In his new book A Way to God: Thomas Merton’s Creation Spirituality Journey (2016), Matthew Fox writes from the perspective of not only knowing and corresponding with Merton, but also with an admiration of Merton’s readiness to be continually learning and growing.
A Way to God references numerous quotes from the writings of Thomas Merton linking these with his own writing as well as other well known authors such as Meister Eckhart, St. Augustine, Julian of Norwich, Carl Jung and D.T. Suzuki. Fox points out, “It is important to see the evolution in Merton’s thinking that Suzuki and Eckhart brought about – It was only later, and with the help of Suzuki, that Merton truly entered into Eckhart’s creation-centered worldview”.
This is a very insightful book which clearly explores the Four Paths of Creation Spirituality – the Via Positiva, Via Negativa, Via Creativa, and Via Transformativa. These Four Paths assist us in grasping the depth of Merton’s journey.
Valerie van Cauwenberghe CSJ
Matthew Fox on Thomas Merton