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The Coming of the Cosmic Christ
In the most speculative and prophetic work of his career, Matthew Fox continues the enterprise begun in his bestselling Original Blessing. He gives a comprehensive description of the transformation of Christianity.
304 pages, Paperback
First published November 23, 1988
About the author
Matthew Fox
167 books183 followersTimothy James "Matthew " Fox is an American priest and theologian. Formerly a member of the Dominican Order within the Catholic Church, he became a member of the Episcopal Church following his expulsion from the order in 1993.
Fox has written 35 books that have been translated into 68 languages and have sold millions of copies and by the mid-1990s had attracted a "huge and diverse following"
Fox has written 35 books that have been translated into 68 languages and have sold millions of copies and by the mid-1990s had attracted a "huge and diverse following"
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 20, 2019
An Overall very inspiring and innovative work.
I assumed this book had been published around 2003 or so. I was incorrect. It was only until I was about halfway through the book that i found out that Fox wrote this in 1988 because it sounded like very new Theology to me at the time. In that context this book is incredibly bold in its statements and Theological Developments.
I have to admit that I didn't always follow the logic of all the arguments sometimes but i think that the ideas Fox is trying to articulate are on such a meta level that they are intended to stretch What he refers to as "Western modes of thinking" and I think he is right to do so.
His Critique of his own Catholic tradition is balanced by his appraisal of the mysticism it has nurtured and preserved. He focuses particularly on Meister Eckhart.
A good read if you are interested in Mysticism in general and a robust defence of the Orthodoxy of The Cosmic Christ and Christian mysticism. This might be a challenging read if you, like myself, come from a conservative leaning denomination of Christianity so just be aware of that. I wouldn't make it my first read of this topic but definitely an essential tome when looking into the subject of the Cosmic Christ.
I assumed this book had been published around 2003 or so. I was incorrect. It was only until I was about halfway through the book that i found out that Fox wrote this in 1988 because it sounded like very new Theology to me at the time. In that context this book is incredibly bold in its statements and Theological Developments.
I have to admit that I didn't always follow the logic of all the arguments sometimes but i think that the ideas Fox is trying to articulate are on such a meta level that they are intended to stretch What he refers to as "Western modes of thinking" and I think he is right to do so.
His Critique of his own Catholic tradition is balanced by his appraisal of the mysticism it has nurtured and preserved. He focuses particularly on Meister Eckhart.
A good read if you are interested in Mysticism in general and a robust defence of the Orthodoxy of The Cosmic Christ and Christian mysticism. This might be a challenging read if you, like myself, come from a conservative leaning denomination of Christianity so just be aware of that. I wouldn't make it my first read of this topic but definitely an essential tome when looking into the subject of the Cosmic Christ.
September 22, 2021
The Coming of the Cosmic Christ (1988) by Matthew Fox heralds the transformation of patriarchal Christianity into a pantheistic New Age religion that has abandoned the transcendental God for the immanent Goddess, for “the Kingdom of God is creation itself” (p. 68). Fox claims that “Jesus is Mother Earth” (p. 147), and we await her resurrection in the near future.
“Patriarchal” would mean orderliness, hierarchy, control, domination, intellectual and technological know-how, etc. Against this, Fox poses his matriarchal concept, which is essentially “dancing in the moonlight”. He proclaims a form of airy-fairy mysticism, for all humankind, that will succeed Christian patriarchal society and religion, whose concept of salvation he calls “Christofascist fundamentalism” (p. 141). The problem, however, is that life is tough, and this explains why all societies throughout history have been more or less patriarchal. Society needs to be patriarchal in order for us to survive.
Don’t be fooled by Fox’s seeming erudition. The picture that he conveys about Christianity is false. For instance, it is appalling the way in which he maligns Augustine as a patriarchal anti-mystic. In fact, Augustine has a healthy mystical side, as evident from his Confessions. Nor has Fox’s pseudo-matriarchal concept much to do with the Cosmic Christ of Irenaeus and Maximus the Confessor.
Mysticism is already present in Christianity, as it has always been. There have been many Christian mystics, such as John of the Cross, Francis of Assisi and Thomas Merton. However, their mysticism was a private affair, an interchange between themselves and God. They never endeavoured to revolutionize society with a new matriarchal economical system, or a “mystical sexuality” (p. 179), according to which “love beds are altars” (p. 177).
This is the gist of the problem. It is like the inner mystical life of Matthew Fox and other New Age fanatics bloats up and infects the entire world with a fantasy life that ought to be personal. Comparatively, Francis of Assisi had a passion for Mother Nature. It came to expression in his private religious life. But he never saw it as an ideal for society, because it is really a model for the inner life of the individual. We can indeed revere the divine feminine, despite living in a patriarchal world and partaking of patriarchal religion. It is entirely up to ourselves.
Fox misrepresents Christianity. In its stead he proclaims a vulgar form of mysticism that only leads to debauchery and immorality. His vision of matriarchy could only cause the destruction of society, with untold suffering as consequence. For this reason his book deserves the lowest grade. Please do not enter Fox’s Cloud Cuckoo Land!
“Patriarchal” would mean orderliness, hierarchy, control, domination, intellectual and technological know-how, etc. Against this, Fox poses his matriarchal concept, which is essentially “dancing in the moonlight”. He proclaims a form of airy-fairy mysticism, for all humankind, that will succeed Christian patriarchal society and religion, whose concept of salvation he calls “Christofascist fundamentalism” (p. 141). The problem, however, is that life is tough, and this explains why all societies throughout history have been more or less patriarchal. Society needs to be patriarchal in order for us to survive.
Don’t be fooled by Fox’s seeming erudition. The picture that he conveys about Christianity is false. For instance, it is appalling the way in which he maligns Augustine as a patriarchal anti-mystic. In fact, Augustine has a healthy mystical side, as evident from his Confessions. Nor has Fox’s pseudo-matriarchal concept much to do with the Cosmic Christ of Irenaeus and Maximus the Confessor.
Mysticism is already present in Christianity, as it has always been. There have been many Christian mystics, such as John of the Cross, Francis of Assisi and Thomas Merton. However, their mysticism was a private affair, an interchange between themselves and God. They never endeavoured to revolutionize society with a new matriarchal economical system, or a “mystical sexuality” (p. 179), according to which “love beds are altars” (p. 177).
This is the gist of the problem. It is like the inner mystical life of Matthew Fox and other New Age fanatics bloats up and infects the entire world with a fantasy life that ought to be personal. Comparatively, Francis of Assisi had a passion for Mother Nature. It came to expression in his private religious life. But he never saw it as an ideal for society, because it is really a model for the inner life of the individual. We can indeed revere the divine feminine, despite living in a patriarchal world and partaking of patriarchal religion. It is entirely up to ourselves.
Fox misrepresents Christianity. In its stead he proclaims a vulgar form of mysticism that only leads to debauchery and immorality. His vision of matriarchy could only cause the destruction of society, with untold suffering as consequence. For this reason his book deserves the lowest grade. Please do not enter Fox’s Cloud Cuckoo Land!
July 16, 2021
i want to give this book to everyone. the end.
July 1, 2019
An excellent introduction to the long tradition of Catholic mystical writing, from Hildegaard of Bingen and Teresa of Avila to Meister Eckhart and Teilhard de Chardin to more modern writers such as Thomas Merton and Paul Tillich. Having been raised Protestant, I had never heard of any of these authors at the time I read it (1989). It may be a bit dated now, more than thirty years after publication, but likely still worthwhile for those who are disillusioned with 21st century American mainstream Christianity but wish to continue in the Christian tradition.
June 10, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. Wove the mystical view of Christianity & other world religions into a highly ecumenical focus with preservation for individual traditions- to focus on the preservation of humanity & the planet through science, art & mysticism —cosmology.
I had a hard time getting through some of Part III, but easily read & understood concepts of the rest of the book.
You will not believe this book is written in 1987. It’s as if not more relevant today.
I had a hard time getting through some of Part III, but easily read & understood concepts of the rest of the book.
You will not believe this book is written in 1987. It’s as if not more relevant today.
July 24, 2014
Read in the late 90s. This is the place Christianity (for that matter, humanity) needs to go to become spiritual grown ups. Despite the detour of fervent, rising fundamentalism in all the major western religions in the first decade of the 21st century, I am still hopeful we are going to get there.
September 10, 2017
Honestly the book starts off wonderfully, but after the first section it turns into a repetitive sermon about Mother Earth. I appreciate his message on the mystic path, but I think he could have went about it in a better way. To be also be totally honest, I couldn't finish it.
February 14, 2009
Not for the faint hearted or those who are very set in orthadox beliefs. I found it as other Fox books, very challenging.
September 14, 2018
Truly, a book that needs re-issued, being twenty years after original print. The ideas are incredibly inspirational in saving the world from earthly suicide.
June 4, 2025
Full of hope
Cosmology=science+mysticism+art
Cosmology=science+mysticism+art
June 21, 2025
Did not finish. Too much heresy and new age nonsense.
July 14, 2014
Not sure I finished this, but I read enough of it (along with all of Original Blessing) to see how Fox's "marriage aspirations" here were problematic, to say the least.
"Marriage aspirations"? I mean to say the marriage between Christianity and the new so-called global "holistic spirituality". For those really interested in such "marriage aspirations" I would highly recommend instead the astonishing, anonymous masterpiece Meditations on the Tarot - which manages to build bridges between Catholic Christianity, Western Hermeticism, Jungian psychology, Western and Eastern religion and philosophy and much, much more ... I have a review of Meditations on the Tarot here:
http://corjesusacratissimum.org/2009/...
Yes years ago, I applauded Matthew Fox. Quite literally as I went to hear him lecture, as well as read his books, showed a video of his to friends etc.
But Meditations on the Tarot convinced me there is a far better way to build bridges than Fox, who ends up sacrificing too much of the transcendent Mystery of the Cross. The book also turned my post-Findhorn life inside-out and upside down. See my review for more, if interested.
"Marriage aspirations"? I mean to say the marriage between Christianity and the new so-called global "holistic spirituality". For those really interested in such "marriage aspirations" I would highly recommend instead the astonishing, anonymous masterpiece Meditations on the Tarot - which manages to build bridges between Catholic Christianity, Western Hermeticism, Jungian psychology, Western and Eastern religion and philosophy and much, much more ... I have a review of Meditations on the Tarot here:
http://corjesusacratissimum.org/2009/...
Yes years ago, I applauded Matthew Fox. Quite literally as I went to hear him lecture, as well as read his books, showed a video of his to friends etc.
But Meditations on the Tarot convinced me there is a far better way to build bridges than Fox, who ends up sacrificing too much of the transcendent Mystery of the Cross. The book also turned my post-Findhorn life inside-out and upside down. See my review for more, if interested.
October 20, 2011
I still believe that Fox rather over-defines everything, and could do with a dose of brevity as the essence of wit. That being said, my third time through the book now over many years and new things still appear to me. If that isn't the mark of a classic, I don't know what is.
January 21, 2012
Thank you for stripping away dogma & superstitious things & giving me the reality of Yeshua. Simple & powerful.
October 8, 2012
An excellent book. Very profound and well thought out. If only we could implement these ideas, the world would be truly changes.
February 6, 2014
I really enjoy reading Matthew Fox. He is so clear - and so forward thinking!
October 10, 2018
Loan from Henry Millan.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews