get a print-on-demand paperback copy with black & white images, order from Amazon HERE or IUniverse HERE. To receive a limited-edition, full-color paperback copy, order from MatthewFox.org HERE. Order the audiobook HERE for immediate download. |
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Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul and Society
Visionary theologian and best-selling
author Matthew Fox offers a new theology of evil that fundamentally changes the traditional perception of good and evil and points the way to a more enlightened treatment of ourselves, one another, and all of nature. In comparing the Eastern tradition of the 7 chakras to the Western tradition of the 7 capital sins, Fox allows us to think creatively about our capacity for personal and institutional evil and what we can do about them.
“A scholarly masterpiece embodying a better vision and depth of perception far beyond the grasp of any one single science. A breath-taking analysis.” — Diarmuid O’Murchu, author of Quantum Theology: Spiritual Implications of the New Physics |
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The Pope’s War: Why Ratzinger’s Secret Crusade Has Imperiled the Church and How It Can Be Saved
The Pope’s War offers a
provocative look at three decades of corruption in the Catholic Church, focusing on Josef Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI. The final section in the book focuses on birthing a truly catholic Christianity.
“This book should be read by everybody, not only for its ferocious courage, but also for its vision for what needs to be saved from the destructive forces that threaten authentic Christianity.” ~ Andrew Harvey, author
of The Hope.
“In the gripping The Pope’s War, Matthew Fox takes an unwavering look at the layers of corruption in the Catholic Church, holding moral truth against power.” — Jason Berry, author of Vows of Silence: The Abuse of Power in the Papacy of John Paul II |
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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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Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth
Fox’s spirituality weds the healing and liberation found in North American Creation Spirituality and in South
American Liberation Theology. Creation Spirituality challenges readers of every religious and political persuasion to unite in a new vision through which we learn to honor the earth and the people who inhabit it as the gift of a good and just Creator.
“A watershed theological work that offers a common ground for religious seekers and activists of all stripes.” — Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality
and Practice.
“I am reading Liberating Gifts for the People of the Earth by Matt Fox. He is one that fills my heart and mind for new life in spite of so much that is violent in our world.” ~ Sister Dorothy Stang. |
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The Return of Father Sky: A Cosmic Mystery for Kids of All Ages
The second book in the Father Fox’s Fantastical Fables series, The Return of Father Sky helps boys and girls to celebrate a new
relationship with the masculine by way of Father Sky, whose return excites joy and wonder and possibility that enlarge the soul to welcome others and all creation. Written in a rhyming Dr. Seuss-like style, this full-color, beautifully illustrated book, written by world- renowned theologian Matthew Fox weaves together modern science and classic spirituality in a whimsical, entertaining format to illustrate important truths to readers aged 4 and up. 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. |
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UPCOMING EVENTS See Matthew Fox's full calendar HERE |
Join Matthew Fox as he offers a guest lecture in the Creation Spirituality Communities course “Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: An Exploration of Evil” led by instructor Carolyn Million. Wednesdays, March 12– April 16, 4-6 pm PT. Register HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox in a new 6-month program of mystical wisdom for a new world: - Activate your spiritual awakening with the mystics
- Say “yes” to life & the beauty, goodness & potential it offers
- Awaken your inner mystic & prophet for deeper awakening
- Nurture the life-giving qualities of your humanity
By Application only - apply
HERERegister for a free information session HERE |
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Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book, Wrestling with the Prophets: Essays on Creation Spirituality and Everyday Life, in an online Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat. Thursday, May 15, 4:00pm-5:30pm PT. Register HERE. |
MONTHLY: Join Matthew Fox 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 |
Creation Spirituality Conversations The Christian Mystics: Wisdom for Our Time
Join renowned theologian and spiritual teacher Matthew Fox in a thought-provoking conversation with Ruby Reed on the lives, work and wisdom of some of The Christian Mystics and their vital role in our time.
In this webinar, we’ll explore how the mystic’s path can empower us to cultivate inner transformation and inspire action in the world by saying "Yes" to life and "No" to injustice, whether through art, contemplation, or activism. Discover how their insights can help us rekindle our spiritual fire and meet the needs of our time with resilience and love. This free video promotes Matthew's upcoming 6-session course with Advaya, that will be released on May 8. |
Inspired by this post? Share your insights on BlueSky, Instagram, Universeodon, or Facebook using the hashtag #RevDrMatthewFox and tag Matt with @RevDrMatthewFox FOLLOW MATTHEW FOX: |
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