Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body

Pope John Paul II's "Man and Woman He Created Them," popularly known as "A Theology of the Body" may be the most important theological work of the 20th century. I say this because John Paul II is not only a first-rate theologian but also because "Theology of the Body" strikes at the heart of a series of related issues that desperately need addressing today. "Theology of the Body" begins with the Pope's Trinitarianism, a fundamental doctrine that Christians often don't know what to do with. At the heart of his thinking, and all true Christian thinking, is God's self-giving love that is rooted in the Trinity. "Theology of the Body" also explores the nature of what it means to be human and made in the image of God. The book is titled "Man and Woman He Created Them" because it is especially in the relationship between a man and his wife that the relational and loving identity of God is revealed in humanity. Throughout, the Pope reaffirms the essential goodness of the human body. "Theology of the Body" is thus a profound theological work that I highly recommend to pastors, teachers, and educated laymen. Be aware: it's not an easy read! But a patient and thoughtful reading of "Theology of the Body" will, in time, become a blessing to the reader. One of the reasons it remains such a timely work is that it confronts some of the Gnostic tendencies in the Church today that spiritualize things and tend to downplay the significance and basic goodness of the body. At a time when humanistic and distorted views of human sexuality and identity abound, "Theology of the Body" provides an intelligent and profound rationale for the biblical, Christian meaning of sex, the body, and being made in the image of God. While Protestants may think that a work written by a Pope would be too Roman Catholic for them, in reality "Theology of the Body" is a work for the whole Church and all Christians. The book is filled with profound and rare insight into who God is and who man is. It will help to complete the theology of most Christian readers and also has important practical implications. Because the book was originally an extended series of lectures at times it can be unwieldy and difficult to comprehend. Sometimes it's difficult to understand what the Pope means in certain sections, since his writing is often dense. In spite of the difficulty in reading, it's well worth the effort. Because of the depth and difficulty of the work, some have found it beneficial to also read "Theology of the Body for Beginners" by Christopher West.

While some readers may find John Paul II's writing style a bit circular or highly philosophical, the message presented in this text will change your life. Still, it is not easy reading. It is a collection of 129 audiences given by John Paul II commonly called the Theology of the Body. The audiences are based on Sacred Scripture. In this new translation audiences that were not delivered are now included. The Theology of the Body treats sexuality, marriage, celibacy, anthropology, family life, responsible parenthood, the wound of sin, redemption, and the resurrection of the body. This book is in my top five of best books. I have read both translations and Michael Waldstein's is much easier to read than the first edition. The new headers at the beginning of each section that directly indicate what is being dealt with in the text. The introduction that Waldstein provides gives a theological and philosophical vision for understanding the text. This book is worth your time. It stands against the culture of death and promotes the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It holds the answers the hunger that society is so desperately grasping at. If you don't know much about the Theology of Body it would prove useful to read an introductory text by West, Hogan, or Percy & Schmitz. Christopher West, who is properly described as a catechist, has excellent presentations on the Theology of the Body in DVD and CD format that could prove helpful to a first time reader. On a personal note: The Theology of the Body has helped me so much. I am in Holy Orders and I don't think I would be where I am except for this message (and God's grace and His will). This isn't some message that you can simply read and understand - it is something that you have to approach with an open heart and mind with prayer. I really hope you read this book and promote it's message.

I'll never forget the way I first heard the Theology of the Body. I was a brand-new sister, having made my first vows the year Pope John Paul II was elected. My community used to read a snippet or two from the Papal Audience talks right after breakfast, before we scattered to the four winds in carrying out the day's mission. Bit by bit, as we made our way through an unusual series of meditations on the book of Genesis, I found that the whole theme of "gift" was beginning to resound within me. It was like a new wine being poured into the wineskin of the Church. Whatever our vocation, we are each called to be a "person-gift," as the Persons of the Trinity are "gift," given over unreservedly, and unreservedly received. In a vague way, even though I was still very young (!), I realized that something extraordinary was going to come from these talks, and that it would mean great things above all for women. It took twenty years for that message to begin to seep into the language of our Church culture, but now small groups of young adults and couples are beginning to meet in homes and conferences to ponder John Paul's vast, fully Christian vision of humanity. I've used the Theology of the Body to present the essence of the vow of chastity to our novices and junior sisters, and I keep looking for ways to introduce it to others, especially to people who find themselves struggling to understand the Church's teaching in all those areas that touch on our vocation to love. The beauty of its truth is hard to resist. This new and carefully researched translation offers more than just a consistent translation of key terms: previously unpublished units came to light; the Pope's original title and subtitles have been added; the whole content appears in the order in which the Pope meant for it to be covered. Yes, Dr. Waldstein's careful and scholarly introduction can be a bit overwhelming, but this book is worth taking the time simply to sit with. That's what you do with beauty anyway.

Great book! Would recommend

Funny how you buy a book to understand God's proper ordering for marital relationships and what I have found is far more expansive . A greater appreciation for every human being .Trust God .People are not tools to be used , but valuable in their own right. This book has overturned so many misconceptions I have absorbed . No, this book is not easy to read . Some days I manage a page or a paragraph but I would rather a hard correct book rather than an easy commentary from the viewpoint of another who is not the author..

J'avais entendu parler de cette oeuvre si méconnue de Jean Paul II. J'en cherchais une édition intégrale et non des commentaires prédigérés. En feuilletant les critiques, je me suis rendu compte que le travail de Waldstein est aujourd'hui incontournable. Son introduction situe bien l'enjeu théo-anthroplogique et le contexte philosophique et psychologique. Le livre est au delà de mes attentes. Par un chemin aux longs méandres, il fait vivre à notre pensée rationaliste modelée par Descartes, une véritable révolution copernicienne. Il nous invite à regarder l'homme et la femme d'un regard ouvert sur l'infini du don. Est-ce cette remise en cause de certains fondements de notre culture qui nous fait peur ? A quand un travail critique sur la réception française de ces enseignements ?

For study Theology of the body

The message is about the liberation from lust which is one of the main causes of abortion, premarital sex, divorce and the damnation of the body. The TOB is some sort of antidote to liberate us from that bondage! Highly recommended to all Catholics and other men of faith!