Creation Spirituality: A Theology

By Rev. Dr. Richard E. Kuykendall

A Systemic Theology sounds like a work that will close debate, shut down questions, and attempt to sit conclusively on a shelf. In this novel undertaking, the author has borrowed that classical form and danced around it with a wonderfully accessible exploration of Creation Spirituality. Kuykendall’s tone is personal and invitingly conversational, and will lead the reader to want to further explore, to read broadly, and of course – true to the Creation Spirituality tradition – get oneself off the bookshelves and into the messy, inspiring, and beautiful gift that is existence. With scholarship and storytelling, the author entices Christians familiar with restrictive theological categories the chance to recognize the authenticity of the Creation Spirituality tradition, and to embrace a spiritual life that is vibrantly here-now and this-worldy. To those new or familiar with the tradition, Kuykendall’s Systematic Theology excels as both a primer and reference companion.
- Matthew Henry

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Dec 12, 2023
• ISBN: 9781698715728

Rev. Dr. Richard E. Kuykendall

Rev. Dr. Richard E. Kuykendall holds both a Master of Divintiy degree, and a Doctor of Ministry degree in Creation Spirituality. He served as a minister for over 35 years, and has led his Creation Spirituality Community, Spiritwind, for over twenty years. Kuykendall is also the author of fifteen books, including: The Dream Life of Jesus, Liturgies of the Earth, and The Way of the Earth.

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© Copyright 2023 Rev. Dr. Richard E. Kuykendall. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

ISBN:

978-1-6987-1573-5 (sc)

ISBN:

978-1-6987-1572-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023921495

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only. Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Trafford rev. 12/06/2023

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This book was inspired by the theology of Matthew Fox

and is dedicated to his life and teachings—for he is not only a mystic,

but a prophetic voice in the wilderness,

calling us to a sane form of religion and spirituality.

OTHER BOOKS BY KUYKENDALL FROM TRAFFORD

Even Witches Have Names

A Dishwasher’s Diary

The Dream Life of Jesus

A Curmudgeon’s Commentary on the Book of Revelation

Two Ways to Lose Your Faith

If You Really Knew the God of the Bible You Wouldn’t Like Him

The Forgotten Witches of Ancient Israel

Buddhism for Beginners

The Way of the Earth

The Dreamer and the Two Men She Loved

Spiritwind: A Study Book for Spiritual Adventurers

The Wisdom of Solomon: According to me

Liturgies of the Earth

Sexuality and the Catholic Church

Tarot Meditations: Inspired by Creation Spirituality

CONTENTS

PREFACE

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION

REVELATION / INSPIRATION

GOD

CHRIST

SALVATION

HUMAN NATURE

THE CHURCH

LAST THINGS

CONCLUSION

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ENDNOTES

PREFACE

Creation Spirituality is as much a movement, a particular type of spirituality, as it is a theology. The risk of calling Creation Spirituality a theology is that it could become settled as systematic theologies tend to do, and the energy and focus required to be a movement would be lost. And yet, Creation Spirituality is most certainly a theology and deserves the respect of other theologies of modern times and antiquity. In fact, understanding Creation Spirituality as a systematic theology may help some who are suspicious of spiritual movements to consider its core tenets in ways they may have dismissed before. Of course, reducing it to just a theology creates its own risks, as well, namely failing to see the vital and potentially planet changing spirituality that it is. Creation Spirituality must be understood as not just a movement or a spirituality, and not just a systematic theology. 

Articulating a systematic theology of Creation Spirituality is long overdue and adds to the work of Matthew Fox and other Creation Spirituality writers, teachers, and movement leaders in the last decades. Matthew Fox has clearly demonstrated that Creation Spirituality is profoundly theological and is rooted in Judeo-Christian tradition. He points to elements of Creation Spirituality in the Hebrew Scriptures, especially the Pentateuch’s J writer. Its imprints are also seen in the Wisdom writings and Minor Prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures, and in the letters from the Apostle Paul, in Christian theologians such as Thomas Aquinas, and in the sermons and poetry of numerous Christian apophatic mystics.

I can’t think of anyone more equipped than Richard Kuykendall for bringing a project like this to fruition. Rick was educated in mainline theology and is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. But like myself and many others trained in mainline theology, he has found that Creation Spirituality provides the access to what Eckhart called the great underground river in a way that other more conventional theologies do not. Richard yearned for a deeper and richer spirituality, and began to syncretize traditional theology with indigenous and animist traditions, create new rituals for his congregations, and expand his understanding of spirituality into interfaith relations, what Matthew Fox calls deep ecumenism. To deepen his understanding, Richard earned a Doctor of Ministry from the University of Creation Spirituality and was a founding board member of Creation Spirituality Communities. One of the great gifts of Richard’s other writing projects has been his commitment to draw from his mainline Christian training and combine it with Creation Spirituality. For this reason, Richard is the ideal pastor, scholar, mystic, and prophet to bring together the first deliberately articulated systematic theology of Creation Spirituality.

My story is similar to Richard’s. I was educated in a mainline seminary (United Methodist) but I found little in that education to guide me in honoring indigenous spiritualities and other living faith traditions. I found myself questioning how I could remain true to Christian mythology and tradition while celebrating the rich traditions that come from other spiritual paths. How could I nurture a contemplative, mystical spirituality as an activist for social change? Is there an alternative to the idea of original sin that aligns more closely with the therapeutic model of being enough in our natural selves. During this time, a colleague heard me preach and said, You sound like you’ve been reading Matthew Fox, (I had not) and I was introduced to Fox’s articulation of Creation Spirituality which provided a creative way for me to integrate disparate social, theological, and personal sentiments.  

I was attracted to the fact that Creation Spirituality is ancient and modern, deeply mystical and yet intellectual. It recognizes the artist in each of us and the need to be playful. It honors the apophatic mystical traditions and compels us to embody our spirituality in acts of justice and compassion.

I highlight below a few of the core aspects of my own spiritual journey that Creation Spirituality helped me to integrate. These examples illustrate how relevant and infused Creation Spirituality is in our spiritual, complex, and messy lives.

1. The Need for Meaningful, Earth-Centered Ritual. After seminary I began to look for rituals that were non-patriarchal, feminist, gender-inclusive, and rooted in nature.  As a white male of European descent, I didn’t feel comfortable using