a summary of progressive christian theology

This video is an introduction to Creation Spirituality using Appendix B of the book "Original Blessing" by Matthew Fox. It contrasts original sin with original blessing through comparing traditional Fall and Redemption theology with Creation Spirituality. This quick comparison is an excellent summary of liberal, progressive, Christian theology and liberal religion in general.

In "Original Blessing, Fox invites us to rethink our fundamental beliefs about humanity's relationship with the divine. Moving away from the traditional notion of “original sin,” Fox illuminates a path toward embracing our innate goodness and the inherent blessings of existence. Fox replaces the three path journey of Christian mysticism through purgation, illumination, and union, with the four paths of creation spirituality that he name the Via Positiva, the Via Negativa, the Via Creativa, and the Via Transformativa.

Over 40 years after its publication Original Blessing is still an invitation to rediscover the sacredness of our world and to live in harmony with the blessings that surround us through a renewal and revival based in Creation Spirituality that is vibrant, inclusive, and ecologically aware."

the last imperfect day in america

Defying authoritarianism in America

Once upon a time in America

there was a last imperfect day.

A day when not only the churches,

but the temples and the mosques

called people to prayer;

a day when it was still legal to be a non-believer.

There was a last imperfect day when children

of every color and creed went to school;

A day when people could speak their mind

without fear of neighbors turning them in;

A day when people could speak Spanish,

or Arabic, or Portuguese, or Cantonese

without being arrested.

On that day women still owned their own bodies;

you were innocent until proven guilty;

And there was no government list of undesirables.

On that day, as it was in all the days before,

Life was hard, and messy, and difficult,

and full of compromise and hard lessons.

It was far from perfect.

It was full of failure, starting over, and trying again,

but it was real and there was enough hope

to wake up each morning and give

community, respect, dignity, and inclusion another shot.

In very many ways, it most certainly was not great.

There was, once upon a time, not too long ago

A last imperfect day like this.

And then America became great

Again.