A New Reformation: Creation Spirituality and the Transformation of Christianity

By Matthew Fox

Book Overview

A modern-day theologian's call for the radical transformation of Christianity - Echoes the Reformation initiated by Martin Luther in 1517 - Addresses the corruption and authoritarian tendencies that distinguish today's Christian institutions from the spiritual message upon which they are founded - Offers a new vision of Christianity that values the Earth, honors the feminine, and emphasizes spiritual tolerance In 1517, Martin Luther, disgusted at the corruption then reigning in the Catholic Church, nailed on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, 95 theses calling for a Reformation. During Pentecost week 2005, former Dominican priest Matthew Fox nailed at that same church door a new set of 95 theses calling for a reawakening of the Christian spirit and a repudiation of the authoritarian, punitive tendencies that prevail in modern churches today. Fox's theses not only condemn the deep corruption in the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church, made evident by the pedophile scandal and the recent canonization of a fascist admirer of Hitler, but also speak to the loss of inspiration and resulting apathy that have emptied churches of all denominations. Fox says, "At this critical time in human and planetary history, when the earth is being ravaged by the violence of war, poverty, sexism, homophobia, and eco-destruction, we need to gather those who offer a future that is one of compassion, creativity, and justice to speak their conscience as never before. Religion ought to be part of the solution, not the problem." His 95 theses call for a New Reformation, a radical transformation that will allow us to move once again from the hollow trappings of organized religion to genuine spirituality.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1594771235
• ISBN13: 9781594771231
• Release Date: February 2006
• Publisher: Inner Traditions International
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.4" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

great

Fox's "New Reformation" is an excellent, concise, typically bold statement for Fox of the many themes running through contemporary Christian theology: democracry against hierarchy, gender equality against patriarchy, ecology against dominion over nature, etc. Highly recommended.

It's time to take a stand

Matthew Fox gives us the courage to take a stand and speak out for our beliefs without guilt and fear. Matthew Fox found his voice many decades ago and has helped us find ours. Although he has been "silenced" by the Catholic institutional church and has been expelled from the Dominican community, his heart is still rooted in his heritage. Nevertheless, he is determined to go forth and help transform the community that Christ came on earth to teach us. This transformed community that Matthew Fox is building creates instead of rules. Fox is not out to change the Catholic church but to bring back the new life that once was in the beginning. The living Christ. Thank you Matthew Fox, you have been a wonderful leader and mentor in my spiritual quest. Other books for your consideration: Meditations with Meister Eckhart by Matthew Fox Who Told You That You Were Naked?: Freedom From Judgement, Guilt and Fear of Punishment by John Jacob Raub The Wisdom of Wilderness: Experiencing the Healing Power of Nature by Gerald G May Radical Optimism: Practical Spirituality in an Uncertain World by Beatrice Bruteau

7 Years of Searching for the Meaning of Witness....

Beyond Belief....and I have worked for the church for over 22 years....I have sat through numerous meetings and listened to "WHY" the GIRM was important and why the power of once coming along side the church leadership was NOW going to be stripped of the layity in the NAME OF POWER to be re-bestoyed upon FATHER! Scychophants - my word has been "POD PEOPLE" - has been a wonderful awakening that I was NOT the only one to witness a NORMAL group of seminarians that go to seminary and come back pod people filled up with notions that only appease the powers that be. After serving and giving well over 70 to 80 hours of work for the church each week - this has been the hardest thing to witness and in the name of Matthew Fox an educated theologian that has dared to put this book in print HE HAS ANSWERED WHAT WE HAVE ALL WITNESSED AND HAVE WONDERED AT TIMES ARE WE GOING CRAZY!!??? Thank you Dr. Matthew Fox for your courage - do NOT allow them to ever silence you! We need people of truth and we are standing behind you - attempting to uncover and LIVE THE TRUTH! For as Jesus said and the TRUTH SHALL SET US FREE! Blessings of God's Peace Always!!!

A ground breaking, thought-provoking analysis of the corruption of Catholic and Christian fundamenta

A New Reformation: Creation Spirituality And The Transformation Of Christianity by Matthew Fox (Founder of the University of Creation Spirituality in Oakland, California, now the Wisdom University) offers the reader a ground breaking, thought-provoking analysis of the corruption of Catholic and Christian fundamentalism in the United States. Reenacting Martin Luther's famous call for reformation of Church corruption in 1517, Matthew Fox inspirationally defies the modern Roman-Catholic reign in A New Reformation as he diligently and knowledgeably reveals its institutional flaws and proposes a more productive and helpful reordering of the practices and policies of the dominant Christian churches. A New Reformation is very strongly recommended and iconoclastic reading, and to be given high praise as an outstandingly informative and quite comprehensive study of the Christian movement, especially the Catholic church, and a coherent presentation of the more progressive aspects of the Christian religion in modern times.

Matthew Fox for the Masses !

"The New Reformation", Matthew Fox's newest book, is perhaps one of the most important books published in my lifetime. It literally has the potential to change the world. The most important Fox book for me personally was his autiobiography "Confessions", which on May 3, 1996 triggered a personal profound, mystical, transpersonal, unitive moment that transformed my life. I will always be enternally grateful that Matthew wrote that illuminating book, in the deepest most paradoxical sense, exactly for me, (and I suspect many others who, of course, ARE ME) The most exciting thing about this newest book, "The Next Reformation" is that it makes ascessable to potentially large numbers of readers the heartmind of this spiritual giant whom I revere as my "pope". In 126 succinct pages, the reader is exposed to Fox, his empowering panentheistic theology, the forgotten Creation Spirituality vein of mystical Christianity, and his postmodern manifesto in which Fox, ala Luther, challenges Both Catholic AND Protestant Christianity to transform and recover the powerful path of the Via Transformativa. If you're tired of the religion ABOUT Jesus of Nazareth and you are ready to embrace the spirituality OF Jesus of Nazareth, read this book ! Congrats "FatherMotherPope" Matthew !! Thanks for your courage, compassion, wisdom and essence ! From an ex-catholic boy "goin to hell", thanks to my Roman Catholic heritage for giving me something to transcend, yet include. Without Fox, Spong, Crossan, Borg, Pagels, Mithchell, Dossey, Wilber, Thich Nat Hanh, et al, I would still be roaming the "wasteland".. Blessings, Vic Simon RoseLotus- Both the Cosmic Christ and the Kosmic Buddha