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 interviews, webinars and courses, listed at the bottom of this DM (you may need to click the ... to see them). |
One of the most important things that I learned from Matthew Fox is that spiritual growth, that is, real human growth, is realized through the overcoming of dualisms. I would dare to say that it can be (individually) measured thus, meaning that one can look back over one’s life and observe which dualisms held a stronghold in one’s mind at a certain point and when was their power nullified. |
Matthew talks about such a process of overcoming in one of his earlier works, A Spirituality Named Compassion, where he describes dualism as a psychic perception, a way of seeing life in term of Either/Or and pronounces it to be the |
|
ultimate alienation, the ultimate rending of the truth of ourselves, the ultimate sin. Examples include white vs. black and male vs. female. These two classic opposites are both conditioned by historical forces but they are not isomorphic, that is, they cannot be placed one over the other to
trace the same shape of what a dualism is. Also, when dualisms are resolved, different sociological models can be employed to understand the reality that is underneath the cover-up which a dualism always is. Some opposites might be understood as the extreme poles of a continuum, but others can’t. Some other opposites may
simply pulverize. And so on and so forth. The large variety of ways by which dualisms get resolved can’t be the focus from a spiritual perspective. But it is relevant that they do get resolved, because dualisms block the processes of which both the individual and society consist. |
“Women’s work”: 1950s Electrolux manual showing a mother teaching her daughter to keep house. Wikimedia Commons | The false overcoming of dualism is, however,
of interest from a spiritual perspective, because lies are among the raw material with which spiritual theologians must deal. One such lie, for example, is enacted when people say “I don’t see color” and pretend that assuming their posture will resolve racism. Another such lie is the affirmation that “genders are
complementary” and thus the cause of gender dualism is feminism; if women understood their place — so the ugly tale goes — there would be no contention at all. |
In both cases, the red flag is the assertion that overcoming dualism is simple. On the contrary, overcoming even one single dualism is always a complex affair, both in the individual mind as in society. Once it happens, it is like an iceberg suddenly melting down but, until then, there is indeed an iceberg in my mind, or in my society, of which usually I can only see the portion above waters. As Matthew correctly observed decades ago, the energy of dualism is underpinned and abetted by competition and compulsion, which were running amok in the U.S. society of the late 1970s, but they don’t seem to have significantly relented their grip in the 2020s. |
It is even more complicated with single individuals, who hold in their mind the dualisms prevalent in their society while also hosting other opposites that derive from their personal history. Psychological therapy as well as spiritual counseling ought to |
|
address the deep level of the mind/soul where dualisms lurk, otherwise they remain fundamentally ineffective. Matthew suggested in his book, and I repeat the suggestion, to read a list of dualisms and allow your mind to be hit somewhat unexpectedly, in order to start figuring out what is
holding back your true flourishing. If you think you already know, that is probably a lie. Meaning that the process of recognizing and overcoming dualisms is unending. Since I can’t reproduce the whole list, I am candidly writing here those that are hitting me right now from the original list by Matthew: old/young;
urban/rural; strong/weak; work/play; life/death; employed/non-employed; ugly/beautiful. Does any of this resonate? |
|
| I would like to continue tomorrow in this line of reasoning, hopefully making myself more clear with
contemporary examples. For now, I would like to close by quoting Matthew again, writing in 1979: |
I believe that the truly adult spiritual journey is precisely this: a journey from dualism to dialectic. From Either/Or to Both/And. Until people can make such a journey they are incapable of compassion. Neither celebration nor relief of the pain of others will truly occupy their centers. Centering will be attempted — always unsuccessfully — by competition or compulsion, by object collecting and by consumerism, by controlling of being controlled. But one’s divine
capacities, those of Both-And, will remain untapped and untried. |
SIGN THE PLEDGE: Boycott pro-Trump corporations. Faithful America. EngageForDemocracy offers curated trustworthy reporting, educational resources, and action campaigns to hold government accountable to the Constitution and democratic norms.
Quotations from Matthew Fox, A Spirituality Named Compassion: Uniting Mystical Awareness with Social
Justice, pp. 80, 84
See also Fox, Original Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality
And Fox, Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul & Society.
Also Fox, Creation Spirituality:
Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth
And Fox, Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation
Banner Image: Reaching to connect. Photo by Matheus Viana on Pexels |
Queries for
Contemplation |
What changes to the unholy trinity — as Matthew calls it — of competition, compulsion, and dualism has undergone in your society in the past few decades? Are you able to identify a stubborn dualism that is hurting you personally at this time? |
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. |
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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. |
|
Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation
Authors Adam Bucko and Matthew Fox encourage us to use our talents in service of compassion and justice and to move beyond our broken systems–economic, political, educational, and
religious–discovering a spirituality that not only helps us to get along, but also encourages us to reevaluate our traditions, transforming them and in the process building a more sacred and just world. Incorporating the words of young activist leaders culled from interviews and surveys, the book provides a framework that is deliberately interfaith and speaks to our profound yearning for a life with spiritual purpose and for a better world.
“Occupy Spirituality is a powerful, inspiring, and vital call to embodied awareness and enlightened actions.”
~~ Julia Butterfly Hill, environmental activist and author of The Legacy of Luna: The Story of a Tree, a Woman, and the Struggle to Save the Redwoods |
|
UPCOMING EVENTS See Matthew Fox's full calendar HERE |
Join Matthew Fox in a new 6-month program of mystical wisdom for a new world.
In this 6-month immersion program with Matthew, you’ll explore what it means to be a modern mystic and prophet, integrating this sacred knowledge into your life through the authentic teachings of Jesus and other wisdom keepers. This journey births what Matthew calls Christianity 2.0 — based not on dogma, but on a spirituality that recovers the sacred sense of original goodness. By Application only - apply HERERegister for a free information session HERE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Join Matthew Fox in a 6-Class Course: The Great Christian Mystics, exploring some of the richest and most
inspiring mystic-prophets in the Christian lineage, including Hildegard of Bingen, Julian of Norwich, Mechtild of Magdeburg, Thomas Aquinas, and Meister Eckhart. Open-ended course includes six modules of pre-recorded lessons, live community discussions, and live conversations with Matthew Fox. Starts Tuesday, May 20; 10% off discount code: FOX-10 Register HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox and Brian McLaren in a live webinar, “In the Midst of Doom: Facing Our Moment and Finding Our Way,” hosted by Cameron Trimble of Convergence Lab. Wednesday, June 4, 4-5 pm 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 |
June 7-8 -- Join Matthew Fox and other speakers in a live 2-day webinar, Forming a Unitive Consciousness, hosted by The Aspen Forum. Learn more HERE. |
July 18, 11:30 am PT -- Join Matthew Fox in Angelology: The Physics of Angels, hosted by The Fintry Trust. Learn more HERE. |
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: |
|
|
|
