"Is it a sin to NOT read about Theology of the Body?"

[newbetx]

Many reject, out of hand, the source of TOB. Either because they don’t want to believe it because of who wrote it, or they count on a technicallity that if they are ignorant, they can’t be responsible for the sins they do against it. The real quesiton is, “Is it a sin to NOT read about Theology of the Body?” Or, for that matter, study of any basis of the Catholic Faith? Marian Dogma, etc.

 

[rpp]

Failing to study some, or any, of the Catholic faith sinful? I doubt it. Foolish? Probably. Theology of the Body in particular? I would not single that out.

ToB, like any theological construct, is a lens through which we can understand the Deposit of Faith in a particular context. However, most people find that ToB helps them to understand many aspects of Church teaching in a way that is immediately applicable in their lives.

I think, however, the ToB has a limited audience. There is a requirement that which people must meet before studying ToB can be a benefit. Basically ToB is really only suited for, and can only be understood by, people who posses a gender.

 

[StCsDavid]

Many reject, out of hand, the source of TOB. Either because they don’t want to believe it because of who wrote it, or they count on a technicallity that if they are ignorant, they can’t be responsible for the sins they do against it. The real quesiton is, “Is it a sin to NOT read about Theology of the Body?” Or, for that matter, study of any basis of the Catholic Faith? Marian Dogma, etc.

The sin would lie in not following the moral constructs detailed in TOB, which are the constructs the Church has proclaimed from the beginning. John Paul II just did a masterful job packaging it so modern man could better understand it. One does not have to read TOB to gather the knowledge it presents as JP II didn’t add anything new. My experience is that for some, TOB is so counter cultural that it’s hard for them to make the shift from their fallen view of human dignity and sexuality to that which the Church espouses…so it’s easier for them to discount the source versus experiencing a conversion of heart.

 

[pprimeau1976]

Many reject, out of hand, the source of TOB. Either because they don’t want to believe it because of who wrote it, or they count on a technicallity that if they are ignorant, they can’t be responsible for the sins they do against it. The real quesiton is, “Is it a sin to NOT read about Theology of the Body?” Or, for that matter, study of any basis of the Catholic Faith? Marian Dogma, etc.

I would say no on both counts. I think a person can be a good Catholic and not study **anything **about the Catholic faith. I am thinking of the salt-of-the-earth type of folks who really don’t care about being “educated” in the faith and are just concerned about practicing the faith.

However, there may be cases where it would be sinful to not read about a particular aspect of the Catholic faith. For example, if my parents sent me to a Catholic school and the Theology of the Body was taught there, I would have to study it. If I decided not to, I would not be honoring my mother and father.

 

[Hastrman]

Many reject, out of hand, the source of TOB. Either because they don’t want to believe it because of who wrote it, or they count on a technicallity that if they are ignorant, they can’t be responsible for the sins they do against it. The real quesiton is, “Is it a sin to NOT read about Theology of the Body?” Or, for that matter, study of any basis of the Catholic Faith? Marian Dogma, etc.

Well, if those are the reasons, it’s called “culpable ignorance” and yeah, it’s a sin.

If you don’t read it for the reason I don’t read it–that there are other, equally orthodox interpretations of Christian sexuality that I find more useful–then that’s not a sin.

 

[Newbie2]

Basically ToB is really only suited for, and can only be understood by, people who posses a gender.

There are people, as well, who are not suited to understand the theological language in TOB.

Either way, it’s not sinful in itself not to read TOB or any other theological document such as Humanae Vitae, Lumen Gentium, etc.

 

[Seatuck]

You do not have to study anything but there are certain aspects that you must assent to. Studying teachings if often helpful when we have questions or difficulty assenting to a church teaching. For thousands of years Catholics did not study anything and just accepted church teaching as it was taught verbally from the pulpit and from oral tradition. They survived as far as we know.