One River, Many Wells

by Fox, Matthew

• ISBN13: 9781585423262
• ISBN10: 1585423262
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-06-17
• Publisher: Tarcher

Summary

Maverick theologian Matthew Fox brings readers into the common heart of the world's great religions, illuminating a "deep ecumenism" for seekers everywhere. We get to the core of religion by going to the heart experience, Matthew Fox says, not by dwelling on doctrines that so easily divide even within religious traditions. In One River, Many Wells, Fox exhorts readers to embrace the common faith of deep ecumenism. Fox masterfully distills the common principles of the world's religions, and shows exactly how the different fingers of world faiths connect to a single hand. Drawing on seminal quotes, lessons, and ideas from the great faiths, he demonstrates how each expresses a common goal and approach to life, and concludes the book with "18 New Myths and Visions" that will inspire readers to embrace deep ecumenism. One River, Many Wellsis an indispensable resource, envisioning a new and exciting way of faith that erases the lines of false distinction between religions and calls upon each of us to worship from our common heart.

Author Biography

Matthew Fox has devoted his career to unleashing the suppressed mystical and life-affirming traditions within Christianity and other faiths. His theology of Creation Spirituality-the belief that we are born in "original blessing"-earned him the headline-making censure of the Vatican, which officially "silenced" Fox in 1989 and precipitated his dismissal by the Dominican Order in 1995. Now an Episcopal priest, Fox is the author of more than twenty books.

Table of Contents

Introduction: "Finally, Religion 1999"	1	(14)
One: RELATING TO CREATION
1. Deep Ecumenism and the Universality of Experience	15	(11)
2. Creation-All Our Relations	26	(24)
3. Light	50	(30)
4. Community and Interdependence	80	(21)
Two: RELATING TO DIVINITY
5. Names for God	101	(16)
6. The Feminine Face of Divinity	117	(27)
7. Wisdom: Another Feminine Face of the Divine	144	(13)
8. Form, Formlessness, Nothingness	157	(14)
9. The Divine "I Am": Humanity's Share in Divinity	171
Three: RELATING TO OURSELVES: PATHS TO ENCOUNTER AND ENLIGHTENMENT
10. Meditation and Mindfulness	189	(29)
11. Holy Imagination: Art and Ritual as Paths to Mindfulness	218	(36)
12. Joy	254	(14)
13. Suffering	268	(23)
14. Beauty	291	(17)
15. Sacred Sexuality	308	(27)
16. Dying, Resurrection, Reincarnation	335	(42)
Four: RELATING TO THE FUTURE: WHAT THE DIVINE IS ASKING OF US
17. Service and Compassion (including Justice and Celebration)	377	(27)
18. Spiritual Warriorhood	404
Five: CONCLUSION: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? HOW DEEP ECUMENISM EXPLODES OUR IMAGINATIONS WITH EIGHTEEN NEW MYTHS AND VISIONS
Notes	441	(20)
Bibliography	461	(6)
Index	467