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.
Rating: 
Summary: A stew with mixed results
Review: This defrocked Catholic priest Fox's work that started it all.
It starts out dealing with the Augustinian guilt complex that influenced the teachings of the Catholic Church and most Protestant denominations afterward. And how it turned Christianity into a religion of guilt and fear among other things. His assumption is correct in that most Churches would collaspe without the twin pillars of guilt and fear supporting them. Modern day churches have reduced Jesus to a afterlife fire insurance salesman and malignant thug to the unbelievers. How God became a burden to man not a joy and repsite under Augustine's theology.Now St. Augustine's(Too bad the Catholics went with him instead of St. Maximos the Confessor - there would have been no guilt culture) manichean pessimism is fair game. Had Fox stayed with this as his main topic he'd been alright. I mean look at the popularity of that ugly "Left Behind series" that rejoices in people suffering. Fox could have had a field day dealing anti-life, nature desecration theology and general social deviancy of many protestant denominations. Instead he uses this as a launching point for his new religion called creation spirituality which is loosely based on the Christian mysticism of Master Eckhart and many new age concepts plus a dose of political correctness. Essentially it's a movement based on a syncretic mysticism - with no real experiential basis in fact. Does it work - doubtful. It won't outlive Fox. As a student of Eckhart he ought to remember what happened to Eckharts contemporaries like the Brethern of the Free Spirit or Suso. Mysticism without a rigourous and moral outerlife usually ends badly. There are legit reasons why the Church frowned upon it. Though I am no fan of Fox I cannot give Fox only one star. He's seems sincere but a bad theologian and is no mystic. But compared with much of the baneful teachings and pap put out by most Christian sects it is at least positive and does not threaten you with the "bad place" as Twain would put it, nor slap you around with guilt. So use it as launching point and remeber St. John of the ladder's saying. "Do not be surprised that you fall every day; do not give up, but stand your ground courageously.
And assuredly, the angel who guards you will honour your patience. --St John Klimakos " After reading this examine Underhill's Mysticism and Fruits of the Spirit. Read E.F. Schumachers "Guide for the Perplexed." Charles Tart "living the Mindful life" most of Tart's work is good for an experiential base, Anthony bloom "Beginning to Pray" - traditional but very good. Hossein Nasr's "Man and Nature" - what went wrong with Xtanity and it's relationship with nature. In fact the first book on Christianity and ecology!
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