Saturday, May 14, 2005

Like Luther, I present 95 theses or in my case, 95 faith observations drawn from my 64 years of living and practicing religion and spirituality. I trust I am not alone in recognizing these truths. For me they represent a return to our origins, a return to the spirit and the teaching of Jesus and his prophetic ancestors, and of the Christ which was a spirit that Jesus’ presence and teaching unleashed.

Wie Luther stelle ich 95 Thesen vor, oder in meinem Falle 95 Glaubensbeobachtungen, die aus den 64 Jahren meines Leben und meiner religiösen und spirituellen Praxis stammen. Ich bin sicher, daß ich mit der Erkenntnis dieser Wahrheiten nicht allein dastehe. Für mich stellen sie eine Rückkehr zu unseren Ursprüngen dar, eine Rückkehr zum Geist und der Lehre Jesu und seiner prophetischen Vorfahren, und zu dem Christus, dessen Geist durch die Gegenwart und Lehre Jesu entfaltet wurde.

1.

God is both Mother and Father.

Gott ist Mutter und Vater.

2.

At this time in history, God is more Mother than Father because the feminine is most missing and it is important to bring gender balance back.

In unserer Zeit ist Gott mehr Mutter als Vater, denn das Weibliche fehlt am meisten, und es ist wesentlich, das
Gleichgewicht der Geschlechter wieder herzustellen.

3.

God is always new, always young and always “in the beginning.”

Gott ist immer neu, immer jung und immer „im Anfang“.


4.

God the Punitive Father is not a God worth honoring but a false god and an idol that serves empire-builders. The notion of a punitive, all-male God, is contrary to the full nature of the Godhead who is as much female and motherly as it is masculine and fatherly.

Gott als strafender Vater ist keine anbetungswürdige Gottheit, sondern ein Götze, der den Imperialisten dient. Die Vorstellung eines strafenden, männlichen Gottes widerspricht dem umfassenden Wesen der Gottheit, die ebenso weiblich und mütterlich wie männlich und väterlich ist.


5.

“All the names we give to God come from an understanding of ourselves.” (Eckhart) Thus people who worship a punitive father are themselves punitive.

"Alle N amen, die wir Gott geben, stammen aus unserem Selbstverständnis." (Meister Eckhart*) Deshalb sind diejenigen, die Gott als strafend bezeichnen, selbst strafend.

6.

Theism (the idea that God is ‘out there’ or above and beyond the universe) is false. All things are in God and God is in all things (panentheism).

Der Theismus (die Vorstellung, daß Gott irgendwo `da draußen´ ist oder oberhalb oder außerhalb des Universums) ist falsch. Alle Dinge sind in Gott, und Gott ist in allen Dingen (Panentheismus).

7.

Everyone is born a mystic and a lover who experiences the unity of things and all are called to keep this mystic or lover of life alive.

Jede und jeder ist als MystikerIn geboren und als LiebendeR, der oder die die Einheit aller Dinge erlebt und berufen ist, dieses Mystische und diese Lebensliebe lebendig zu erhalten.


8.

All are called to be prophets which is to interfere with injustice.

Alle Menschen sind berufen Prophetinnen und Propheten zu sein, was bedeutet, sich in Ungerechtigkeit einzumischen.


9.

Wisdom is Love of Life (See the Book of Wisdom: “This is wisdom: to love life” and Christ in John’s Gospel: “I have come that you may have life and have it in abundance.”)

Weisheit ist die Liebe zum Leben (siehe das Buch der Weisheit: „Weisheit heißt: das Leben zu lieben.“ und Christus im Johannes-Evangelium: „Ich bin gekommen, damit ihr das Leben habt, Leben in Fülle.“)


10.

God loves all of creation and science can help us more deeply penetrate and appreciate the mysteries and wisdom of God in creation. Science is no enemy of true religion.

Gott liebt die ganze Schöpfung, und die Wissenschaft kann uns helfen, tiefer in die Mysterien und die Weisheit Gottes in der Schöpfung einzudringen. Wissenschaft ist kein Feind echter Religion.


11.

Religion is not necessary but spirituality is.

Religion ist nicht notwendig, wohl aber Spiritualität.


12.

“Jesus does not call us to a new religion but to life.” (Bonhoeffer) Spirituality is living life at a depth of newness and gratitude, courage and creativity, trust and letting go, compassion and justice.

"Jesus ruft uns nicht zu einer neuen Religion, sondern zum Leben" (nach Bonhoeffer*). Spiritualität heißt, das Leben in tiefer Neuheit und Dankbarkeit zu leben, in Mut und Kreativität, Vertrauen und Gelassenheit, Mitgefühl und Gerechtigkeit.


13.

Spirituality and religion are not the same thing any more than education and learning, law and justice, or commerce and stewardship are the same thing.

Spiritualität und Religion sind ebensowenig das gleiche, wie Bildung und Wissen, Gerechtigkeit und Gesetz oder Treuhänderschaft und Kommerz.


14.

Christians must distinguish between God (masculine and history, liberation and salvation) and Godhead (feminine and mystery, being and non-action).

Christen müssen unterscheiden zwischen Gott (männlich und Geschichte, Befreiung und Erlösung) und Gottheit (weiblich und Mysterium, Sein und Nicht-Handeln).


15.

Christians must distinguish between Jesus (an historical figure) and Christ (the experience of God-in-all-things).

Christen müssen unterscheiden zwischen Jesus (einer historischen Gestalt) und Christus (der Erfahrung von Gott-in-allen-Dingen).


16.

Christians must distinguish between Jesus and Paul.

Christen müssen zwischen Jesus und Paulus unterscheiden.


17.

Jesus, not unlike many spiritual teachers, taught us that we are sons and daughters of God and are to act accordingly by becoming instruments of divine compassion.

Ähnlich anderen spirituellen Lehrern lehrte Jesus uns, daß wir Söhne und Töchter Gottes sind und uns deshalb als Werkzeuge des göttlichen Mitgefühls zu verhalten haben.


18.

Ecojustice is a necessity for planetary survival and human ethics and without it we are crucifying the Christ all over again in the form of destruction of forests, waters, species, air and soil.

Ökologische Gerechtigkeit ist für das Überleben des Planeten und eine menschliche Ethik notwendig. Ohne eine solche kreuzigen wir den Christus immer wieder in Form der Zerstörung von Wäldern, Wasser, Spezies, Luft und Boden.

19.

Sustainability is another word for justice, for what is just is sustainable and what is unjust is not.

Nachhaltigkeit ist ein anderes Wort für Gerechtigkeit, denn was gerecht ist, ist auch nachhaltig, und was ungerecht ist, nicht.

20.

A preferential option for the poor, as found in the base community movement, is far closer to the teaching and spirit of Jesus than is a preferential option for the rich and powerful as found in, for example, Opus Dei.

Eine Option für die Armen, wie beispielsweise in der Bewegung der Basisgemeinden, ist der Lehre und dem Geist Jesu viel näher als die Option für die Reichen und Mächtigen, wie beispielsweise im Opus Dei.

21.

Economic Justice requires the work of creativity to birth a system of economics that is global, respectful of the health and wealth of the earth systems and that works for all.

Ökonomische Gerechtigkeit braucht das Wirken der Kreativität, um ein Wirtschaftssystem hervorzubringen, das global ist, das Achtung hat vor der Gesundheit und dem Reichtum der planetaren Systeme und das für alle Menschen funktioniert.

22.

Celebration and worship are key to human community and survival and such reminders of joy deserve new forms that speak in the language of the twenty-first century.

Feier und Kult sind Schlüssel zur menschlichen Gemeinschaft und zum Überleben. Derartige Anstösse zur Freude verdienen neue Formen, welche die Sprache des 21.Jahrhunderts sprechen.

23.

Sexuality is a sacred act and a spiritual experience, a theophany (revelation of the Divine), a mystical experience. It is holy and deserves to be honored as such.

Sexualität ist eine heilige Handlung und eine spirituelle Erfahrung, eine Theophanie (Offenbarung des Göttlichen), eine mystische Erfahrung. Sie ist heilig und verdient es, als solche geehrt zu werden.

24.

Creativity is both humanity’s greatest gift and its most powerful weapon for evil and so it ought to be both encouraged and steered to humanity’s most God-like activity which all religions agree is: Compassion.

Kreativität ist sowohl die größte Gabe der Menschheit wie auch ihre mächtigste Waffe für das Böse. Deshalb müssen wir zum Mitgefühl ermutigt und gelenkt werden, das – wie alle Religion übereinstimmend sagen – die gottesähnlichste Handlung der Menschheit ist.

25.

There is a priesthood of all workers (all who are doing good work are midwives of grace and therefore priests) and this priesthood ought to be honored as sacred and workers should be instructed in spirituality in order to carry on their ministry effectively.

Es gibt eine Priesterschaft aller Arbeitenden (die gute Werke tun und Hebammen der Gnade sind und darum PriesterInnen), und diese Priesterschaft sollte als heilig geehrt werden, und die Arbeitenden sollten in Spiritualität unterrichtet werden, um ihr Amt wirksam ausüben zu können.

26.

Empire-building is incompatible with Jesus’ life and teaching and with Paul’s life and teaching and with the teaching of holy religions.

Imperialismus ist nicht verträglich mit dem Leben und der Lehre Jesu und dem Leben und der Lehre des Paulus und mit der Lehre der heiligen Religionen.

27.

Ideology is not theology and ideology endangers the faith because it replaces thinking with obedience, and distracts from the responsibility of theology to adapt the wisdom of the past to today’s needs. Instead of theology it demands loyalty oaths to the past.

Ideologie ist keine Theologie, sondern gefährdet den Glauben, weil sie das Denken durch Gehorchen ersetzt und von der Verantwortung der Theologie ablenkt, die Weisheit der Vergangenheit an die heutigen Bedürfnisse anzupassen. Statt Theologie verlangt sie Loyalitäts-Eide auf die Vergangenheit.

28

Loyalty is not a sufficient criterion for ecclesial office—intelligence and proven conscience is.

Loyalität ist kein ausreichendes Kriterium für ein Kirchenamt – wohl aber Intelligenz und ein unter Beweis gestelltes Gewissen.

29.

No matter how much the television media fawn over the pope and papacy because it makes good theater, the pope is not the church but has a ministry within the church. Papalolotry is a contemporary form of idolatry and must be resisted by all believers.

Ganz gleich wieviel die Fernsehanstalten den Papst und das Pontifikat hofieren, weil das eine gute Show macht, ist doch der Papst nicht die Kirche, sondern hat nur ein Amt innerhalb der Kirche. Pontifikalismus ist eine zeitgenössische Art des Götzendienstes, dem alle Gläubigen widerstehen müssen.

30.

Creating a church of Sycophants is not a holy thing. Sycophants (Webster’s dictionary defines them as “servile self-seeking flatterers”) are not spiritual people for their only virtue is obedience. A Society of Sycophants — sycophant clergy, sycophant seminarians, sycophant bishops, sycophant cardinals, sycophant religious orders of Opus Dei, Legioneers of Christ and Communion and Liberation, and the sycophant press--do not represent in any way the teachings or the person of the historical Jesus who chose to stand up to power rather than amassing it.

Eine Kirche von Sycophanten zu schaffen ist nichts Heiliges. Sycophanten (laut Lexikon „unterwürfige, sich selbst suchende Schmeichler“) sind keine spirituellen Menschen, denn ihre einzige Tugend ist der Gehorsam. Eine Gesellschaft der Sycophanten – sycophantischer Klerus, sycophantische Seminaristen, sycophantische Bischöfe, sycophantische Kardinäle, sycophantische religiöse Orden wie Opus Dei, die Legionäre Christi oder `Gemeinschaft und Befreiung´, sowie eine sycophantische Presse – vertreten in keiner Weise die Lehren oder die Person des historischen Jesus, der sich gegen die Macht aufgelehnt hat statt sie anzuhäufen.

31.

Vows of pontifical secrecy are a certain way to corruption and cover-up in the church as in any human organization.

Pontifikale Verschwiegenheitseide sind in der Kirche ein ebenso sicherer Weg zur Korruption und Vertuschung wie in allen anderen menschlichen Organisationen.

32.

Original sin is an ultimate expression of a punitive father God and is not a Biblical teaching. But original blessing (goodness and grace) is biblical.

Die Ursünde ist äußerster Ausdruck eines strafenden Vatergottes und keine biblische Lehre. Der ursprüngliche Segen (Güte und Gnade) aber ist biblisch.

33.

The term “original wound” better describes the separation humans experience on leaving the womb and entering the world, a world that is often unjust and unwelcoming than does the term “original sin.”

Der Ausdruck „ursprüngliche Wunde“ beschreibt besser als „Ursünde“ die Trennung, die die Menschen beim Verlassen des Mutterleibes erleben und beim Betreten einer Welt, die oft ungerecht und abweisend ist.

34.

Fascism and the compulsion to control is not the path of peace or compassion and those who practice fascism are not fitting models for sainthood. The seizing of the apparatus of canonization to canonize fascists is a stain on the church.

Faschismus und Kontrollzwang sind kein Weg zu Frieden oder Mitgefühl. Und diejenigen, die Faschismus praktizieren, sind keine passenden Vorbilder der Heiligkeit. Der Mißbrauch des Kanonisierungs-Apparates zur Kanonisierung von Faschisten ist ein Schandfleck auf der Kirche.

35.

The Spirit of Jesus and other prophets calls people to simple life styles in order that “the people may live.”

Der Geist Jesu und anderer Propheten beruft die Menschen zu einem einfachen Lebensstil, damit „die Menschen leben mögen“.

36.

Dancing, whose root meaning in many indigenous cultures is the same as breath or spirit, is a very ancient and appropriate form in which to pray.

Tanzen hat in vielen ursprünglichen Kulturen die gleiche Bedeutungswurzel wie Atmen oder Geist und ist eine sehr alte und angemessene Form des Betens.

37.

To honor the ancestors and celebrate the communion of saints does not mean putting heroes on pedestals but rather honoring them by living out lives of
imagination, courage and compassion in our own time, culture and historical moment as they did in theirs.

Die Vorfahren zu achten und die Gemeinschaft der Heiligen zu feiern, bedeutet nicht, Helden auf ein Podest zu heben, sondern sie dadurch zu ehren, daß wir in unserer eigenen Zeit, Kultur und Geschichte phantasievoll, mutig und mitfühlend leben, wie sie es in ihrer taten.

38.

A diversity of interpretation of the Jesus event and the Christ experience is altogether expected and welcomed as it was in the earliest days of the church.

Wie in der Frühzeit der Kirche ist eine Deutungsvielfalt für die Ereignisse um Jesus und die Christus-Erfahrung erwartungsgemäß und erwünscht.

39.

Therefore unity of church does not mean conformity. There is unity in diversity. Coerced unity is not unity.

Einheit der Kirche bedeutet deshalb nicht Konformität. Es gibt eine Einheit in der Vielfalt. Erzwungene Einheit ist keine Einheit.

40.

The Holy Spirit is perfectly capable of working through participatory democracy in church structures and hierarchical modes of being can indeed interfere with the work of the Spirit.

Der Heilige Geist ist durchaus in der Lage in partizipatorisch demokratischen Kirchenstrukturen zu wirken; und hierarchische Modelle können das Wirken des Geistes auch behindern.

41.

The body is an awe-filled sacred Temple of God and this does not mean it is untouchable but rather that all its dimensions, well named by the seven charkas, are as holy as the others.

Der Körper ist ein ehrfurchtsvoller Tempel Gottes. Und das bedeutet nicht, daß er unberührbar sei, sondern daß alle seine Dimensionen – benannt als die sieben Chakren – gleichermaßen heilig sind.

42.

Thus our connection with the earth (first chakra) is holy; and our sexuality (second chakra) is holy; and our moral outrage (third chakra) is holy; and our love that stands up to fear (fourth chakra) is holy; and our prophetic voice that speaks out is holy (fifth chakra); and our intuition and intelligence (sixth chakra) are holy; and our gifts we extend to the community of light beings and ancestors (seventh chakra) are holy.

Deshalb ist unsere Verbindung mit der Erde heilig (erstes Chakra); und unsere Sexualität ist heilig (zweites Chakra); und unsere moralische Empörung ist heilig (drittes Chakra); und unsere Liebe, die sich gegen die Angst stellt, ist heilig (viertes Chakra); und unsere prophetisch sich äußernde Stimme ist heilig (fünftes Chakra); und unsere Intuition und Intelligenz sind heilig (sechstes Chakra); und unsere Gaben, mit denen wir an der Gemeinschaft der Lichtwesen und Vorfahren teilhaben, sind heilig (siebentes Chakra).

43.

The prejudice of rationalism and left-brain located in the head must be balanced by attention to the lower charkas as equal places for wisdom and truth and Spirit to act.

Das Vorurteil des Rationalismus und der nur im Kopf angesiedelten linken Hirnhälfte muß ein Gleichgewicht finden mit einer Aufmerksamkeit auf die unteren Chakren, die ebenso
Weisheit und Wahrheit und handelnden Geist verkörpern.

44.

The central chakra, compassion, is the test of the health of all the others which are meant to serve it for “by their fruits you will know them” (Jesus).

Das zentrale Chakra, das Mitgefühl, ist der Prüfstein für die Gesundheit aller anderen, die ihm dienen sollen, denn „an ihren Früchten werdet ihr sie erkennen“ (Jesus).

45.

“Joy is the human’s noblest act.” (Aquinas) Is our culture and its professions, education and religion, promoting joy?

"Freude ist das edelste Werk des Menschen." (Thomas von Aquin) Fördern unsere Kultur und ihre Berufe, die Bildung und Religion wirklich Freude?

46.

The human psyche is made for the cosmos and will not be satisfied until the two are re-united and awe, the beginning of wisdom, results from this reunion.

Die menschliche Seele ist für den Kosmos geschaffen und wird nicht zufrieden sein, solange diese beiden nicht vereint sind und Ehrfurcht, der Beginn der Weisheit, aus dieser Verbindung entsteht.

47.

The four paths named in the creation spiritual tradition more fully name the mystical/prophetic spiritual journey of Jesus and the Jewish tradition than do the three paths of purgation, illumination and union which do not derive from the Jewish and Biblical tradition.

Die vier von der Schöpfungstradition benannten Pfade repräsentieren die mystisch-prophetische geistige Reise Jesu und der jüdischen Überlieferung besser als die drei Pfade der Läuterung, Erleuchtung und Vereinigung, die nicht aus der jüdischen und biblischen Tradition stammen.

48.

Thus it can be said that God is experienced in experiences of ecstasy, joy, wonder and delight (via positiva).

Deshalb kann man sagen, daß Gott in einer Erfahrung der Ekstase, der Freude, des Staunens und der Begeisterung erlebt wird (via positiva).

49.

God is experienced in darkness, chaos, nothingness, suffering, silence and in learning to let go and let be (via negativa).

Gott wird erlebt in Dunkelheit, Chaos, Nichtigkeit, Leiden, Stille und im Erlernen des Geschehen- und Seinlassens (via negativa).

50.

God is experienced in acts of creativity and co-creation (via creativa).

Gott wird erfahren in Taten der Kreativität und der Mitschöpfung (via creativa).

51.

All people are born creative. It is spirituality’s task to encourage holy imagination for all are born in the “image and likeness” of the Creative One and “the fierce power of imagination is a gift from God.” (Kaballah)

Alle Menschen werden kreativ geboren. Es ist eine Aufgabe der Spiritualität die heilige Phantasie zu ermuntern, denn alle sind "im Ebenbilde" des Schöpferischen geboren und "die
wilde Kraft der Vorstellung ist eine Gabe Gottes" (Kabbala).

52.

If you can talk you can sing; if you can walk you can dance; if you can talk you are an artist. (African proverb and Native American saying)

Wenn du sprechen kannst, kannst du auch singen: wenn du gehen kannst, kannst du auch tanzen; wenn du sprechen kannst, bist du ein Künstler. (Afrikanisches und indianisches Sprichwort)

53.

God is experienced in our struggle for justice, healing, compassion and celebration (via transformativa).

Gott wird erlebt in unserem Kampf für Gerechtigkeit, Heilung, Mitgefühl und Feier (via transformativa).

54.

The Holy Spirit works through all cultures and all spiritual traditions and blows “where it wills” and is not the exclusive domain of any one tradition and
never has been.

Der Heilige Geist wirkt durch alle Kulturen und alle spirituellen Überlieferungen und "weht wo er will" und ist und war niemals einer Tradition exklusiv vorbehalten.

55.

God speaks today as in the past through all religions and all cultures and all faith traditions none of which is perfect and an exclusive avenue to truth but all of which can learn from each other.

Gott spricht heute wie in der Vergangenheit durch alle Religionen und alle Kulturen und alle Glaubensüberlieferungen, die alle nicht vollkommene oder alleinige Wege zur Wahrheitsind, sondern alle voneinander lernen können.

56.

Therefore Interfaith or Deep Ecumenism are a necessary part of spiritual praxis and awareness in our time.

Deshalb ist eine glaubensübergreifende oder Tiefenökumene notwendiger Teil einer zeitgemäßen spirituellen Praxis und Bewußtheit.

57.

Since the “number one obstacle to interfaith is a bad relationship with one’s own faith,” (the Dalai Lama) it is important that Christians know their own
mystical and prophetic tradition, one that is larger than a religion of empire and its punitive father images of God.

Da "das Haupthindernis für eine Glaubensbegegnung eine schlechte Beziehung zum eigenen Glauben ist" (der Dalai Lama), ist es für Christen wichtig, ihre eigene mystische und
prophetische Tradition kennenzulernen, die umfassender ist als eine Religion des Imperiums und ihr strafend väterliches Gottesbild.

58.

The cosmos is God’s holy Temple and our holy home.

Der Kosmos ist Gottes heiliger Tempel und unsere heilige Heimat.

59.

Fourteen billion years of evolution and unfolding of the universe bespeak the intimate sacredness of all that is.

Milliarden Jahre Evolution und Entfaltung des Universums weisen auf die innerste Heiligkeit allen Seins hin.

60.

All that is is holy and all that is is related for all being in our universe began as one being just before the fireball erupted.

Alles, was ist, ist heilig, und alles, was ist, steht zueinander in Beziehung, denn alles Sein in diesem Universum begann als ein Sein, bevor der Urknall geschah.

61.

Interconnectivity is not only a law of physics and of nature but also forms the basis of community and of compassion. Compassion is the working out of our shared interconnectivity both as to our shared joy and our shared suffering and struggle for justice.

Wechselseitige Verbundenheit ist nicht nur ein physikalisches und Naturgesetz, sondern stellt auch die Grundlage unserer Gesellschaft und des Mitgefühls dar. Mitgefühl ist die Umsetzung unserer gegenseitigen Verbundenheit sowohl in bezug auf unsere gemeinsame Freude wie auch in bezug auf unser gemeinsames Leid und unseren Kampf um Gerechtigkeit.

62.

The universe does not suffer from a shortage of grace and no religious institution is to see its task as rationing grace. Grace is abundant in God’s universe.

Das Universum leidet nicht an einem Mangel an Gnade und keine religiöse Institution darf ihre Aufgabe in der Rationierung von Gnade sehen. In Gottes Welt gibt es genügend Gnade.

63.

Creation, Incarnation and Resurrection are continuously happening on a cosmic as well as a personal scale. So too are Life, Death and Resurrection (regeneration and reincarnation) happening on a cosmic scale as well as a personal one.

Schöpfung, Inkarnation und Auferstehung geschehen auf kosmischer wie auf persönlicher Ebene ständig. Und das gilt auch für Leben, Tod und Auferstehung (Regeneration und Reinkarnation), die in kosmischem wie persönlichem Maßstab geschehen.

64.

Biophilia or Love of Life is everyone’s daily task.

Biophilie oder Liebe zum Leben ist unser aller tägliche Aufgabe.

65.

Necrophilia or love of death is to be opposed in self and society in all its forms.

Der Nekrophilie oder Todesliebe muß in uns selbst und in der Gesellschaft in allen Formen widerstanden werden.

66.

Evil can happen through every people, every nation, every tribe, and every individual human and so vigilance and self-criticism and institutional criticism are always called for.

Das Böse kann durch jede Nation, jedes Volk, jeden Stamm und jedes Individuum geschehen. Deshalb sind Wachsamkeit, Selbstkritik und institutionelle Kritik jederzeit gefragt.

67.

Not all who call themselves “Christian” deserve that name just as “not all who say ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven” (Jesus).

Nicht alle, die sich als „Christen“ bezeichnen, verdienen diesen Namen auch, wie auch nicht alle, „die `Herr, Herr´ sagen, ins Himmelreich eingehen werden“ (Jesus).

68.

Pedophilia is a terrible wrong but its cover-up by hierarchy is even more despicable.

Pädophilie ist ein furchtbares Vergehen, aber ihre Vertuschung durch die Hierarchie ist noch abscheulicher.

69.

Loyalty and obedience are never a greater virtue than conscience and justice.

Loyalität und Gehorsam sind niemals größere Tugenden als Gewissen und Gerechtigkeit.

70.

Jesus said nothing about condoms, birth control or homosexuality.

Jesus hat nie etwas über Kondome, Geburtenkontrolle oder Homosexualität gesagt.

71.

A church that is more preoccupied with sexual wrongs than with wrongs of injustice is itself sick.

Eine Kirche, die sich mehr mit sexuellem Fehlverhalten als mit Ungerechtigkeit beschäftigt, ist selbst krank.

72.

Since homosexuality is found among 464 species and in 8 percent of any given human population, it is altogether natural for those who are born that way and is a gift from God and nature to the greater community.

Da Homosexualität sich bei 464 Spezies und bei 8 % jeder menschlichen Population findet, handelt es sich bei denen, die so geboren sind, um eine völlig natürliche Sache, um eine
Gabe Gottes und der Natur für die größere Gemeinschaft.

73.

Homophobia in any form is a serious sin against love of neighbor, a sin of ignorance of the richness and diversity of God’s creation as well as a sin of exclusion.

Homophobie ist in jeder Form eine ernste Sünde gegen die Nächstenliebe, eine Sünde gegen den Reichtum und die Vielfalt in Gottes Schöpfung wie auch eine Sünde der Ausgrenzung.

74.

Racism, Sexism and militarism are also serious sins.

Rassismus, Sexismus und Militarismus sind ebenfalls ernsthafte Sünden.

75.

Poverty for the many and luxury for the few is not right or sustainable.

Armut für die vielen und Luxus für wenige ist weder rechtens noch nachhaltig.

76.

Consumerism is today’s version of gluttony and needs to be confronted by creating an economic system that works for all peoples and all earth’s creatures.

Konsumismus ist die zeitgenössische Variante der Genußsucht und muß dadurch nicht Frage gestellt werden, daß ein Wirtschaftssystem aufgebaut wird, das allen Völkern und allen
Wesen der Erde dient.

77.

Seminaries as we know them, with their excessive emphasis on left-brain work, often kill and corrupt the mystical soul of the young instead of encouraging the mysticism and prophetic consciousness that is there. They should be replaced by wisdom schools.

Die Universitäten, wie wir sie heute kennen, mit ihrer extremen Betonung der linken Hirnhälfte, töten und korrumpieren die mystische Seele der Jugend statt das vorhandene mystische und prophetische Bewußtsein zu ermutigen. Sie sollten durch Weisheitsschulen ersetzt werden.

78.

Inner work is required of us all. Therefore spiritual practices of meditation should be available to all and this helps in calming the reptilian brain. Silence or contemplation and learning to be still can and ought to be taught to all children and adults.

Innere Arbeit ist von uns allen gefordert. Deshalb sollten allen Menschen spirituelle Praktiken und Meditationen zugänglich sein und dabei helfen, das Reptiliengehirn zu beruhigen. Alle Kinder und Erwachsenen sollten Stille oder Kontemplation und Stillwerden lernen.

79.

Outer work needs to flow from our inner work just as action flows from non-action and true action from being.

Die äußere Arbeit muß von unserer inneren Arbeit ausfließen, so wie Handlung aus dem Nicht-Handeln entsteht und wahres Handeln aus dem Sein.

80.

A wise test of right action is this: What is the effect of this action on people seven generations from today?

Eine weise Prüfung für rechtes Handeln ist: Wie ist die Wirkung dieser Handlung auf die Menschen der siebten Generation nach uns?

81.

Another test of right action is this: Is what I am doing, is what we are doing, beautiful or not?

Ein anderer Test für rechtes Handeln ist: Ist meine Handlung, ist unsere Handlung schön?

82.

Eros, the passion for living, is a virtue that combats acedia or the lack of energy to begin new things and is also expressed as depression, cynicism or sloth (also known as “couchpotatoitis”).

Eros, die Leidenschaft für das Leben, ist eine Tugend, die der Trägheit entgegenwirkt oder dem Energiemangel, Neues zu beginnen, der sich auch als Depression, Zynismus und Faulheit ausdrückt.

83.

The Dark Night of the Soul descends on us all and the proper response is not addiction such as shopping, alcohol, drugs, TV, sex or religion but rather to be with the darkness and learn from it.

Die dunkle Nacht der Seele befällt uns alle; und die angemessene Antwort darauf besteht nicht in einem Suchtverhalten wie Einkaufen, Alkohol, Drogen, TV, Sex oder Religion, sondern darin, mit der Dunkelheit zu gehen und daraus zu lernen.

84.

he Dark Night of the Soul is a learning place of great depth. Stillness is required.

Die dunkle Nacht der Seele ist ein Ort sehr tiefen Lernens. Dazu bedarf es der Stille.

85.

Not only is there a Dark Night of the Soul but also a Dark Night of Society and a Dark Night of our Species.

Es gibt nicht nur eine dunkle Nacht der Seele, sondern auch eine dunkle Nacht der Gesellschaft und eine dunkle Nacht unserer Spezies, der Menschheit.

86.

Chaos is a friend and a teacher and an integral part or prelude to new birth. Therefore it is not to be feared or compulsively controlled.

Chaos ist ein Freund und Lehrer und ein notwendiger Teil oder ein Vorspiel jeder Neugeburt. Deshalb braucht man es nicht zu fürchten oder zwanghaft zu kontrollieren.

87.

Authentic science can and must be one of humanity’s sources of wisdom for it is a source of sacred awe, of childlike wonder, and of truth.

Echte Wissenschaft kann und muß eine der Weisheitsquellen der Menschheit sein, denn sie ist eine Quelle heiliger Ehrfurcht, kindlichen Staunens und der Wahrheit.

88.

When science teaches that matter is “frozen light” (physicist David Bohm) it is freeing human thought from scapegoating flesh as something evil and instead reassuring us that all things are light. This same teaching is found in the Christian Gospels (Christ is the light in all things) and in Buddhist teaching (the Buddha nature is in all things). Therefore, flesh does not sin; it is our choices that are sometimes off center.

Wenn die Wissenschaft lehrt, daß Materie „gefrorenes Licht“ sei (Physiker David Bohm), dann befreit sie damit die Menschheit davon, das Fleisch zum Sündenbock des Bösen zu machen und versichert uns statt dessen, daß alle Dinge Licht sind. Die gleiche Lehre findet sich in den Evangelien (Christus ist das Licht in allen Dingen) und in den buddhistischen Lehren (die Buddha-Natur ist in allen Dingen). Deshalb ist das Fleisch nicht sündig; unsere Entscheidungen sind es, die manchmal an der Sache vorbeigehen.

89.

The proper objects of the human heart are truth and justice (Aquinas) and all people have a right to these through healthy education and healthy government.

Die angemessenen Ziele des menschlichen Herzens sind Wahrheit und Gerechtigkeit (Thomas von Aquin), und alle Menschen haben ein Recht, mit Hilfe von gesunder Bildung und gesunder Regierung dahin zu gelangen.

90.

"God” is only one name for the Divine One and there are an infinite number of names for God and Godhead and still God “has no name and will never be given a name.” (Eckhart)

"Gott" ist nur ein Name des Göttlichen. Es gibt unzählige Namen für Gott und die Gottheit, und doch „hat Gott keinen Namen und wird niemals benannt werden“ (Meister Eckhart)

91.

Three highways into the heart are silence and love and grief.

Drei Wege ins Herz sind die Stille, die Liebe und die Trauer.

92.

The grief in the human heart needs to be attended to by rituals and practices that, when practiced, will lessen anger and allow creativity to flow anew.

Wir müssen uns mit Hilfe von Ritualen und Übungen um die Trauer im menschlichen Herzen kümmern, die die Wut mindern und die Kreativität wieder in Fluß bringen.

93.

Two highways out of the heart are creativity and acts of justice and compassion.

Zwei Wege aus unserem Herzen sind die Kreativität und Taten der Gerechtigkeit und des Mitgefühls.

94.

Since angels learn exclusively by intuition, when we develop our powers of intuition we can expect to meet angels along the way.

Da Engel ausschließlich durch Intuition lernen, können wir bei der Entwicklung unserer intuitiven Kräfte damit rechnen, Engeln zu begegnen.

95.

True intelligence includes feeling, sensitivity, beauty, the gift of nourishment and humor which is a gift of the Spirit, paradox, being its sister.

Echte Intelligenz umfaßt Gefühle, Sensibilität, Schönheit, die Gabe der Zuwendung und des Humors, der eine Geisteskraft ist, mit der Paradoxie als Schwester.

* Aus Zeitmangel konnten leider die Zitate, deren ursprüngliche Sprache deutsch ist (Eckhart, Bonhoeffer) nicht im Original gefunden werden, sondern sind aus dem Englischen rück-übersetzt. (Anm. d. Übersetzers) Für die Übersetzung ins Deutsche verantwortlich.

10:38 AM

87 comments:

at 12:01 PM jamesAMDG said...

It seems very strange to me to see that for a man who eschews having anyone tell him what to do (think about the vows he took before God as a Dominican) would enjoy telling other people what to do so much. Look at for example the way he attacks the faith of those he disagrees with (#5) or how Christians must do all sorts fo things he says (#s 14-17) even though when the Pope or a religious superior says you must do something they are overstepping their bounds, Matt on the other hand, is a "prophet".

In #39 Matt fails to explain what is up for grabs in diversity and what isn't. There is no unity in complete diversity unless you are syncretist and relativist. If this is the case, why not become a Unitarian?

Matt's arguments for the rightness fo homosexaulity (#39-40) are odd because he tries to argue from a strictly natural point of view. Yet he condemns pedophilia as a terrible wrong (#68), surely God created them that way if everyone's sexual impulses are a result of God's creation? So how is pedophilia wrong? This si the problem with the reductio of sin to not being nice. Sin is doing things we aren't supposed to do. The doctrine of Original Sin means that we are called to be more than our impulses. That human beings are more noble than dogs in heat, we are thinking rational beings who can aspire top greater. Unfortunately, Matt utterly rejects this in his attacks on sin.

Peace and Victory in the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

at 1:36 PM jamesAMDG said...

markstephen,

You are so confused and so symptomatic (sp?) of the larger culture of death in which we live. I'll do my best to explain why your objections are so unfounded.

you said:

The comparison of homosexuality and pedophilia is insulting to everyone. A shattering of innocence of a child on any level has no place in a dialogue about adult human sexual orientation. You might as well say that some adult men molest little girls, so heterosexual sex is evil. What kind of logic would that be?

My point is that arguing from a nautral desire as a reference point for goodness fails to take into account the consequences (physical and spiritual) of what we want to do. Fox seems to be arguing that simply having "love" makes it good. But if we want to talk about pedophilia (presumably as it applies to some recent scandals within the american clergy of the Catholic Church) a great deal of these cases took place between men and young men/women who were teenagers (not to make it ok, but it isn't pedophilia by strict definition either) and for some of the young people, they were of an age to consent to sexual activity.

you said:

I think sexual activity between two committed, consenting adults is a matter of conscience, not decree.

I"m purposefully not getting into the reasons why contraception is wrong because it would be far too long of a post. Maybe later. But I did want to highlight this point. The reason that the Church teaches us about right and wrong, sin and virtue is because our consciences can be clouded by many different things. Ignorance, lust, sin, impurity, egoism and so on. A misinformed conscience isn't license to sin, and God through the Church seeks to enlighten our consciences so that we can be called to higher things.

you said:

he wake up call for me was hearing a priest procliam from the pulpit that a practicing homosexual could never be a priest or a minister. So, an adulterer could, a bigot could, a misanthropist could, a sexist could, a racist could. Seems pretty arbitrary to me.

Did this priest say that any of the poeple you list could become priests or should become priests? Or can you find any documents produced by the Church which statte that practicing bigots, adulteres, racists or sexists can be priests? If not then your point is moot, you can't argue that something is allowed that isn't.

you said:

Now, I did want to comment that recently I've done a bit of reading on Gnosticism, and Matthew, I see a lot of your philosophy there. Is this a unconscious parallel, or a conscious one?

I'll respond for the Herr Doktor if I may be so bold. Of course it's intentional, you can't revive the great mystery religions unless you really work at it.

at 11:34 AM Sadiq said...

Bravo !! Your thoughts are wonderful and refreshing. The day when all people can differentiate between Pauline Christianity and the original Christ's message, only that day we will see how beautiful the Truth is.

I appreaciate many of your ideas. but some will be difficult for common people to understand. In that note, pls be careful how u talk about these deep issues about God. Pls don't divide the religion, better try unite mankind.

Peace and blessings of God be with you. May u be guided by the Divine Wisdom. Always seek refuge from Satan to Lord.

at 6:59 AM VirusHead said...

The ferociousness of some of these comments saddens me. I find myself in agreement with most of the content of your homage and transformation of Luther in these 95 theses. Thank you for the spiritual food and the mode of compassion and celebration and respect modelled here.

at 1:01 PM FX Turk said...

I am wide open to discuss any of these theses with you on any basis you care to affirm.

I'm easy to find.

at 10:50 PM Scott Windsor said...

I have serious problems with many of Fox's propositions, not to mention his methodology of protest in which he posted his "95 Theses" like Luther, who eventually schismed from the Catholic Church after posting his 95 Theses. Unlike Luther though, not all of Fox's theses are opposed to Catholic teaching, which renders Fox's premise invalid. So as to not flood this blog, my full response to Fox's "95 Theses" can be found here by clicking here.

Your servant in JMJ,
Scott<<<

at 11:05 PM Scott Windsor said...

My blogsite also carries my response:
http://cathapol.blogspot.com/

at 10:48 PM Scott Windsor said...

I don't see "the boy" as "doin some good" when he's attempting to divide the Church even further. The symbolism of the 95 Theses is right at the heart of the Protestant revolt and a symbol of their separation - so do I think "the boy might just be doin some good?" No way! Encouraging more division by using the Protestant "rally cry" is not "good" for the Church.

http://cathapol.blogspot.com/

Scott<<<

at 11:26 AM Rebecca said...

Mr. Fox,

You make several good points in your 95 theses, as regards one's neighbor. You are right that concern for justice is important. But you make it primary, rather than secondary. Love for one's neighbor comes in response to Christ's love for us "while we were yet sinners." In response to God's marvelous, nurturing, undeserved grace, we respond. If you prefer a feminine metaphor, think of a mother's love towards her children as motivating their love for each other.

I would like to address what I see as several problems with your theological perspective. The first is your gender stereotyping when it comes to God. You describe masculine as necessarily punitive, angry, and exclusionary. You describe feminine as necessarily wise, nurturing, intuitive, and so on. One of the problems for women down through the ages has been being put in boxes. Who is to say that women cannot be disciplinarians, leaders, business chiefs, and so on. They are not all "touchy-feely." And men are not all "bad guys." Don't get me wrong. I have experienced some of the worst of male nature, but I have also met men who are decidedly different from each other. I recognize male/female differences as generalities, but I think it does more harm than good to stereotype. It also forces us to put God into a box, which you purportedly want to avoid.

Secondly, you say that all are called to be prophets. That is decidedly not true. I Corinthians 12:4-8, 14-18. It dishonors God's variety of creation to say that we must all have this gift.

Thirdly, your description of sin is something that is highly problematic. There is a big difference (as I am sure you are aware) between original sin and original wound. The former is active, showing our active rebellion against God. The latter is passive...our predicament is something that happened to us. It isn't our fault. Here you deviate from the central themes of Christianity: sin and forgiveness, death and resurrection. You purport that good comes from within us. You don't talk about the saving work of Christ. It is fine if you choose to believe these things personally, but it is unfair to put them under the heading of Christianity. Christianity believes in sinners and a savior. You seem to be agreeing with the serpent in the early chapters of Genesis who said, "you shall be as gods."

If what you say is all true, why did we need a Savior? Your argument reverts to old-fashioned Pelagianism.

We always need new ideas in the Church, but it is important that we do not contradict the fundamental, central teachings that define us.

Blessings,
Rebecca

at 8:13 AM Unknown said...

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at 10:47 AM Anonymous said...

Bless you brother ... very inspiring.

Grace & Peace
Bro. John-Anthony, CSC-B

at 12:19 PM sisternomore said...

Thank you for having the courage to speak up. My experieince with religious life has opened my eyes to the damages of a patriarchial church and its scriptural interpretations and dogmas as seen only from a male point of view. There's no telling how much emotional pain the rigidity of religious nstitutional rules caused in thousands of women down through the centuries.

at 11:45 PM Joseph Smith, jr. said...

Interesting blog. Enjoyed reading it.

Sincerely,

Joseph Smith Jr.
Mormon Temple Ceremony
http://www.whatismormonism.com

at 12:45 AM Joseph Smith, jr. said...

Interesting blog. Enjoyed reading it.

Sincerely,

Joseph Smith Jr.
Book of Mormon
http://www.whatismormonism.com

at 5:59 PM Father Stephanos, O.S.B. said...

The body does not lie, though it is sometimes ill.

The body does not lie, and neither does the environment.

To defy the body is the same as defying the environment. If we denigrate the environment, it will suffer, and we will damage ourselves spiritually and physically. We will wound ourselves "holistically".

It may be an extreme challenge for us to make choices that will respect the environment. It may be economically painful. It may require conversion. It may for the time being "feel like it rubs us the wrong way." Nonetheless, our own honesty in facing the truth of the environment is the only truly spiritual way.

The environment does not lie. The body does not lie.

Sperm are looking for eggs, not for another man's body.

Eggs are waiting for sperm, not another woman's body.

The body does not lie.

As difficult as it may be for some to accept, homosexuality defies the spirit, the body, the environment.

at 6:02 PM Anonymous said...

I was just wondering what sort of 'scripture' was used to establish these 95, er, whatevers? I would have thought that a man who has so much religious experience would have, at least, a teeny-tiny bit of understanding of the Bible and and some smattering of knowledge regarding it's contents, especially about the Person of God. I guess that this was overly optimistic in Mr. Fox's case.
I might have been a lot more interested in these babblings if he had only come close to scriptural truth, even once. Sadly this was not true.
At any rate, I hope that these observations will make an impression on Mr. Fox and cause him to rethink his heretical views. However, I am already well along the road to absolute certainty that it will not.
All I can say is this;
Mr. Fox, repent or perish!

at 2:34 PM Ziomal said...

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at 2:21 PM nick3 said...

Dear Matthew,
Thank You for your books. They come of deep understanding of some threads of christian tradition.

Your opponents don't find the attitude of Submission (which they believe to be the required response to the Word of God) in your way of believing.

And they think you are not a christian because the familiar Demand-Submission relationship forms what many of us feel to be the obvious shape of christianity.

It is difficult for those restrictive people to imagine that, inspite of being 2000 years old, christianity is perhaps but beginning.

And - even more - perhaps will always be!

Because of the very ways of its Founder, God who was... a Heretic!

A Man who "went where no one had gone before": chose being loyal to the misery of the debitors rather than to the Owner and the very Rules of Honesty.

God-Relativist.

I believe, Matthew, it is You who goes in his footprints.
Investing your Master's Deposit at your own risk instead of hiding it in in the ground.

God bless You:)

at 3:47 AM Robert said...

You may be right, but I'd rather be wrong, dead, and in hell than right with you.

at 12:46 PM wishstream said...

Matthew, reading some of these messages I am reminded of a Charlie Chaplin film in which he was a convict scrubbing the entrance to prison when a fight caused the outside doors to swing open. He found himself propelled outside the gaol but hammered on the door to be re-admitted! Jesus came to open the cage but the church promptly slammed the door shut. I came to your writing via Bede Griffiths and Essenes. Perhaps if your critics had read your writings, especially that lovely chapter on the Song of Songs, they might understand a little more. I'm pretty near the end of this time around but I shall go with a light heart, boyishly, into 'that dark night'. My only plea is that there is no 'queendom'. I live in a kingdom at the head of which is an anointed Queen.
Love and blessings, Michael

at 2:59 PM Peter said...

I need to see if this blog will let me in, because I do have something I'd like to say...
Peter

at 3:14 PM Peter said...

OK, it's letting me in...
Of all the interesting 48 comments above, I think the most respectful and helpful is that of Rebecca--all of it, but especially her third comment on the nature of sin. The only thing I have heard recently that I find more eloquent than this on that topic comes from my lovely wife Barbara, who offers this exegesis of the story of the healing of the lame man in Matthew 9:1-8, where Jesus asked the (rhetorical) question which is easier, to HEAL or to FORGIVE SINS? Jesus clearly shows that a) these are two different needs; b) they seem to be somewhat related; and c) He has the power to take care of both of them! So the question of whether our human problem is a wound that needs healing or sin that needs forgiveness is not one that we need to speculate or argue about: we have the authority of Jesus both in word and in practice that we have BOTH needs and that He came to solve them both for us. We need Jesus as our Healer and our Savior; to think otherwise cuts off some part of the fullness of what He came (and still abides with us) to provide for us, and robs Him of some part of His glory: Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis...dona nobis pacem.
God bless you all, and special thanks to Rebecca (and, of course, to Barbara)...
Peter

at 10:29 PM Travis said...

Godless words from the pen of a godless man. Perhaps Fox is a prophet, but he most assuredly is a false one.

Jeremiah 14:14 Then the LORD said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.

at 7:24 PM Unknown said...

Reading your list of theses, I found much I could agree with. For instance, the opening statement that God can be conceived of either as a Father or a Mother, and that the Mother aspect is of especial importance now. Also emphatically agree with thesis 55 "God speaks today as in the past through all religions..."

However, one thesis I do have questions about is 65: "Necrophilia or love of death is to be opposed in self and society in all its forms. "

I understand, from your review of "Passion of the Christ" that your concept of necrophilia is based on Erich Fromm's book Anatomy of Human Destructiveness, which I've been looking at. Fromm's book mentions a liking for brown and black clothing as an expression of necrophilia. The book also names the goddess Kali as an image of the sort of mother-figure necrophiles are attracted to.

So, Fromm's concept of necrophilia is a broad one - quite broad enough to include, for instance, the Goth subculture that emerged initially in the UK in the late twentieth century.

So I have to ask what you really mean when you say "necrophilia... is to be opposed... in all it forms". Forms such as Goth clothing? macabre literature like that of Bram Stoker and H.P.Lovecraft? images of Kali? Or do you simply mean that fascism is to be opposed in all its forms?

(I'm working on a longer statement on this topic, to appear in the journal Ferment.)

Colin Robinson
colinr@zip.com.au
http://home.pacific.net.au/~ferment/

at 11:01 PM Lindy said...

This is so amazingly great that my brain is tingling.

BRAVO!

Linda McMillan

at 4:07 PM Unknown said...

GREAT POINTS

at 3:28 PM Unknown said...

What a relief to come across your book, Original Blessing. I just thought, ah, finally... So many comments resonate with me. I am stunned that I am reading in print what I have often found myself thinking before. That you quote the many writers, mystics, poets, artists, musicians.... etc from previous eras who are of this ilk, this is so reassuring. I love life and want to live it as fully as I can. I find you courageous and inspiring, thank you.

at 9:50 AM spinoza said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
at 4:58 PM Forrest Boden said...

# 91- "3 Highways to into the heart"... What about gratitude and awe?

at 11:29 AM Mark Collenburg Rego-Monteiro said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
at 11:31 AM Mark Collenburg Rego-Monteiro said...

Matthew Fox is developing a Christian consciousness that can finally achieve levels consistent with the best of the culture it has spawned.
While JC clearly warned against greed, as in Luke 12:14, and carousing and drunkenness in Luke 21:34, and superficialities at the expense of inner work, justice, and kindness, as well as faith in Matthew 23:1, materialistic society of corporations love their wealth and many Churches have instead limited JC's meaning.
In John 6:45, JC talks about how God will teach anyone who will listen, and in John 14:12, that followers will do greater things. In all of this, he mentions in John 4:21 how God will be worshipped in Spirit and Truth, and in Luke 22:24 how rulers should be like servants, not benefactors.
All together, these teachings are consistent with his teachings of the Good Samaritan and the five new Commandments of love, including to follow Moses.
Modern Universities and modern education promote their Greco-Roman roots, but their renewal has come only because of JC's teachings as they survived in the Church through Thomas Aquinas.
Everything has played its part until now to bring us here, but Matthew Fox gives us an important foundation to recognize the possibilities of a new Modern and Interfaith Christianity: Matthew 5:43 and 22:34: Love Moses (now through modern Christianity), your neighbor, yourself, until your enemy. He died for our sins, but not to close our minds to education and new levels of understanding God in Spirit and Truth.
As the Universal Life Church ordains ministers, Unitarian Universalism promotes interfaith, whether Tao-Tai Chi, Buddhist-Zen-Tibetan, Hindu-Yoga, Islamic-Sufi, 12 Step, Shamanic or other, Christian Science healing, and Society of Friends integrity, and each denomination some beautiful piece of Christianity, they can be integrated through Thomas Aquinas and modern education, with Matthew Fox's work showing how Christ's teaching of the Love of God can work in enlightened grandeur. Further practices of sustainable development can then be understood in their larger significance, like Whole Cost Accounting, Civil Society Activism of Greenpeace, Oxfam, Amnesty International, and Friends of the Earth, Community and Employee-ownership, Organic, and Fair Trade certifications. The Holy Spirit can then do more and more of its karmic work.
Thanks again, Matthew and everyone in the interfaith love of God through Christ and education.

at 5:41 PM Marie said...

Does anyone have any information on creation spirituality meditation retreats in NSW, Australia? Would very much appreciate info on this. Marie

at 8:35 AM Donald Chalmers said...

Articles of Faith for ALL Religion(s) as we enter the Third Millennium:

There can be no doubt that "non-judgmental and practical approaches breathe fresh air into institutionalized religions grown brittle, and cast a loving bright light of focus for future generations".

I wish to thank Matthew Fox for bringing us some of the fresh air which helped me along the way, to make the following observations:

1. There is no hate in love: Hate melts in the arms of Love. Parents are for nurture, pure and simple.
2. The “Golden Rule” is common to all religions:
3. “Do not do to others that which you would hate for yourself”, and
4. “Loving your neighbour as yourself” IS
5. “Loving the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength”, as WE
6. Recognize ourselves in all others (ALL people are created equal members of one human family).

I write to you now as one "from the bottom, up": I am a former military conscript, and observed first-hand the abomination and inequity of war in South Vietnam.

And it is still so today: I am now blessed to be a free-thinking loved and loving parent and grandparent, artist, piper, poet, and writer - and was born, raised and educated in Melbourne by hard-working parents whose religious beliefs were always tempered with an eye to equity.

My interests in justice issues are explained in my website " www.wound-wisdom.tk " etc: respectful challenge, encouragement, and hope.

I trust that the importance of the loving message encapsulated in my “Peace and Harmony” artwork which is freely available to all in my " www.wound-wisdom.tk " website (and "Life Lessons" notes and observations which can be found at " www.myspace.com/a_piper_too ") will not be lost on those who read this – for each one has a place, in God’s place – even for one like myself, at the bottom.

I hope to welcome you to my home town of Melbourne in December 2009 as we collectively, mindfully and prayerfully approach the 5th Parliament of the World's Religions, which has as its theme: "Make a World of Difference - Hearing each Other; Healing the Earth".

Long may your love light shine long ! May all of Life's Blessings be Yours, also: Peace to You (as well)
May all the blessing, honour and power so freely given to us return to the One God who gave life to US….

at 11:56 AM Unknown said...

I agree with all that you've written, Matthew. I've just finished your book, Creativity. As an artist it meant so much to me to understand how valuable our creativity is and how it can be used to bless our world. Thank you so very much. It will be a book that remains in my nightstand so that I can refer to it often for wisdom and encouragement along my journey.

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