Meister Eckhart: A Mystic-Warrior for Our Times
by
Matthew Fox
4.20 · Rating details · 91 ratings · 8 reviews
Though he lived in the thirteenth century, Meister Eckhart’s deeply ecumenical teachings were in many ways modern. He taught about what we call ecology, championed artistic creativity, and advocated for social, economic, and gender justice. All these elements have inspired spiritual maverick Matthew Fox and influenced his Creation Spirituality. Here, Fox creates metaphorical meetings between Eckhart and Teilhard de Chardin, Thich Nhat Hanh, Carl Jung, Black Elk, Rumi, Adrienne Rich, and other radical thinkers. The result is profoundly insightful, substantive, and inspiring. (less)
Paperback, 336 pages
Published July 8th 2014 by New World Library (first published June 10th 2014)
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Jun 15, 2015Phil Calandra rated it it was ok
This book is essentially the study of Meister Eckhart's mysticism through the various lenses of other mystics, philosophers, educators and thinkers.
In my view, the book misses the mark and does not help in a broader and richer understanding of Meister Eckhart's spirituality.
No criticism of the other thinkers but the comparisons between Meister Eckhart and the others are flimsy at best and do not give the feel or appreciation of this great mystics spirituality
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Jun 15, 2019April rated it it was amazing
Shelves: favorites, non-fiction
Matthew Fox has an amazing and original way of having his subjects converse with one another so that their comparisons benefit all readers. "Life changing" is a phrase I don't throw around lightly but I truly mean it. This book touched me, caused me to ponder things I hadn't before and enlightened me to different aspects of belief that I hadn't heard of. It's one of those books that take forever to read, not because it's written difficultly but because you read a few pages then need to savor it. This was the most wonderfully thought provoking book I've read lately. (less)
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Jun 13, 2018Susan rated it liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: did-not-finish
Good information but an awful lot of it.
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Nov 23, 2020Laurie rated it liked it
Some intriguing insights into mystical theologies.
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Feb 25, 2016Paul Rack rated it liked it
Very good look at the resonances of Eckhart with more contemporary writers, with the glaring exception that Fox, in his characteristic exuberance and enthusiasm, completely misconstrues the agenda of the quests for the historical Jesus. While Eckhart did distinguish between the HJ and the X of faith, he did so to emphasize the importance of the latter. Eckhart was nothing if not a devotee of the gospel of John. Questers largely reject John and the X of faith in their quest to reduce Jesus to an insignificant peasant. All the other chapters are wonderful. (less)
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Dec 01, 2015Bryan rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Excellent overview of mysticism in all its forms centered on the writings of the the Christian, 13-14th century mystic Meister Eckhart. Matthew Fox shows the many affinities between Eckhart and other mystics from before his time until the present. Sometimes the comparisons are a little stretched, but overall well done.
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Jul 16, 2015Michele rated it it was ok
Shelves: books-read-in-2015
Did not do Meister Eckhart justice. I loved the succinct narratives on various ways of understanding and articulating the Divine Mystery, but the practice of inserting Meister Eckhart into these traditions was contrived. He might have used his research/knowledge to simply write on Meister Eckhart.
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flag1 like · Like · comment · see review
Jun 15, 2019April rated it it was amazing
Shelves: favorites, non-fiction
Matthew Fox has an amazing and original way of having his subjects converse with one another so that their comparisons benefit all readers. "Life changing" is a phrase I don't throw around lightly but I truly mean it. This book touched me, caused me to ponder things I hadn't before and enlightened me to different aspects of belief that I hadn't heard of. It's one of those books that take forever to read, not because it's written difficultly but because you read a few pages then need to savor it. This was the most wonderfully thought provoking book I've read lately. (less)
flagLike · comment · see review
Jun 13, 2018Susan rated it liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: did-not-finish
Good information but an awful lot of it.
flagLike · comment · see review
Nov 23, 2020Laurie rated it liked it
Some intriguing insights into mystical theologies.
flagLike · comment · see review
Feb 25, 2016Paul Rack rated it liked it
Very good look at the resonances of Eckhart with more contemporary writers, with the glaring exception that Fox, in his characteristic exuberance and enthusiasm, completely misconstrues the agenda of the quests for the historical Jesus. While Eckhart did distinguish between the HJ and the X of faith, he did so to emphasize the importance of the latter. Eckhart was nothing if not a devotee of the gospel of John. Questers largely reject John and the X of faith in their quest to reduce Jesus to an insignificant peasant. All the other chapters are wonderful. (less)
flagLike · comment · see review
Dec 01, 2015Bryan rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Excellent overview of mysticism in all its forms centered on the writings of the the Christian, 13-14th century mystic Meister Eckhart. Matthew Fox shows the many affinities between Eckhart and other mystics from before his time until the present. Sometimes the comparisons are a little stretched, but overall well done.
flagLike · comment · see review
Jul 16, 2015Michele rated it it was ok
Shelves: books-read-in-2015
Did not do Meister Eckhart justice. I loved the succinct narratives on various ways of understanding and articulating the Divine Mystery, but the practice of inserting Meister Eckhart into these traditions was contrived. He might have used his research/knowledge to simply write on Meister Eckhart.
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Product description
Review
"By connecting Eckhart's wisdom to the problems of today, Fox creates a sense of optimistic urgency; solutions do not wait in the future or lie in the past, but are present right now if people choose to act with compassion and conviction. The book is not only an excellent introduction to Eckhart's theology, but also an inspirational guidepost for connecting faith with activism."
-- Publishers Weekly
"In this book Matthew Fox, one of the gigantic Christians of this century, engages and presents Meister Eckhart, one of the gigantic Christians of the ages, in dialogue with some of today's best minds. The result is a stunning new vision of Christianity that transcends both creeds and boundaries. It is a thrilling read."
-- John Shelby Spong, author of The Fourth Gospel: Tales of a Jewish Mystic
"Matthew Fox is perhaps the greatest writer on Meister Eckhart that has ever existed. No one paints as broad a portrait of the master as Fox does in this book."
-- Steven Herrmann, author of Spiritual Democracy
"I can't imagine a richer, juicier, or more relevant introduction to the grandeur and brilliance of Meister Eckhart's vision. Matthew Fox has given us yet another radioactive, stunning work. Every chapter is a pure, clear, and swift revelation."
-- Andrew Harvey, author of The Hope: A Guide to Sacred Activism
"[Fox] not only gives us his beloved spiritual father as a living presence for our lives but also brings us a whole rainbow of mystic-warriors as companions on the way."
-- Joanna Macy, coauthor of Active Hope
"Whether our species has a future on Earth does not depend on the development of more gee-whiz technologies, but on whether we are willing to move into the psycho-spiritual dimension proclaimed by Meister Eckhart and elucidated by Matthew Fox in this important book."
-- Larry Dossey, MD, author of One Mind
"Crucial! Fox brings Eckhart's voice into cogent meeting with a long list of pivotal global luminaries. Marrying these confluences may well determine the success or failure of our planet's inevitable process toward globalization and multiculturalism."
-- Kurt Johnson, coauthor of The Coming Interspiritual Age
"The special uniqueness of this book lies in Matthew Fox's ability to put a host of ancient and contemporary thinkers and social activists in close mutual relationship with Meister Eckhart. . . . With this book, Matthew Fox gives us an intimation that hope in the future is not some idle passing thought. That it is even possible to have written this book is a reminder that such spiritual searching and the worldwide diversity that accompanies it is more prevalent than one would think."
-- Fred Gustafson, Literary Aficionado --This text refers to the paperback edition.
About the Author
The author of thirty books, Matthew Fox has been an instrumental teacher and scholar in the revival of Western mysticism, particularly the work of Hildegard of Bingen, Meister Eckhart, and Thomas Aquinas. Fox teaches and speaks widely and lives in Oakland, California. --This text refers to the paperback edition.
Product details
Print length : 338 pages
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from other countries
H. A. Weedon
5.0 out of 5 stars Interestingly Helpful.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 May 2015
This work by Matthew Fox has all the marks of being both well researched and well written and it is certainly very readable. It also has the commendable trait of stimulating the reader into finding out more about the various characters referred to in the text. However, the reader needs to be aware that, good as it is, we have here just one scholar's interpretation of the relevance of Meister Eckhart's teaching with regard to realistic religious belief. For instance, there is no mention of the obvious connections between the teachings of Meister Eckhart and such inspiring religious teachers as Hui Neng, Bankei and Thomas Ken or anything about the connection between Eckhart's teachings and the Diamond Sutra. Then again, although Mother Julian of Norwich is given a page to herself, the reader is not taken to the heart of the real resemblances between her teachings and those of Meister Eckhart.
This work will be of more interest to those who already know quite a bit about most of the religious teachers and mystics mentioned in the text. Matthew Fox tries too hard to relate Meister Eckhart's teachings to too many people, some of whom are clearly some way from seeing things as Eckhart did. Where this work becomes truly valuable is in how Eckhart is shown to be the true reformer seeking to inspire spirituality rather than to replace papal dictatorship with biblical dictatorship in a world in which women continued very much to be regarded as inferior to men. Eckhart knew better than this. His teachings reflect a spirituality that is beyond gender, dogma and qualified deification, and this is something that Fox skilfully brings out as we read what he has to say about the host of inspiring characters. For this alone, this work deserves five stars. People of various beliefs and no beliefs at all will find it helpful in all kinds of ways.
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