Rating: 
Summary: Blessings of creation
Review: 'Just to be is a blessing.
Just to live is holy.'
-- Abraham HeschelI first discovered the book 'Original Blessing' by Matthew Fox about a dozen years ago; originally published in 1983, it has become a widely read and used spiritual guide for many. My first experience of this book (and I do consider it a genuine experience) coincided with my first trip to St. Gregory's Abbey, a benedictine monastery with which I've maintained a connexion over the years. This book was a wonderful accompaniment for that spiritual retreat, and has remained a favourite book to be packed for reference and review each time I go on another. Fox has organised the book into four broad sections, or paths: Path I: Befriending Creation--the Via Positiva
This path explores creation, activity, beauty and justice, panentheism (the idea of God in everything), a sense of realised eschatology (something akin to the saying that 'the kingdom of God is in you'), incarnation and personal freedom and worthiness. Path II: Befriending Darkness, Letting Go and Letting Be--the Via Negativa
This path explores those things which sometimes get in the way, such as pain, emptiness, silence, negative things--however, new perspective is sought (for example, it is into the silence that God often speaks; without silence, the voice is not heard). This is perhaps the most beautiful part of the book for me at times, as it helps in times of trouble -- as Meister Eckhart states, 'Remember this: All suffering comes to an end. And whatever you suffer authentically, God has suffered from it first.' Path III: Befriending Creativity, Befriending our Divinity--the Via Creativa
This path is perhaps the most fun part of the book, as it engages the creative flow of art, music, conversation and writing. It explores how our lives as works of art bring beauty back into the world, and how creativity is a form of birthing that which was not here before. In a unique perspective, Fox uses an analogy of creativity as being co-creators of the cosmos with God. Path IV: Befriending New Creation--Compassion, Celebration, Erotic Justice, the Via Transformativa
This path shows the way of the future as a time that can be present, images of God in motion in the world and at work in people everywhere, and explores issues of process and liberation theologies which look for justice and loving community. Fox attributes the Via Positiva as being part of a theology of creation and incarnation, the Via Negativa as being part of a theology of the cross, the Via Creativa as part of a theology of resurrection, and the Via Transformativa as a theology of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps the one great theme that permeates all writing is that of life as a blessing. This is the original blessing, from which all other blessings derive. Fox calls on people to live prophetic lives, calling upon the works of historians, artists, writers, prophets, and others through the ages. These people have conversations with each other on the pages of this book, and a truly remarkable spirit comes to life through this book.
Rating:
Summary: Very refreshing point of view on spirituality
Review: Fox presents his Creation-Centered theory of spirituality in an easy to understand manner. His ideas on spirituality apply to all religions and denominations. It is a very uplifting and positive way of interpreting our spirituality and existence in the spiritual world. His books also lays out what he refers to as "Paths" which we experience throughout life, and he gives insight on how to deal with, and grow from our experiences as spiritual people. I was also pleased that it focused on the positive aspects of spirituality, of life itself, rather than the sin and guilt that surrounded the beliefs of my Catholic upbrining. I gained a more thorough understanding of my place in life on earth from this book - it is one I will continue to reread throughout my lifetime.
Rating:
Summary: Original Blessing by Mathew Fox
Review: I like this book. It's given me a new, far more hopeful veiw of what the meaning of Christ's coming to earth means to us each day. I highly recommend it to those who are caught in the 'suffering Jesus immitation' way of spiritualality, and are looking for the gifts of Jesus' life on earth. It made me start to realize that his gift of forgiving out sins is all inclusive and undeserving and completely unconditional. It's been very good to read in light of the Christmas season, but definitly not limited to that.
Rating:
Summary: Original Blessing by Mathew Fox
Review: I like this book. It's given me a new, far more hopeful veiw of what the meaning of Christ's coming to earth means to us each day. I highly recommend it to those who are caught in the 'suffering Jesus immitation' way of spiritualality, and are looking for the gifts of Jesus' life on earth. It made me start to realize that his gift of forgiving out sins is all inclusive and undeserving and completely unconditional. It's been very good to read in light of the Christmas season, but definitly not limited to that.
Rating:
Summary: A Powerful and Uplifting Book
Review: I read the first edition of this when I was in college and it floored me. The concept that God created us with an Original Blessing, and that this Blessing is what should carry over into our lives is compelling. It discusses deep spiritual issues, including why despair or pain are also part of that blessing. It makes SOOO much more sense than the concept that we are all stained by original sin. This book is a real mind blower, and the most captivating book I have ever read. I still can't believe the catholic church kicked this guy out.
Rating:
Summary: A Powerful and Uplifting Book
Review: I read the first edition of this when I was in college and it floored me. The concept that God created us with an Original Blessing, and that this Blessing is what should carry over into our lives is compelling. It discusses deep spiritual issues, including why despair or pain are also part of that blessing. It makes SOOO much more sense than the concept that we are all stained by original sin. This book is a real mind blower, and the most captivating book I have ever read. I still can't believe the catholic church kicked this guy out.
Rating:
Summary: A fresh, grand-hearted philosophy...
Review: I'm not good at giving insightful reviews of anything. But I just had to say something about this book. I originally heard of this book while researching for myself alternate ways of approaching my Christianity. I had been raised in a very strict church upbringing and had long since lost any real enthusiasm for the denomination I had attended, as well as any I had attended since leaving home. With my upbringing as well as attending two separate Christian universities, it seemed to me that many people were missing at least one or two very important things ... perhaps more. ..when it came to how they viewed themselves in context to the rest of the world and even to God from within the shroud of Christianity. Eventually, I decided to go it alone, and tried to hammer out my own path: Hardly a new religion, but very much a new philosophy. One that worked, and inspired one to good works and a good life, and not just reward or bragging rights in a congregation's hierarchy of 'most spirit filled people'. Certainly not one that lead to the sort of empty 'righteousness' I was so used to seeing and hearing.
(I had spent some time out and about in the world and with many sorts of people, and by the time I returned to my nice safe Christian home, my viewpoint had been forever changed.) When I first bought this book I had never heard of Fox, and I approached it with a level of polite skepticism; primarily because there are so many books out there in the genre of Christianity in general that finding a good one is almost a miracle in itself.
Behold one such miracle. There is another review on this page (by FrKurt Messick-a top 100 reviewer, even!) that covers the sections of the book, so I won't go into that. I will say that due to untimely circumstances, it took me quite a while to read it in its entirety. But during that time, I had the opportunity to test and examine its contents: All very well thought, well researched. and true. Do not be fooled into thinking that Fox is trying to start a new religion-- Simply a new philosophy on the same religion. With the way the world is today, I feel that the contents therein are timely and perhaps even necessary for all to at least consider for a few moments. On completing Original Blessing early yesterday morning, years of uncertainty about myself in my faith had been banished. As an artist, minority, and admittedly unconventional thinker, I readily say that I needed the message of this book. I felt that finally, finally, someone had gotten something right. Not only that, but I was impressed that he was willing to share fully his insight, without watering it down to be more acceptable to the masses. Oddly enough, I take his defrocking as a sign that he had something important to say. I'm all too familiar with the practice of dismissing someone on the basis of their spiritual beliefs in order to hush them up. More often than not, the one dismissed blesses the ones he comes in contact with afterward. I will say that if you are very traditional -meaning that you believe as others around you do, and that's final-then you will not like this book. I say this for traditional conservatives, mainstream, Pentecostal, and others. Fox invites too much personal boundary-testing for those who are not used to it. He invites you to experience life, God, creation, self & others-definitely not something that I've ever truly seen among the people I'm used to being around.
Religion should never be used to 'keep people in line' or to accomplish the kind of mindless, aimless conversion that happens all too often: What are we showing anyone? A list of rules to follow? A lifestyle that prohibits enjoyment of most if not all kinds? A life that cuts us off from creation and those who share the world around us? One that locks us away from ourselves presumably for our own good?
This is not acceptable. God is for everyone in every circumstance, and reveals himself in many ways to many people. It's time to accept and embrace that. As much as some would like to believe, this will not mean the end of morality, ethics, or of 'bible basics'. Rather, lead to thier enrichment and true frutition. I highly recommend this book to any faithful Christian seeking a new, fresh way to view their world. I hope this book finds you ready to start your journey with the wind at your back. As far as Fox goes, I cannot say that I will read his other books, as I am not one to rely heavily on non-canonical texts; but this one was worth the wait to hear about.
Rating:
Summary: A revolutionary rediscovery of Christianity
Review: It's been a long time since I first read this book--almost twenty years--and I'd forgotten just how brilliant it is until I recently returned to it. If anything, my admiration for it this second time around has increased. I honestly think the book is one of the most original theological reflections to come out of the twentieth century. Like all works of genius, the thesis is simple and elegant. Fox's central claim is that Christianity in the west (not so much in the orthodox east) has focused upon the nonscriptural notion of original sin at the expense of scripture's exuberant message of joyful original blessing. Original sin, which appears to be the fifth-century contribution of Augustine, generates a worldview centering around a primordial fall salvaged by a bloody sacrifice (Christ's). From this way of approaching reality, humans are depraved, the world is fallen, and experiences such as beauty or the erotic are immediately suspect as temptations. The original blessing model, which Fox claims can be traced back to the Genesis account of God's creation of a "good" universe, argues instead for a panentheism that sees God--and God's goodness, light, beauty, and love--in (but not exhausted by) the created order, thereby opening up the possibility that humans are good because made in God's image, and that the world and all of God's gifts should be celebrated rather than condemned. Put slightly differently: the original sin model sees fallenness as the norm and goodness (which, given our depraved nature, is possibly only by grace, which in turn becomes a kind of magic bullet) the exception. The original blessing model sees goodness and continuous grace as the norms, and fallenness as the exception. Fox isn't naive. He recognizes that sin exists, and that it does great damage in the world. But he sees the cause of sin in dualism--the artificial splintering or fragmentation of God's reality into opposing and hence warring dyads--heaven and earth, eros and agape, man and woman, us and them, human and nature. This fragmentation not only violates the wholeness (and holiness) of creation, but sets in motion psychological and social currents that lead to violence. How different both Christianity and the world would be today had our foremothers and fathers counted their original blessings instead of morbidly fixating on original sin! Hopefully, the Church is becoming more aware of its forgotten identity. Please, read this book and discover a new and liberating way to live and think your faith.
Rating:
Summary: A revolutionary rediscovery of Christianity
Review: It's been a long time since I first read this book--almost twenty years--and I'd forgotten just how brilliant it is until I recently returned to it. If anything, my admiration for it this second time around has increased. I honestly think the book is one of the most original theological reflections to come out of the twentieth century. Like all works of genius, the thesis is simple and elegant. Fox's central claim is that Christianity in the west (not so much in the orthodox east) has focused upon the nonscriptural notion of original sin at the expense of scripture's exuberant message of joyful original blessing. Original sin, which appears to be the fifth-century contribution of Augustine, generates a worldview centering around a primordial fall salvaged by a bloody sacrifice (Christ's). From this way of approaching reality, humans are depraved, the world is fallen, and experiences such as beauty or the erotic are immediately suspect as temptations. The original blessing model, which Fox claims can be traced back to the Genesis account of God's creation of a "good" universe, argues instead for a panentheism that sees God--and God's goodness, light, beauty, and love--in (but not exhausted by) the created order, thereby opening up the possibility that humans are good because made in God's image, and that the world and all of God's gifts should be celebrated rather than condemned. Put slightly differently: the original sin model sees fallenness as the norm and goodness (which, given our depraved nature, is possibly only by grace, which in turn becomes a kind of magic bullet) the exception. The original blessing model sees goodness and continuous grace as the norms, and fallenness as the exception. Fox isn't naive. He recognizes that sin exists, and that it does great damage in the world. But he sees the cause of sin in dualism--the artificial splintering or fragmentation of God's reality into opposing and hence warring dyads--heaven and earth, eros and agape, man and woman, us and them, human and nature. This fragmentation not only violates the wholeness (and holiness) of creation, but sets in motion psychological and social currents that lead to violence. How different both Christianity and the world would be today had our foremothers and fathers counted their original blessings instead of morbidly fixating on original sin! Hopefully, the Church is becoming more aware of its forgotten identity. Please, read this book and discover a new and liberating way to live and think your faith.
Rating:
Summary: The Must-Have Book of Creation Spirituality
Review: This book is undoubtedly a masterpiece and a classic. In the book, Fox describes, in depth, his views on religion and the concept of "Original Blessing", which states that humans are birthed in blessing and are naturally good. These views, to the utmost delight of many, fly straight in the face of Catholicism's "Original Sin", and if one looks at the reviews on his 35-or-so other books, including 'One River, Many Wells', 'The Coming of the Cosmic Christ' and 'Confessions: The Making of a Post-Denominational Priest' (his spiritual autobiography), I can personally guarantee you that virtually everyone who gives his book a poor rating is a devout Catholic, stereotypical as that might sound. Regardless, 'Original Blessing' is a book that every priest, theologian, minister, rabbi, and [any other religious career] *must* read, and everybody else (including me) *should* read. The eloquence of the writing and the well-supported views make this book one to treasure for generations to come.
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