Natural Grace: Dialogues on creation, darkness, and the soul in spirituality and science (Paperback)

~ (Author) "in thinking about the relation of God and nature, much depends on how we conceive of nature..." (more)
Key Phrases: deep ecumenism, morphic fields, morphic resonance, Meister Eckhart, Thomas Aquinas, Mother Nature (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The conflict between science and faith has been a profound and even violent one, but these two realms of thought never were, nor can be, mutually exclusive. Many scientists are people of deep faith who clearly perceive the spiritual in the natural, and many religious thinkers recognize that science's revelations actually enhance our sense of the sacred. Sheldrake, a visionary biochemist, and Fox, an Episcopal priest determined to expand the parameters of "mechanistic" religion, are engaged in breaking down the barriers between their two disciplines, believing that ecological and social changes demand more flexible modes of perception. In these cogent and passionate exploratory dialogues, they discuss the evolution of our view of nature, grace, the soul, prayer, ritual, and education, drawing upon a diverse group of sources, including Greek myths, the Tibetan Book of the Dead, the Bible, the writings of Descartes, and Sheldrake's radical hypothesis of morphic resonance. As all productive dialogues should, these will inspire fresh perspectives and continued discussion. Donna Seaman --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Kirkus Reviews

A graceful and illuminating spiritual conversation between a well-known theologian and a cutting-edge scientist. Fox, an Episcopal priest and author of several books on spirituality (On Becoming a Musical, Mystical Bear, 1972, etc.), here engages in a unique conversation with Sheldrake (Seven Experiments That Could Change the World, 1995), a British scientist and former research fellow at Cambridge University. Their dialogue encompasses prayer, darkness, ecology, mysticism, and the soul; what emerges from their provocative insights is the sense that the gap between science and religion is perhaps not so wide as Western rationalism might have us believe. Both contend that Westerners have lost touch with their souls--that part of their being which links them to nature and the divine. Fox's contribution is somewhat more accessible than that of Sheldrake, who in criticizing the prevailing scientific worldview occasionally forgets that his readers may need that rationalist perspective explained before it can be thrown out of the window. Readers may also question ``morphic resonance,'' the controversial New Agetype theory that has made Sheldrake famous. He argues that through morphic resonance, ``if rats in Sheffield learn a new trick, rats all around the world should be able to learn it quicker just because it has been learned there.'' But the rest of the conversations are real gems. Both participants are lucid and creative in their approaches to hackneyed theological debates on worship, prayer, and meditation. Both share humbly and honestly from their personal experiences, often speaking anecdotally of the many remarkable people they have encountered in their careers. Fox also draws freely from the wisdom of past mystics such as Meister Eckhart and Theresa of Avila, and the effect is like magic. This is a book to be read under a shady tree when one has time to reflect and to enjoy the beauty of nature. (3 illustrations, not seen) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Image (August 18, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385483597
• ISBN-13: 978-0385483599
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #663,352 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #32 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Authors, A-Z > ( F ) > Fox, Matthew
  #42 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Protestantism > Christian Science

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not easy but worth the effort, April 6, 2007

By	W. Douglas Ensminger (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a dialogue between a mystic and a scientist. From time to time one or the other get a bit esoteric, but the back and forth makes for surprising insights and provocations to further thinking by the reader. I would especially recommend this as a book to discuss in a group. The dialogue between readers of different backgrounds complements the dialogue within the book.

6 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Understanding grace, August 31, 2001

By	barnabus fuller (McDonough GA) - See all my reviews

I've read this book twice and have underlined a lot of it. I've recently shared it with friends and have discussed some of the concepts the authors describe so well. The idea of the body is in the soul, the soul as field, the connectivity through grace...these are powerful, transforming thoughts. Thank you Matthew for another fine book.

14 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Honest attempt but shoddy in places, September 1, 2002

By	Rodger Clampitt (Palmdale, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This book is a dialog between the defrocked Catholic Matthew Fox and scienctist(of morphic resonance fame) Rupert Sheldrake. In it they discuss both science, religion and spirituality(mostly Echart and Hildegard) and how they intersect at points as I understand it.

Do they do a good job? yes and no. Yes in that both are sincere in their efforts. Sheldrake stands out as the better of the two intellectually. No in that Fox falls down in several areas.

1. He commits a serious epistemological error by confusings metaphysical levels of the spirit and soul with material levels of existence. For Fox A = C this is a big no no. Angels are not atomic paritcles and the soul is not the body. Reification is plain wrong.

2. He bases the bulk of his newly created theology on selected portions of Eckhart, Hildegard and Rumi. This is dangerous, since these were mystics of a high order their writings were never meant to be read as one reads a newspaper or literally as Fox wants to do. Also none the people he mentioned were rebels like himself. These mystics worked within the religous framework of the time. To try to create an exoteric framework from esoteric writings which is what Fox has done is fraught with problems, especially when you are not their equal.

This is my biggest problem with Fox. Instead of trying to show the reader the differences between science and religion he's trying to peddle his new religion of creation spirituality. Which is gnosis without gnosis in disguise.

3. As for Fox's understanding of Catholic or Christian religion in general, he has blinders on. Especially when he comments on the great Cathedrals of Europe. He fails to understand or evem see their symbolism, instead he find's solace in their crypts of all places - this is neurotic. This man loves being in the dark and would like to see all new churchs built underground. His attitude is positively Manichean in nature.

Sheldrake also confuses the readers with his understanding of science in general. Science deal with the quantitative and measurable aspects of materialism. It cannot deal with qualities nor with metaphysics. To use science to justify religion is sloppy thinking and equivalent to building a house on shifting sands.

So my rating is:
** stars
-1 star for lack of a index and specific sources for the quotes Fox used.
-1 star for sloppy epistemology and for Fox trying peddle his new religion instead.
-1 star for using on the back cover "institutionalized science and mechanistic religion" it should mechanistic science and institutionalized religion. Religion may be dull at times but never a machine

The book fails in trying to bring together the strands of science, religion or spirituality. Which nobody has ever really done well. Read E.F. Schumachers "Guide for the Perplexed" which is a must and then Hossein Nasr "Man and Nature". Another good one is Huston Smith's "Postmodern Mind". For a real study on spirituality get Evelyn Underhill's "Mysticism" she's a beautiful writer and very well studied on this topic.