Chapter 9: Creation Spirituality As A Spiritual Research Paradigm Drawing On Many Faiths

We were made for something cosmic and will not fit peacefully into anything much smaller.

—Matthew Fox

If the only prayer you ever say in entire life is thank you, it will be enough.

—Meister Eckhart

Creation Spirituality (CS) is a postmodern, revolutionary movement that draws upon images from multiple faiths, encourages mysticism, cares for the environment, and works toward social justice. As such, CS represents a distinctive spiritual paradigm(worldview). I prefer to call it a spiritual research paradigm, which I define briefly as a worldview held by a community of spiritual seekers/searchers who are inspired by experiences that bring a holistic, integrative sense of compassion, love, kindness, and creativity; develop wis-dom; provide access to the divine; and serve as daily guideposts. (See Part 2 for a more detailed definition and explanation.) Matthew Fox (1988), the founder of CS, believes the CS theology to be at the forefront of an emerging “paradigm shift” (p. 79) or “global renaissance” (p. 157) in spirituality.