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! |
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Jews
of Conscience Speaking Out on Brutality to Palestinians 04/18/2024 |
We have been meditating on Teilhard’s teaching that not only is God Love but also “the world is Love.” We have brought Thomas Aquinas, Julian of Norwich, Ernesto Cardinale and others into the conversation as well. |
But often the news tells us that humans are very far from love and loving—a huge gap exists between a loving universe and human history. Humans frequently choose hating to love and busy ourselves with creating ecocide, genocide, sadism and death. |
“Anyone who hurts me, I will hurt him back. The concept of proportionality must cease to exist.” – Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir. Study of Israel’s ultra-nationalist movement. Channel 4 News |
Wars in Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine today bear witness to this folly and how far Jesus’ prayer to be “compassionate like God is” and to “bring heaven to earth” is from everyday reality. For this reason I rejoice at the “Declaration of Collective Atonement on the Part of Jews of Conscience”* that was recently shared by the Foundation for Ethics and Meaning, and dedicated to Rabbi Michael Lerner and Peter Gabel, both of whom I am proud to call
my friends and co-workers. |
Breaking Points reporters Ryan Grim and Emily Jashinsky cover UK citizens withholding taxes in protest against their
government’s support for the Israeli bombardment of Gaza. A similar movement is growing in the US. | I offer it here for your meditation that supports your action of bringing love-justice into the world. We are heartsick to the core about all the tens of thousands of precious lives being lost right now in Gaza, so many of them children who had their whole lives in front of them. We despair as well over the precious |
lives of Israelis, brutally terrorized, murdered, and taken hostage on October 7th. We deeply bemoan all the countless losses, traumas, indignities, acts of dehumanization, humiliation, oppression, terror, and violence that Palestinian and Jewish people have suffered, not just since October 7th, but in the century since this far too long-standing conflict began. |
To the Palestinian people specifically: words cannot adequately convey how profoundly sorry we are, as Jews, for the role our people have played in all the lands that you’ve lost, the houses you’ve had to involuntarily abandon or witness being |
Actress Miriam Margolyes has condemned Israel’s action in Gaza stating “Hitler has won.” The Independent. |
bulldozed or otherwise demolished, the family members from whom you’ve been separated, the indignities you’ve experienced by being shamelessly insulted, the honor you’ve seen demeaned, the sovereignty of home, body and life that has been violated, the national identity you’ve seen denied, the limbs you’ve had severed, and, most of all, the far too many sacred lives of loved ones you’ve lost—all in the course of this unbearably costly struggle between our two
peoples…. To be continued |
*See “A Declaration of Collective Atonement on the Part of Jews of Conscience” at The Shalom Center.
See Mathew Fox, A Spirituality Named Compassion.
And Fox, Original Blessing.
And Fox, Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth.
Banner Image: Jewish Voice for Peace and If Not Now mobilize over 1,000 Jews and allies to shut down Hollywood Blvd. to protest Israeli genocide in Gaza and Hollywood’s role in dehumanizing Muslims, 11/2023. Photo by MarcyWinograd 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 |
Are you moved by this Declaration of Jews of Conscience? Moved to act and do more from your heart and moral outrage? How do you intend to do that? |
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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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. |
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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 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 in a free online event hosted by the Shift Network: “Explore Compassion in Spirituality With Meister Eckhart’s Wisdom: Mystical Teachings for Renewal, Love & Forgiveness in Times of Turmoil.” Thursday, April 18, 5:30pm PT Register HERE. Join Matthew Fox as he speaks at a worship service and conducts a workshop to mark Earth Day 2024, hosted by Unity of Walnut Creek, CA, Sunday, April 21: 9:30am & 11:30am – Worship Service – Sermon. Earth Day, 2024: Preserving Things in the Good 1:30-3:00pm – Workshop – How the Earth Crisis of Our Time Can Move Humanity to Its Next Stage of Evolution Register 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, April 30, 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 |
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Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book with scientist Rupert Sheldrake, 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.
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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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