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."

10 Resources for dealing with election Anxiety

Just about everyone I know has some anxiety surrounding the upcoming election. Here are 10 resources I hope you'll find useful if anxiety, not to mention outright fear and terror are weighing you down as the election approaches, in the days after (because I doubt we will know who the winner is immediately as was the case four years ago), and once a winner is declared.

1. Unitarian Universalist Association's Community Resilience Hub

2. The United Church of Christ  “Don’t be Scared, be Prepared: What to Expect in the 2024 November Election”  

3. The Trevor Project  “Coping with Intense Emotions Around the Presidential Election” 

4. Psychology Today – “12 Tips for Managing Election Anxiety” 

5. Time Magazine – “How to Survive Election Season Without Losing Your Mind” 

6. American Psychological Association – “The impact of election stress: Is political anxiety harming your health? “ 

Psychological science shows that politics can harm our physical and mental health, but the positive aspects of political engagement can lead to greater well-being 

7. NPR Morning Edition segment –“Stressed about politics? Here are 5 ways to take care of your mental health” –    3-minute listen 

8. MEET UP McPherson Clinical Counseling host “Election Fatigue & Stress: Navigating the 2024 Election Season” Online Meet Up 

   
   

9. On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder - The book or a great concise summary.

   
   

10. Sources of accurate information about voting and the election:

Multiple federal government agencies are also working to protect your vote:

• Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) on Election Security

• Election Assistance Commission (EAC) on Election Security

• FBI on Election Crimes

• National Association of State Election Directions (NASED) on Election FAQs

  
  

mending meditation: a spiritual challenge

Our theme this month is REPAIR and my challenge to you for the month is something I call the “Mending Meditation.”  It has three parts and each part involves a different type of mending or repair work: 1. Mend something that physically or mechanically needs repairing. 2. Mend something about yourself. 3. Mend something in the world around you.

First is to find something that physically or mechanically needs repairing and fix it. Some things will be beyond most of us. If you’re not a car mechanic, or HVAC technician or computer IT person, perhaps look for something you can do already or you may be able to learn with a lesson or two from a family member, a friend or YouTube.  Manageable repair tasks might be things such as a sock with a hole in it, a pair of jeans with a rip or tear, a squeaky door hinge, a flat bicycle tire, or even a dead battery in a television remote.  The physical act of fixing it yourself is a meditation. Be present to it. What did you have to do to mend something that was broken? Did you need to learn a new skill? Was it frustrating? When you fixed it and it was repaired, how did you feel?

Next, repair something about yourself.  No one is perfect. There is probably something about you that could use a tune-up. This could be something physical, something emotional, or something spiritual. It might involve your physiology or mental health. It might be an attitude or a skill. Perhaps you’re already doing this. Those of us living with physical or mental illnesses engage this type of mending daily.  Maybe choose something about being nicer to a family member or friend who gets on your nerves. Maybe finally learn to use Google Docs or go back to yoga class or take up tai-chi.

Finally, do something to repair the world. Tikun olam is Hebrew for “world repair.” Although the term is found in the Mishnah (compilation of oral Jewish law circa 200 C.E.), since the 1950s it has come to mean doing social justice work in more liberal Jewish circles.  How you repair the world takes many forms.  Sometimes it’s as simple as acts of loving kindness toward family, friends, and neighbors.  Sometimes it’s more involved such as volunteering for a social, racial, or environmental justice organization.  It could be as simple as voting or donating money to a worthy charitable cause.  

The challenge is to practice each of these three types of repair this month and reflect on the commonalities and differences of these three ways to mend things.  Rev. Laura Everett, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches says the spiritual practice metaphors of mending are rich and tactile. Experience these for yourself this month.  As you do reflect on how mending something, including yourself, is as Rev. Everett reminds us “a validation of worth.” 

As always, if you take on the challenge, I’d love to hear about your experience with it.