Over 200 Attended Lecture by Matthew Fox on "Being a Mystic Today" in Sarasota, Florida/Highlights by Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP

Dr. Matthew Fox, author of 30 books and  popular spirituality speaker

Over 200 people attended an outstanding lecture by international-best selling author Matthew Fox on March 16, 2015 at St. Andrew UCC in Sarasota, Florida.
Some highlights:
"All religions need simplification. We need to move from religion to spirituality."
Jesus came from the Wisdom tradition. He defined his relationship with God with metaphors from nature, flowers, sparrow, seeds, etc)
Both Jesus and Paul were mystics.
Jesus never heard of original sin.
Augustine's dualistic view and original sin associated with sexuality. Spirit not in matter in this view. 

You cannot be a Christian unless you are a mystic. 
A Mystic is a lover.
Every being is Christ Presence on earth.
Compassion is the fire that Jesus came to ignite on earth.
John 1 `: Christ is the light in every being.
Hildegard of Bingen  1098-1181 recovered the Divine Feminine.
Hildegard saw the Cosmic Mary as the Ground of all being.
Eckhart saw Cosmic Christ as the Ground of all being. 
Benedict canonized her, but probably did not read her.
Her monastery was put under interdict.
She challenged Fredrick Barbarosa and Pope Athanasius.
In Eckhart, we see the influence of  Begines and mystics such as Marguerite of Portors who was burned at stake. Eckhart went on to spread her teachings.
"Everything praises God" Meister Eckhart wrote.

Today:
We need mystics, lovers 
and prophets who challenge abusive power that dominates and oppresses others. 
Mary Oliver, Modern day mystic- we are called to be"in love with existence"
1. Pay attention
2. Be astonished
3. Share astonishment

Dorothy Shugrue ARCWP, Joan Pech, Matt Fox and Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP