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This week we talk to Matthew Fox about The Four Paths to God
Matthew Fox is an American priest and theologian
Fox was an early and influential exponent of a movement that came to be known as Creation Spirituality. The movement draws inspiration from the mystical philosophies of such medieval Catholic visionaries as Hildegard of Bingen, Thomas Aquinas, Saint Francis of Assisi, Julian of Norwich, and Meister Eckhart as well as the wisdom traditions of Christian scriptures.
Creation Spirituality is also strongly aligned with ecological and environmental movements of the late 20th century and embraces numerous spiritual traditions around the world.
Fox has written 30 books that have sold millions of copies. His latest book is called A Way to God: Thomas Merton’s Creation Spirituality Journey
In This Interview, Matthew Fox and I Discuss…
- The One You Feed parable
- Feeding “the love of life” vs the “love of death”
- How fear can drive compassion out
- Embracing the difficult
- Silence and solitude
- Balancing engaging with the world vs retreating from it
- Battling our narcissistic tendencies
- Learning to let go and let be
- Developing a “portable solitude” that we can take with us
- His Four Paths to God- Via Positiva, Via Negativa, Via Creativa, Via Transformativa
- Creativity as a path towards God
- Getting “off the cushion” and into the world
- Via Positiva
- Awe and astonishment as a path to deeper spirituality
- Nature as part of the Via Positiva
- Via Negativa
- Facing suffering and grieving as part of the Via Negativa
- Via Transformativa
- Keeping our attention on being compassionate
- The “glittering Niagra of Trivia” that is our culture and media
- Thomas Merton’s transition to mysticism
- Was Thomas Merton assassinated by our government?
- Technology as the main problem of our time
- How technology will not redeem us
- Being expelled from the Dominican Order
- Supporting homosexuality
Matthew Fox Links
A grandfather is talking with his grandson and he says there are two wolves inside of us which are always at war with each other.
One of them is a good wolf which represents things like kindness, bravery and love. The other is a bad wolf, which represents things like greed, hatred and fear.
The grandson stops and thinks about it for a second then he looks up at his grandfather and says, “Grandfather, which one wins?”
The grandfather quietly replies, the one you feed
The Tale of Two Wolves is often attributed to the Cherokee indians but there seems to be no real proof of this. It has also been attributed to evangelical preacher Billy Graham and Irish Playwright George Bernard Shaw. It appears no one knows for sure but this does not diminish the power of the parable.
This parable goes by many names including:
The Tale of Two Wolves
The Parable of the Two Wolves
Two Wolves
Which Wolf Do You Feed
Which Wolf are You Feeding
Which Wolf Will You Feed
It also often features different animals, mainly two dogs.
Glen Lillquist says
Hi Matthew,
8-11-2016- You signed my book in Atlanta, Nov 5, l995 “A Spirituality Named Compassion”
You spoke very well and looked the same. I notice current pics of you still looking good 15 years later.
I guess the Spirit shines through, keep up the good work. Last count I have 15 of your valuable books, a treasure to re-read and pass on. Thank you. “oremus invicem semper” Glen Lillquist 678-432-2144
Eric Zimmer says
Hi Glen…he is wonderful man.
Allen L Mauney says
I have been a listener of your podcast for over a year and also listen to other podcast that discuss similar subjects…but the episode with Matthew Fox was a game changer!! A lot of messages are timely..this one was without doubt TIMELESS!!
Thank You!!