Theology of Art, Part II

Theology of Art, Part I
Hands and Brains (or Lack of)
Hands and Brains (or Lack of) (continued)

Theology of Art, Part II
The Body - Neither Puritanism nor Pornography
The Body - Neither Puritanism nor Pornography (continued)

Theology of Art, Part III
Nakedness and imago Dei
Nakedness and imago Dei (continued)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The Body - Neither Puritanism nor Pornography

When one teaches the middle way, it is likely that distortions of both extremes will occur.

Earlier in Theology of Art part I, we considered the relationship between "hands" and "head" (or pragmatism and rationality) in human life. According to Christian holistic anthropology, they are inseparable.

The body and the soul are also two - inseparable - sides of the same coin.

As a body, man belongs to the visible world; as a soul, to the invisible. He is not only part of the organic world (as animals) nor is he pure spirit (as angels). He is both, simultaneously and inseparably. One could call a human person an "embodied soul" or a "soulful body". Perhaps these descriptions, too, smell of dualism. It is, indeed, difficult to avoid dualistic nuances. Human language is in itself always metaphorical and, furthermore, the ultimate reality of human nature is something not fully revealed.

Christian tradition has always profoundly valued the body and sexuality (which go together). Christianity seems to be nearly the only great religion that thoroughly accepts - nay, embraces - the body. It believes that material is good - that God himself became a body. It praises marriage. It is the chief editor of all love poetry of mentionable content.

When John Paul II launched the renovation of the Sistine chapel, he ordered the removal of loincloths that his predecessor popes had commissioned to cover Michelangelo's nudes. John Paul II did this in the name of Christian purity. Does this seem odd?

(continued...)