Any Protestants Read Theology of the Body?

[Mannyfit75]

Any Protestants read Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body?

I have read about it and I am very much impressed about it. Here is a summary what Theology of the Body is.

Theology of the Body refers to a series of 129 lectures given by Pope John Paul II during his Wednesday audiences in the Pope Paul VI Hall between September, 1979, and November. 1984. It was the first major teaching of his pontificate and the complete addresses were later compiled and published as a single work entitled The Theology of the Body: Human Love in the Divine Plan.

Previous popes gave Wednesday audiences as Pope John Paul II did. However, no other Pope gave a series of audiences all part of a coherent theme. The delivery of the Theology of the Body series did have interruptions. For example, the Wednesday audiences were devoted to other topics during the Holy Year of Redemption in 1983.[1]

The work covers such topics as the unified corporeal and spiritual qualities of the human person; the origins, history and destiny of humanity; the deepest desires of the human heart and the way to experience true happiness and freedom; the truth about man’s need and desire for loving communion derived from the revealed understanding of humanity in the image of a Triune Creator; the truth about God’s original design for human sexuality, how it was distorted through sin, and how it has been restored and renewed through the redemption of Jesus Christ; and Catholic teachings about the sacramentality of marriage.

The central thesis of John Paul’s Theology of the Body, according to author Christopher West, is that “the body, and it alone, is capable of making visible what is invisible: the spiritual and the divine. It was created to transfer into the visible reality of the world, the mystery hidden since time immemorial in God, and thus to be a sign of it.”[2]

I hope this discussion will not turn into a debate but rather a discussion about sexuality in way John Paul II defined it in his lectures.

Material Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology_of_the_Body

 

[CSJ]

Hi Manny,

I have purchased Theology of the Body and I began to briefly look at it. Shortly looking at it, I knew that I would probably need some help with it so I also purchased West’s Theology of the Body Explained. I am not a theologian by any stretch of the imagination, but I would love to acquire a better understanding of how to approach and study it.

The first thing I noticed when I looked at “Theology of the Body” was that it was not a casual “read before you go to bed” book. This book would have to be the subject of an intense study. Pope John Paul II’s writing is so incredibly dense that you almost have to read and digest it one sentence at a time! I was certainly impressed with the study, work, and inspiration that went into the work.

I have not yet read it in full as I have been reading other books by Karl Keating (Fundamentalism & Catholicism) and I am currently reading David B. Currie’s “Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic”. I am a Protestant, but I am studying Catholicism and I would convert if I can more fully understand what and why the Church believes what it does. Oddly enough, I totally agree with the Church’s teachings on contraception - this is due to my studies on Humanae Vitae, Theology of the Body, and Dr. Janet Smith’s & Christopher West’s teachings. I wish Protestants would look at this rather than avoid it.

I have read a couple of Scott Hahn’s books and they were very good, but I was looking for something that would get to the nitty gritty of why he converted. Rome Sweet Home was a great book, but it read more like a testimony and it left me asking more questions as to why he arrived as his conclusions. Keating’s and Currie’s books seem to delve more into the theology that I was seeking.

It would be great to have a weekly study on Theology of the Body and share insights, but I don’t have any Catholic friends because I come from a Protestant background. I also meet very few who are as interested in studying theology as it is - my only sounding board is a local priest who I occasionally throw questions at.

Sorry to get off topic - I just have a lot of question marks floating in this gelatenous cranium of mine. What little I have read of this book has certainly been very good though.

CSJ

 

[Mannyfit75]

Hi Manny,

I have purchased Theology of the Body and I began to briefly look at it. Shortly looking at it, I knew that I would probably need some help with it so I also purchased West’s Theology of the Body Explained. I am not a theologian by any stretch of the imagination, but I would love to acquire a better understanding of how to approach and study it.

The first thing I noticed when I looked at “Theology of the Body” was that it was not a casual “read before you go to bed” book. This book would have to be the subject of an intense study. Pope John Paul II’s writing is so incredibly dense that you almost have to read and digest it one sentence at a time! I was certainly impressed with the study, work, and inspiration that went into the work.

I have not yet read it in full as I have been reading other books by Karl Keating (Fundamentalism & Catholicism) and I am currently reading David B. Currie’s “Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic”. I am a Protestant, but I am studying Catholicism and I would convert if I can more fully understand what and why the Church believes what it does. Oddly enough, I totally agree with the Church’s teachings on contraception - this is due to my studies on Humanae Vitae, Theology of the Body, and Dr. Janet Smith’s & Christopher West’s teachings. I wish Protestants would look at this rather than avoid it.

The Book itself uses big words, and it takes a while to absorb. I got a program called Welcome to the Catholic Church and it includes Theology of the Body, as well as Vatican II documents, writings of Pope Benedict XVI, Pope John Paul, Humanae Vitae.

I have to read it over and over again to try to understand it. I have listened to Christer West and that helps clear up, what JPII said about “Our Body Reveals God.”

I have read a couple of Scott Hahn’s books and they were very good, but I was looking for something that would get to the nitty gritty of why he converted. Rome Sweet Home was a great book, but it read more like a testimony and it left me asking more questions as to why he arrived as his conclusions. Keating’s and Currie’s books seem to delve more into the theology that I was seeking.

It does go in depth in theology. Scott Hahn himself is a scholar, and I am amazed at many of his writings.

It would be great to have a weekly study on Theology of the Body and share insights, but I don’t have any Catholic friends because I come from a Protestant background. I also meet very few who are as interested in studying theology as it is - my only sounding board is a local priest who I occasionally throw questions at.

Sorry to get off topic - I just have a lot of question marks floating in this gelatenous cranium of mine. What little I have read of this book has certainly been very good though.

CSJ

I encourage Catholics and Non Catholics Christians to read Theology of the Body. It helps those who struggle with sexual immorality. I think when it comes with morals, Catholics and Protestants might have something in common.

In this thread, there seen to be a great focus on difference. As often as Catholic explain and defend the Catholic doctrines, the Protestants seem to be objective and don’t seen to understand it at all.

I do hope understand will come. I must admit I find things in Catholic doctrine that cannot be explain by reason like how can God be Three Persons but One God. I would never understand it, but the Catholic Church has profess that God is indeed One God and Three Persons because it has been revealed by the Holy Spirit though the Council of Nicea (325 AD).

I am please that you try to seek the Catholic faith. May God guide you in your path for the Truth.

 

[Mannyfit75]

No other Protestants don’t want to tackle this?

 

[Syele]

Well, I haven’t read it, or seen it at my local bookstore yet. I will add it to my list but man, the list is getting long.

 

[Mannyfit75]

Well, I haven’t read it, or seen it at my local bookstore yet. I will add it to my list but man, the list is getting long.

I’m still in the second chapter… It’s long read. I think but worth it. I recommend it for both Catholics and Protestants

 

[CSJ]

No other Protestants don’t want to tackle this?

Heck, tackling this is something even some Catholics are afraid of.

 

[MarySon]

Well, I, as a Catholic, am not afraid to tackle and read it. As someone pointed before, it is not your normal lay-in-bed read. There is a lot of substance in that book. Also, I would like to mention that if you do like the Theology of the Body, try to tackle “Love and Responsibility” which Dr. Karol Wojtyla wrote when he was a professor at the Catholic University of Lublin.

 

[Shana]

Start of with Theology of the Body for Beginners by Christopher West. It’s only about 130 pages long but very good and a great way to get started in studying Theology of the Body, I feel everyone needs to study this! I’m particularly excited because I’m a figurative artist.

 

[Wild_Boar]

You probably realize that orthodox protestants hold to a sola scriptura(scripture alone) view of absolute truth. And that the protestants of earlier centuries understood the Bible revealed the pope as the Antichrist. Therefore, it should not be a surprise if protestants care little about John Paul’s opinions about the body, theological though they may be.

 

[Silvereel]

Well, I don’t see anything wrong with listening to someone elses view… unless they are just closed minded, as some people sadly are.

 

[Wild_Boar]

Well, I don’t see anything wrong with listening to someone elses view… unless they are just closed minded, as some people sadly are.

Yes, but sadly, some peoples views do much more harm than good.

 

[Kit15]

My husband was raised Episcopalian.

One of our marriage prep classes was “God’s Plan for a Joy Filled Marriage” with emphasis on TOB. My husband devoured the textbook…absolutely devoured it. By the time the class was over he had finished the whole thing. He was even reading it during our lunch break and I ended up calling my mom to chat because he was too absorbed to have a conversation. Most of my conversation was me gawking in disbelief that he was so engrossed with it. I was so excited. I knew he’d be open to learning about it but I never expected him to react as favorably to the information as he did!

He was really impressed with it. He said it was the best explanation of why Catholics approach sex the way they do…and a lot of it actually made sense to him (making NFP a very easy sell )