(Unsplash/Priscilla Gyamfi)
by John Dear
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"We're living through a dark night of our species, our society, and our souls," Matthew Fox told John Dear this week on "The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast."
A world renowned theologian, Episcopal priest and an activist for justice and creation, Fox has written many bestselling books including Original Blessing, The Coming of the Cosmic Christ, A Spirituality Named Compassion and The Hidden Spirituality of Men.
Matthew Fox (Courtesy photo)
"We're in the middle of a coup," Fox said. "American democracy is being hijacked in the name of authoritarianism by the billionaires. This movement that is culminating in [President Donald] Trump began over 40 years ago; it's gathered racism, revenge and resentment. Project 2025 has 18 points that are obviously anti-Christ, but we don't talk about evil; we talk about sin. These are spiritual forces — racism, sexism, unbridled greed (capitalism). They are names for evil spirits."
"There's a difference between sin and evil," Fox said. "We have to be strong to resist fear and evil spirits. The opposite of evil is not good; it is 'the sacred.' It operates on the level of spirit."
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Abraham Heschel said the primary work of the prophet is "to interfere," Fox said. "We need to interfere. We also need a spirituality of falling in love with life. We have to love life, and how beautiful the world is. That's what we have to drink in and fill up on. We should be able to unite around gratitude for our existence. We've got to fill up on joy and celebration as well as resisting and saying no to evil."
"Nonviolence begins with ourselves," Fox said. "We're all carrying the seeds of violence and nonviolence. We need to nurture the seeds of nonviolence in us and contribute to nurturing the seeds of nonviolence in others."
