Matthew Fox and Homosexuality as an Original Blessing

What if same gender loving people were an original blessing instead of the original sin many doctrines proclaim? The concept of a vengeful God is one long disputed by theologian and Episcopal priest Matthew Fox. Mr. Fox is the founder of the spiritual movement Creation Spirituality, which is based on a mystical philosophy that celebrates a Universe that emphasizes the divine creativity of individuals and our universal interdependence.

According to Fox, the director of the Institute in Culture and Creation Spirituality in Oakland, California and the author of 29 books, including Original Blessing, Creativity: Where the Divine and the Human Meet and his latest The Hidden Spirituality of Men, all people and the world around us are a manifestation of both God and nature. He argues seven principles at the heart of our existence: cosmology, feminism, liberation, compassion, prophecy, creativity, and community. To Fox, sin is a disconnection from God, not an offense to the omnipotent. Therefore, he says, creation is an original blessing and a synergy between traditional religion and more fluid spirituality.

Matthew Fox’s spiritual path has not been traveled without resistance. In the late 1980s, the then Roman Catholic priest was silenced for a year by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI). Fox’s acceptance of homosexuality within the Catholic faith was among his offenses.

“Homosexuality brings more spirituality to the community,” Fox says. “It's like a miracle. Gay love has survived all of these centuries obviously because nature wants sexual diversity. Gays bring something very important to culture and the survival of the species.”

Fox is quick to cite the several hundred animal species with known homosexual populations. He’s also very vocal about the Pope’s refusal to acknowledge the communion of nature and sexuality or the legitimacy of scientific conclusions in support of the existence of homosexuality.

“The gay population is very gifted and the gifts are needed,” Fox says. “It's a very important message.”

Still yet, Fox believes that it will take a collective effort from both the religious and secular communities to shift religious paradigms and return to the basis of our existence, which Fox says is our survival.

“We don't have time to deal with all of the piles of dogmas and doctrines and defense mechanisms and hatreds that have been built into religion in the name of God. We have to join forces with spiritual wisdom and traditions throughout the world,” Fox states. “We bring a lot to the table as a species, but how are you and I and the guy on the couch contributing?”

Learn more about Matthew Fox, Creation Spirituality and his latest book, The Hidden Spirituality of Men, at matthewfox.org.