One River, Many Wells - Introduction

I'm re-reading a book I got about a year ago called One River, Many Wells by Matthew Fox. I really like some of the quotes from the book, so I'll post here for the edification of those that read! :-)

From the Introduction

Humanity will find that it is not a diversity of creeds, but the very same creed which is everywhere proposed . . . . Even though you are designated in terms of different religions, yet you presuppose in all this diversity one religion which you call wisdom.
- Nicholas of Cusa, 15th-century theologian, scientist, mystic and Cardinal

If one starts with doctrines, the arguments are endless . . . . But when one comes to the level of interior experience, that is where the meeting takes place. That is the challenge.
- Fr. Bede Griffith, Benedictine monk, speaking of sharing our faith with others of different faiths

Divinity is an Underground river that no one can stop and no one can dam up.
- Meister Eckhart, Catholic mystic

There is one underground river - but there are many wells into that river: an African well, a Taoist well, a Buddhist well, a Jewish well, a Muslim well, a goddess well, a Christian well, and aboriginal wells. Many wells but one river. To go down a well is to practice a tradition, but we would make a grave mistake (an idolatrous one) if we confused the well itself with the flowing waters of the underground river.
- Matthew Fox, commenting on the quote above by Meister Eckhart

The biggest obstacle to interfaith sharing is people's unhealthy relationships to their own faith.
- The Dalai Lama

All paths lead to God, for God is on them all equally for the person who knows.
- Meister Eckhart

The book is divided into 4 sections (Relating to Creation, Relating to Divinity, Relating to Ourselves, and Relating to the Future), with 18 total chapters subdivided into those 4 categories.

Matthew Fox aims to provide source quotations from all of the worlds spiritual/religions traditions in order for the reader to start to see how the 18 themes he proposes cut across religious boundaries and make up a human longing for the divine, for God.

For this introduction, I would only add a caution, one which is touched on in the quotations I gave but which I would to like make explicit: In order, I think, to fully appreciate the beauty and wonder that each and every world religion can give us, we need to be fully rooted in our own faith. For example, I cannot share the beauty and richness of my Catholic Christian tradition if I do not know it well. I cannot give to others what I do not have. I can make connections with other faiths to the degree that I have already connected with my own faith. If I never go deeply into my well (to extend Meister Eckhart's metaphor from above), I will never by able to share deeply with others. We can only share our experience and grasp of our own faith. If we sample too many wells but never delve deeply into one of them, our spirituality, like our well-delving, will be shallow - easily uprooted and blown away with any obstacle that comes before us.

So take time to get to know your spiritual/religious tradition - what you learned as a child growing up in your household. For some reason - your to find or create - God put you into that household, that faith - see if you look through the eyes of Divinity and find the wonder, the richness, the Spirit-filled exuberance that all religions have to offer. Then and only then will you be ready to learn from other faiths, and to share what you yourself know as well.

Blessings & Peace,
Hugo