Matthew Fox is a spiritual theologian, an Episcopal priest, and an activist. As a spiritual theologian he has written 34 books that have been translated into over 60 languages. Among them are Original Blessing, The Coming of the Cosmic Christ, A Spirituality Named Compassion, The Reinvention of Work, The Hidden Spirituality of Men, Christian Mystics, and The Pope's War. He has contributed much to the rediscovery of Hildegard of Bingen, Meister Eckhart and Thomas Aquinas as pre-modern mystics and prophets. Fox holds a doctorate in the history and theology of spirituality from the Institut Catholique de Paris. The founder of the University of Creation Spirituality in California, he conducts dozens of workshops each year and is a visiting scholar at the Academy for the Love of Learning in Santa Fe, NM.
In joining the Episcopal church over 20 years ago, Fox has been working with young people to reinvent forms of worship by bringing elements of rave such as dance, dj, vj and more into the Western Liturgy. The Cosmic Mass has been celebrated over 100 times and in dozens of cities in North America.
Fox is recipient of the Abbey Courage of Conscience Peace Award (other recipients being the Dali Lama, Mother Teresa, Ernesto Cardenal and Rosa Parks), the Gandhi King Ikeda Award, the Tikkun National Ethics Award and other awards.
His latest books are Order of the Sacred Earth: An Intergenerational Vision of Love and Action; Stations of the Cosmic Christ; and A Way to God: Thomas Merton's Creation Spirituality Journey. He teaches regularly at the Fox Institute for Creation Spirituality in Boulder, CO and resides in Vallejo, CA.
Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group.
Transcript of this interview
Interview recorded November 11, 2017.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:07 - The Everyday Buddha
00:08:31 - Democratizing the Mystical Experience and Contemplative Wisdom
00:13:09 - Taming the Reptilian Brain
00:17:28 - Celebrating Love as a Theophany
00:25:39 - Shifting Human Consciousness and its Impact on the Planet
00:30:08 - Laudato Si and the Destruction of Coral Reefs
00:33:59 - The Environmental Crisis
00:38:25 - The Impact of War and Peace
00:42:27 - Becoming an Episcopal Priest
00:46:14 - The Difference Between Spirituality and Religion
00:50:37 - The Beginnings of the Creation Tradition
00:55:17 - Creation Spirituality and the Cosmic Christ
00:59:15 - Cosmic Imagery in Religious Teachings
01:03:05 - The Immensity of Intelligence in Creation
01:06:56 - The Relationship Between Enlightenment and Compassion
01:11:00 - The Power of Denial and Its Consequences
01:14:50 - Chosen Ignorance
01:19:02 - The Four Paths of Spiritual Journey
01:23:06 - The Power of Compassion and Healing
01:26:50 - A Doctorate in Spirituality
01:30:35 - The Murder of Thomas Merton
01:34:18 - Merton's Mystical Experience in Downtown Louisville
01:38:15 - Reality and Metaphysics
01:43:03 - Joy and Consciousness in the Universe
01:47:06 - Sat-chit-ananda and the Joy of Creating
01:51:09 - Accessing the Inner Joy and Happiness
01:55:25 - The Intellect and Values
01:58:37 - Invitation to All Lifestyles and Traditions
02:01:42 - Thinking outside the box