It is possible a man to look at a woman without lusting

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Mannyfit75

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While reading the Theology of the Body and listening to Fr. Loya (Byzantine Rite Catholic Priest) and Christopher West, I came into a realization that it is possible for “a man to look at a woman without lusting while she is naked” (a word Fr. Thomas Loya said in his talks). I was surprised by his words. He show an drawing of a nude woman that he drew back in art school. It wasn’t vulgar or offensive. When he added a piece of lingerie (cut out drawing) on the drawing, it gave a preception of what we see in pornography. Of course, I am not making an excuse to look at a woman naked for the reasons of entertainment.

Pornography, he states show only parts of the body rather than the full body. As a former porn addict, it does show parts of a woman’s body. Most softporn magazine show topless images while in the more hardcore magazine they show explicit image of the female genitalia.

So what is the difference between pornograph and nude art? One shows the whole body and the other shows parts of the body. Take a look at Michael Angelo’s paintings and statues, and compare them to images in pornographic magazine. You will see the difference. There is a difference between admire body as its God intend it to be, and lusting over it.

Some comments I made on my blog while listening to Father Thomas Loya talk on the Theology of the Body. Fr. Loya is a Byzantine Rite Catholic Priest and does lectures on the Theology of the Body.

blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog&pop=1&ping=1
 
I like to quote Christopher West commentary.
Those who believe it’s always improper to portray the naked body in art - and think it holy or “Catholic” to do so - simply cannot justify their position after touring the Vatican. It would be impossible to count the number of depictions of nakedness in St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican museum. If you’ve ever been to Rome, you may have noticed the juxtaposition of the nude art within the Vatican and the nudity on the billboards just outside the Vatican. The difference vividly illustrates the distinction between pornography and a respectful portrayal of the body in art.
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In his theology of the body, John Paul wrote that some works of art (such as the Sistine Chapel) portray the naked body in a manner that “allows one to concentrate in some way on the whole truth of man, on the dignity and beauty - even ‘suprasensual’ beauty - of his masculinity and femininity” (TOB 63:5). In contrast to this kind of authentic art, pornographic portrayals of the body raise objection, the Pope insists, not because they expose the human body per se. The human body in itself always retains its inalienable dignity. Rather, pornography raises objections because of the way in which the human body is portrayed (see TOB 63:5). Pornographers portray the body with the explicit intention of arousing lust - or, as theologians would say, “concupiscence” - in the viewer. This was not the intention of Michelangelo.
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theologyofthebody.com/01-12-07.asp
 
And with most of the art in Rome, the question could be phrased, is it possible for a man to look at a man without lusting? One can admit beauty either way without lusting.
 
i must be married to an amazing guy because mine never looks at other women as he states himself,. " i do not need to do things like that!" he doesn’t. i know because i’ve been married to him for 8 years and we’ve been together for 10 years. so yes, he is one of those rare guys i guess. he just doesn’t care to look at other women with lust. he respects women. i guess i got lucky. i don’t look at other guys either. i look at my hubby and that is it.
 
I suppose it would help if God were DONE sanctifying you first.

As for art, an old quote from a judge goes “I can’t define porn, but I know it when I see it.” The reason is because the MANNER of presentation is the difference. When the presentation suggests that the body is an object to be used and enjoyed, it is porn. When the presentation points out the personhood of the individual, it is art.
 
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