A Cautionary Note Concerning Christopher West

[djeter]

Christopher West has been serving as an interpreter to John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. A few weeks back I read news of Dawn Eden’s cautions concerning his interpretations and now on the heels of that comes Dr. David L. Schindler’s warnings.

Professor Schindler is Provost/Dean and Gagnon Professor of Fundamental Theology at the Pontifical Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family. I was saddened to read this. Here are the reading selections (highlights) from Prof, Schindler’s recent comments:

payingattentiontothesky.com/2010/07/12/reading-selections-from-christopher-wests-theology-of-the-body-by-david-l-schindler/

dj

 

[PadraigPearce]

I’m sure Christopher West has done some good just by giving publicity to Theology of the Body, but his presentation is pretty out there. I remember seeing him being interviewed on television by a Canadian journalist, and some of the things he was saying were so gross I had to turn off the interview. The host actually had to remind him that there might be children watching so he should tone down the graphic sex talk a little. He also went on a long rant about how pornography leads to lust and the ultimate outcome of this lust can be seen in serial killers who rape and then consume their victims. I din’t even know who Christopher West was at the time, but I remember thinking “Who is this nutcase and why is he being billed as a Catholic theologian?”.

 

[Joe_5859]

Isn’t this old news? I thought this whole West vs. Schindler thing happened last year in regards to that ABC documentary. Did Schindler say something new?

In any case, I wouldn’t necessarily be too sad about it. There are other prominent Catholics, like moral theologian Janet Smith (of “Contraception: Why Not?” fame) who have defended West in response to Schindler’s criticisms:

headlinebistro.com/en/news/janetsmithresponse.html

Michael Waldstein (the guy who translated “Theology of the Body” into English) also defended West:

insidecatholic.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6117&Itemid=48

I think there are good points on both sides. West can certianly be a rather descriptive with his choice of words. This is just one of those points on which good Catholics are legitimately able to disagree with each other.

 

[djeter]

Isn’t this old news? I thought this whole West vs. Schindler thing happened last year in regards to that ABC documentary. Did Schindler say something new?

In any case, I wouldn’t necessarily be too sad about it. There are other prominent Catholics, like moral theologian Janet Smith (of “Contraception: Why Not?” fame) who have defended West in response to Schindler’s criticisms:

headlinebistro.com/en/news/janetsmithresponse.html

Michael Waldstein (the guy who translated “Theology of the Body” into English) also defended West:

insidecatholic.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6117&Itemid=48

I think there are good points on both sides. West can certianly be a rather descriptive with his choice of words. This is just one of those points on which good Catholics are legitimately able to disagree with each other.

A whole series of exchanges concerning the issue are here:

headlinebistro.com/hb/en/news/jp2_theologyofbody.html

I had been unaware of how “out there” Christopher West was. Glad to see some are supporting him but I am partial to Dr. Schindler’s criticisms.

dj

 

[CDNowak]

I believe Mr West has taken a sabbatical to reexamine these issues. Keep him in prayer.

 

[Joe_5859]

A whole series of exchanges concerning the issue are here:

headlinebistro.com/hb/en/news/jp2_theologyofbody.html

I had been unaware of how “out there” Christopher West was. Glad to see some are supporting him but I am partial to Dr. Schindler’s criticisms.

dj

Well, hey, that’s a very helpful link on the whole back-and-forth. Thanks!

Interestingly, West has taken a 6 month sabbatical to reflect on his methodology source]. It appears he is taking these criticisms seriously.

I really think the main issue is that West is trying to meet his audience “where they are at” which he tries to do by using language that makes many Catholics blush. I think that it is valid to be uncomfortable with that approach, but I don’t think West is a flaming heretic or anything. He has his bishop’s approval, after all. Hopefully the sabbatical helps him to become even better at what he does.

 

[RosalynR]

I’ve listened to Christopher’s talks as well as taken a class from him at the TOB intstitute. He can be a bit out there at times but what he is really trying to do is meet the general public where they are. Some of the language may be a bit ‘colorful’ to those of us who travel in mainly faithful Catholic circles.

If you are going to be a more serious student of TOB then I would take his talks, books, etc, along with others as well as look into the criticisms. That will help to pick up anything that may be not touched as deeply by Christopher as maybe it should be.

 

[djeter]

If you read the four “objections” Schindler lists against West’s theology, it’s a little more than being “out there at times” or trying to reach the general public. Hence my terming it a “cautionary” note.

Not a heretic, but someone you need to be careful of.

dj

 

[Bookcat]

There are multiple persons also defending him (also professors of note etc such as J. Smith) and he is taking time right now to reexamine his approach…

(I have not really followed his work too much…but others have…and have seen the fruits etc…and the fact that he is taking time to work on his approach is a good sign that he is being circumspect about things)