Comments on: The Christopher West Theology of the Body “Debate” http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/the-christopher-west-theology-of-the-body-debate/ A Catholic Social Commentary Tue, 22 May 2012 17:58:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Christopher West responds to the Criticism http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/the-christopher-west-theology-of-the-body-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-11613 Christopher West responds to the Criticism Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:53:19 +0000 http://www.fallibleblogma.com/?p=1378#comment-11613 [...] [...] [...] [...]

]]> By: micaela swift http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/the-christopher-west-theology-of-the-body-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-6546 micaela swift Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:02:47 +0000 http://www.fallibleblogma.com/?p=1378#comment-6546 Thanks Matt for posting....I think this debate certainly brings to light lots of excellent thinking about this, and good needed discussions. I agree with C.Wests Theology of the Body, however, I do object to his "style" of communication. I have gone to his theology of the body day retreat, it was great. I have a few of his books, and do read up on what he has to say. The big knot I have with this is that there are some discussions he brings up often and very openly that ought to be held in a "different" type of arena. Certain discussions about sex cannot be put up as a "show" because many times it will be interpreted lopsided, esp by those who are not 'clearly' informed about differences between "Agape" and "Eros" and 'Theology of the body.'I have always, through experience(being very sensitive of the "way" to educate) have known that Sex is a very "personal" issue, and to make it a question-answer setup accessible in a such "public arena", I think can easily be subject to removing the deep reverence sex deserves and honestly needs according to its theology. Because it is deeply personal, its hard to hold to that reality when you make it very public and 'open'. Pope Paul II was the genius at doing that perfectly in the public arena....He was a master of 'Agape', and he used that wisdom to direct the truths about chastity and purity, rather than going into specific sexually explicit areas of sex. Thanks Matt for posting….I think this debate certainly brings to light lots of excellent thinking about this, and good needed discussions.
I agree with C.Wests Theology of the Body, however, I do object to his “style” of communication. I have gone to his theology of the body day retreat, it was great. I have a few of his books, and do read up on what he has to say. The big knot I have with this is that there are some discussions he brings up often and very openly that ought to be held in a “different” type of arena. Certain discussions about sex cannot be put up as a “show” because many times it will be interpreted lopsided, esp by those who are not ‘clearly’ informed about differences between “Agape” and “Eros” and ‘Theology of the body.’I have always, through experience(being very sensitive of the “way” to educate) have known that Sex is a very “personal” issue, and to make it a question-answer setup accessible in a such “public arena”, I think can easily be subject to removing the deep reverence sex deserves and honestly needs according to its theology. Because it is deeply personal, its hard to hold to that reality when you make it very public and ‘open’. Pope Paul II was the genius at doing that perfectly in the public arena….He was a master of ‘Agape’, and he used that wisdom to direct the truths about chastity and purity, rather than going into specific sexually explicit areas of sex.

]]> By: Easter A. http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/the-christopher-west-theology-of-the-body-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-6427 Easter A. Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:55:52 +0000 http://www.fallibleblogma.com/?p=1378#comment-6427 Matthew, Thanks for the twitter follow. I would not have known you wrote this article that gives us good insights. Exactly how Christopher did it. By introducing TOB through television, how could other people have known that there is such a thing as Theology of the Body? True, many of the viewers may still not know the good in it, but the initial step was taken: TOB was introduced to them. Who knows, maybe some people got curious and bought and read his books after the interview. Christopher West on May 30 gave an excellent presentation here in Honolulu, Hawaii. After his talks I approached him to let him know that I was very discouraged about the interview on Nightline. I said I had to pray and discern if should even come. I came. Because God's spirit stirred in me the truth. I cannot tell you how blessed I was to have heard and witnessed God's loving message on TOB – not from a book or YouTube, but through Christopher West himself. God's spirit is not a spirit of timidity. I am glad he did that interview with ABC. Sometimes, when we receive God's message with a thud, many of us are not ready to hear it (not considering the sensationalism). And sometimes, we have to hear with God’s heart to listen and receive the truth. That is why prayer and discernment are so important. If many Catholics were distraught by what Christopher did – including me in the beginning – what more of the world that does not understand the truth at all? Thank you, Matthew!God bless you! Matthew,

Thanks for the twitter follow. I would not have known you wrote this article that gives us good insights. Exactly how Christopher did it. By introducing TOB through television, how could other people have known that there is such a thing as Theology of the Body? True, many of the viewers may still not know the good in it, but the initial step was taken: TOB was introduced to them. Who knows, maybe some people got curious and bought and read his books after the interview.

Christopher West on May 30 gave an excellent presentation here in Honolulu, Hawaii. After his talks I approached him to let him know that I was very discouraged about the interview on Nightline. I said I had to pray and discern if should even come. I came. Because God’s spirit stirred in me the truth. I cannot tell you how blessed I was to have heard and witnessed God’s loving message on TOB – not from a book or YouTube, but through Christopher West himself.

God’s spirit is not a spirit of timidity. I am glad he did that interview with ABC.

Sometimes, when we receive God’s message with a thud, many of us are not ready to hear it (not considering the sensationalism). And sometimes, we have to hear with God’s heart to listen and receive the truth. That is why prayer and discernment are so important. If many Catholics were distraught by what Christopher did – including me in the beginning – what more of the world that does not understand the truth at all?

Thank you, Matthew!God bless you!

]]> By: Linda Coty http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/the-christopher-west-theology-of-the-body-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-6365 Linda Coty Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:32:09 +0000 http://www.fallibleblogma.com/?p=1378#comment-6365 Michelle, I totally agree with you on the need & the lack of Catechism classes for adults. In fact, I had been searching for exactly that, in the city I live, only to find out it didn't exist. So I replaced it with searching the teachings on the web. I'm sure it doesn't follow the same itinerary as if it were an organized class, but you would be surprised how often it leads me to where I need to be most. Linda Michelle, I totally agree with you on the need & the lack of Catechism classes for adults. In fact, I had been searching for exactly that, in the city I live, only to find out it didn’t exist. So I replaced it with searching the teachings on the web. I’m sure it doesn’t follow the same itinerary as if it were an organized class, but you would be surprised how often it leads me to where I need to be most.

Linda

]]> By: elena maria vidal http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/the-christopher-west-theology-of-the-body-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-6343 elena maria vidal Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:03:51 +0000 http://www.fallibleblogma.com/?p=1378#comment-6343 Hi, Matthew, I have been wanting to stop by and thank you for all that you do to promote authentic Catholic community on the internet. One thing about following the ongoing TOB discussion is that it has led me to some wonderful websites, such as Headline Bistro, which you link to above. There is no doubt that Mr. West has helped many people and that he is full of zeal for the faith. I have enjoyed his talks on EWTN and thought they were fine. I did not care for his book that I read, but then we are not bound to like every single Catholic book, are we? What bothers me about this whole episode is that anyone who dares point out the potential flaws in Mr. West's presentation is attacked and accused of being puritanical or prudish. People should be free to express such criticisms without having their good character impugned. All the best, EMV Hi, Matthew, I have been wanting to stop by and thank you for all that you do to promote authentic Catholic community on the internet. One thing about following the ongoing TOB discussion is that it has led me to some wonderful websites, such as Headline Bistro, which you link to above.

There is no doubt that Mr. West has helped many people and that he is full of zeal for the faith. I have enjoyed his talks on EWTN and thought they were fine. I did not care for his book that I read, but then we are not bound to like every single Catholic book, are we?

What bothers me about this whole episode is that anyone who dares point out the potential flaws in Mr. West’s presentation is attacked and accused of being puritanical or prudish. People should be free to express such criticisms without having their good character impugned.

All the best,

EMV

]]> By: The Great TOB Debate « Theology of the Body http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/the-christopher-west-theology-of-the-body-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-6261 The Great TOB Debate « Theology of the Body Sat, 20 Jun 2009 03:15:47 +0000 http://www.fallibleblogma.com/?p=1378#comment-6261 [...] Read more [...] [...] Read more [...]

]]> By: Michelle http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/the-christopher-west-theology-of-the-body-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-6260 Michelle Sat, 20 Jun 2009 02:43:51 +0000 http://www.fallibleblogma.com/?p=1378#comment-6260 Thank you for this wonderful article. We had a coming together at our parish last weekend to think of ways to improve the parish ministries. I left thinking, if we all went back to the basics and started with Catechism classes, maybe we can all get on the same page. Without all Catholics being on the same page...meaning knowing the teachings of the church, just trying to improve ministries within the church was a big issue. I say...more catechism class are needed. Who would leave the Catholic Church if they new what they believed...not me!!!! Thank you for this wonderful article. We had a coming together at our parish last weekend to think of ways to improve the parish ministries. I left thinking, if we all went back to the basics and started with Catechism classes, maybe we can all get on the same page.

Without all Catholics being on the same page…meaning knowing the teachings of the church, just trying to improve ministries within the church was a big issue.

I say…more catechism class are needed. Who would leave the Catholic Church if they new what they believed…not me!!!!

]]> By: Blaise Alleyne http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/the-christopher-west-theology-of-the-body-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-6255 Blaise Alleyne Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:26:49 +0000 http://www.fallibleblogma.com/?p=1378#comment-6255 Well said. Well said.

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