What is Theology of the Body?

My name is Darria Dennison and I am attending college at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. I was first introduced to Theology of the Body in my junior year of high school. Going to a Catholic school, theology was a required core class. As I was taking the class, from a very good instructor, it profoundly moved me. It was a course that truly made me think about my purpose here on earth and it helped me to discover who I was and how I looked at myself. During the semester, and even after finishing the course, I kept asking: why are these truths so unknown to the world, and, more importantly, how could I share what I learned with others? I sincerely believe that if society knew the core beliefs of Theology of the Body, and put into practice its teachings, the way we live and love one another would change dramatically. Now some of you might be asking: What is Theology of the Body?

Theology of the Body is a group of talks by Pope (now Saint) John Paul II. The main focus of these talks discusses the relationship between the human body and sexuality. From a definition standpoint, theology of the body is a study of God (theology) as shown through our bodies. Another way to define theology, as said by St. Anselm, is "faith seeking understanding." Theology of the Body seeks to reveal what chastity is, and how practicing it can improve relationships. Chastity and purity help us to look into a person and see their personality, instead of looking at a person and their outward image. The teachings of Theology of the Body go against what society tells young people.

Today's culture is obsessed with sex. The view of today's society on sexuality strips away the dignity of the human person. Many believe that the Roman Catholic Church has a bunch of "rules" about sex for seemingly no reason. This blog discusses how our desire to love and to be loved is a natural part of who we are, and how we can discern what real love looks like. Theology of the Body teaches about the beauty of our sexuality and why the intimacy of sex is saved for marriage.

    This image explains briefly about some of the major teachings of Theology of the Body. Photo Credit:   theography101.blogspot.com

 

One of the core philosophical questions St. Pope John Paul II was trying to answer with Theology of the Body was, "Who am I?" Discovering who we are is a vitally important part of learning how to genuinely love. If we do not know ourselves, how can we give ourselves as a gift to a spouse in marriage?

This blog is not exclusively for Catholics or religious people. It is a blog that seeks to reveal the truth about love and sexuality to teens and young adults who are searching for answers to the questions of life. To all those who yearn to love wholly and genuinely, this blog can help you to understand the essence of true love.