The Core of Goodness

Two great 20th-century thinkers have surpassed all others for the depth of their reflections on evil: Hannah Arendt and Paul Ricoeur. One is especially remembered for her phrase “the banality of evil” while the other is known for his investigation of “radical evil.”

In a recent Daily Meditation, Matthew Fox has written that evil is so subtle and smart and insidious that it can operate both out of radical hatred and lies and sadism, and bring along banal accomplices as well. In other words, evil can be both banal and radical, which is hard to comprehend in the abstract, but becomes immediately plausible when one looks at current events.

It is, however, striking that precisely from the mouth of Ricoeur, who dedicated a consistent portion of his life to the study of evil, we hear these words:

There has been a kind of narrowing, an exclusive focus on guilt and evil. Not that I underestimate that problem, which was a great concern of mine for several decades. But what I needed to verify is that however radical evil may be, it is not as deep as goodness.

In the course of about 50 years, Ricouer — who died in 2005 —was a constant visitor to the Ecumenical Monastic Community of Taizé. These visits were very important to him because, as he repeats in several interviews, in that place he could see goodness breaking through. He witnessed continually such an event in the everyday life of the Community and the hundreds of people gathered in Taizé every day, especially in the summer, from all parts of the world.

Two aspects, however, were especially relevant to him: the way on which people interacted with each other, and the kind of meditative prayer that was offered.

At times I have the impression that (…) everyone obeys without anybody giving orders. This creates an impression of joyful service, (…) which is the complete opposite of submission and the complete opposite of an aimless meandering.

Whoever has been blessed, even for a short time, with the experience of a healthy community, understands what he is talking about. It must have looked like a miracle, however, for somebody steeped in the study of evil.

The experience of the welling up of goodness from the depth of the heart, because of meditative prayer, is perhaps less known or spoken about, at least in Christian circles.

The true function of religion — Ricouer said — is to liberate that core of goodness in human beings. But it is especially remarkable that he believed — and I attest in my own experience — that the chanted prayers of Taizé offer a simple path to such a striking and awe-filled experience.

I remember when a highly-respected liturgist — and a good person all around — asked me earnestly why such an accomplished musician as myself could stand practicing and teaching the music of Taizé, which he judged so trite and uninteresting. He could ask such a question because he placed himself in the position of a listener, rather than a participant.

The simplicity of the harmonies created by Jacques Berthier, which allow anybody to join in comfortably, and the hypnotic function of the repetitions, are instead tecniques which helps opening a door in the heart which otherwise might remained locked.

Today, on the feast day of St.Benedict, the father of the Western monks, I give thanks for the Taizé Community and their effort to liberate goodness in a world plagued by the banality and the radicality of evil.

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See Matthew Fox, One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing from Global Faiths

See also Fox, Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul and Society

Also see Fox, Creativity: Where the Divine and Human Meet

Also see Fox, Order of the Sacred Earth: An Intergenerational Vision of Love and Action

Also see Fox, Matthew Fox: Essential Writings on Creation Spirituality

Banner Image: “Taize 2012.” Photo by Christian Appelsved on Flickr.

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Queries for Contemplation

Apart from thinking about evil, and acting against evil, do you also take part in meditative practices which help the core goodness of your being come to the fore?

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Related Readings by Matthew Fox

One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing from Global Faiths

Matthew Fox calls on all the world traditions for their wisdom and their inspiration in a work that is far more than a list of theological position papers but a new way to pray—to meditate in a global spiritual context on the wisdom all our traditions share. Fox chooses 18 themes that are foundational to any spirituality and demonstrates how all the world spiritual traditions offer wisdom about each.“Reading One River, Many Wells is like entering the rich silence of a masterfully directed retreat. As you read this text, you reflect, you pray, you embrace Divinity. Truly no words can fully express my respect and awe for this magnificent contribution to contemporary spirituality.” –Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit

Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul and Society

Visionary theologian and best-selling author Matthew Fox offers a new theology of evil that fundamentally changes the traditional perception of good and evil and points the way to a more enlightened treatment of ourselves, one another, and all of nature. In comparing the Eastern tradition of the 7 chakras to the Western tradition of the 7 capital sins, Fox allows us to think creatively about our capacity for personal and institutional evil and what we can do about them. 
“A scholarly masterpiece embodying a better vision and depth of perception far beyond the grasp of any one single science.  A breath-taking analysis.” — Diarmuid O’Murchu, author of Quantum Theology: Spiritual Implications of the New Physics

Creativity: Where the Divine and Human Meet

Because creativity is the key to both our genius and beauty as a species but also to our capacity for evil, we need to teach creativity and to teach ways of steering this God-like power in directions that promote love of life (biophilia) and not love of death (necrophilia). Pushing well beyond the bounds of conventional Christian doctrine, Fox’s focus on creativity attempts nothing less than to shape a new ethic.
“Matt Fox is a pilgrim who seeks a path into the church of tomorrow.  Countless numbers will be happy to follow his lead.” –Bishop John Shelby Spong, author, Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism, Living in Sin

Order of the Sacred Earth: An Intergenerational Vision of Love and Action
By Matthew Fox, Skylar Wilson, and Jen Listug

In the midst of global fire, earthquake and flood – as species are going extinct every day and national and global economies totter – the planet doesn’t need another church or religion. What it needs is a new Order, grounded in the Wisdom traditions of both East and West, including science and indigenous. An Order of the Sacred Earth united in one sacred vow: “I promise to be the best lover and defender of the Earth that I can be.”
Co-authored by Matthew Fox, Skylar Wilson, and Jennifer Berit Listug, with a forward by David Korten, this collection of essays by 21 spiritual visionaries including Brian Swimme, Mirabai Starr, Theodore Richards, and Kristal Parks marks the founding of the diverse and inclusive Order of the Sacred Earth, a community now evolving around the world.
“The Order of the Sacred Earth not only calls us home to our true nature as Earth, but also offers us invaluable guidance and company on the way.”  ~~ Joanna Macy, environmental activist and author of Active Hope.

Matthew Fox: Essential Writings on Creation Spirituality
Selected with an Introduction by Charles Burack

To encapsulate the life and work of Matthew Fox would be a daunting task for any save his colleague Dr. Charles Burack, who had the full cooperation of his subject. Fox has devoted 50 years to developing and teaching the tradition of Creation Spirituality and in doing so has reinvented forms of education and worship.  His more than 40 books, translated into 78 languages, are inclusive of today’s science and world spiritual traditions and have awakened millions to the much neglected earth-based mystical tradition of the West. Essential Writings begins by exploring the influences on Fox’s life and spirituality, then presents selections from all Fox’s major works in 10 sections.
“The critical insights, the creative connections, the centrality of Matthew Fox’s writings and teaching are second to none for the radical renewal of Christianity.” ~~ Richard Rohr, OFM.

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