What is the connection between our spirituality and the body? This question has different answers depending on where we start. Ultimately, though, it seems to me that pondering this relationship raises more questions than answers.
Spirituality and the Body, an article from Conversations Journal, highlights the link between the body and the spiritual life. The article costs $1.99, but is worth the price.
What an embarrassment, the body. With all the belching, oozing, pain, and decay, it’s no surprise St. Francis called it “Brother Ass.” And with its unceasing attraction to bacon, beer, and other bodies, it’s enough to make you wonder: What was God thinking?
What a marvel, the body. By comparison the most powerful computer is a child’s stick-figure drawing. Consider the intricate designs of eye, ear, and brain; consider the body’s ability to cool and heal itself; what a gift, this mass of meat that can experience music, mosaics, and marathons. So precious is the body that Jesus took his to heaven, as will you and I. But still the question: What was God thinking?
Perhaps someday I’ll write a more detailed post. But suffice to say for now that our understanding of the body and our understanding of the spiritual are tied together. My recent reading of NT Wright’s “Surprised by Hope” explores the historical understandings about the body and spirit and how they’ve evolved over time. But from a Christian perspective it’s important to say that “Jesus took his to heaven, as will you and I.” That’s a thought worth pondering.
Platonism has led to a Christian teaching that says (at an extreme level) the world is bad and our bodies are evil and we just need to be saved so we can someday be rid of them. Then we will live as perfected spiritual beings. But 1st century Christianity had not thought like that. Jesus took his body with him and we are made to have our bodies after death just like Him. Apparently, spirituality and the body will be linked forever!
This piece first appeared here in 2011. I’ve revisited it as part of rebuilding this site, updating the research it references and refreshing the links. The heart of it hasn’t changed.