Toby Johnson: Toby Johnson is General Editor of White Crane. His latest book, “Gay Perspective: Things Our Homosexuality Tells Us about the Nature of God and the Universe” is published by Alyson Publications in July, 2003. This article is originally publihed in White Crane Journal (#56). It is reprinted with permission from www.whitecranejournal.com online.
In recent years a number of books have appeared on creativity. Matthew Fox's latest volume in his series is not just another book on creativity. It is far more ambitious. He is trying to construct a whole new theosophy based on the concept of creativity.
He sees sexual expression as a motivator for creativity.
Creativity is a gift; a gift given and a gift shared. Creativity may be the defining trait of the human species. While for some creativity is a “special gift” everybody is creative to some degree. Creativity is not confined to the arts. Creativity is everywhere, even outside the animate world. Creativity permeates the universe. Procreation is just one of creativity's many manifestations. Fr. Matthew describes creativity as “the most elemental and innermost and deeply spiritual aspects of our beings.” He turns to reinterpreting the traditional stories of Prometheus, Adam and Eve, and the Crucifixion to illustrate the roles of creativity. He comments on the creativity of Jesus, But what he sees is a sort of literary creativity in the way He taught with stories and parables rather than the creation of a new faith.
The book addresses the problem of the obstacles to creativity and how to overcome them. Curative instruments include meditation and sexual practices. Finally the last part of the book is devoted to a discussion of the education of young children and how our current educational system tends to stifle and suppress creativity rather than encourage it.
commenting closed for this article