Theology of the Body — 2012/03/27

"The words of Genesis 2:18, 'It is not good for the man to be alone,' are a prelude to the creation of woman. In the narrative of Eve's creation, the theme of original solitude is joined by the theme of original unity.

"This is the key to Genesis 2:24, which Jesus quoted in his exchange with the Pharisees: 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.' Since Christ used this verse in reference to the beginning, we should look closely at the meaning of original unity, which is rooted in the creation of man as male and female.

"In the first creation story, there is no mention of man's solitude. Man is 'male and female' right from the beginning. But Genesis 2 invites us to think of man before the creation of woman. Only later in the chapter are we invited to think of man in terms of the two sexesa.

"Original solitude, as we saw, is irrespective of sex. But original unity arises from the union of masculinity and femininity. Male and female are two different incarnations of man. They are complementary ways of 'being a body' created in God's image."

Theology of the Body — 2012/02/12

Continuing with excerpts from Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body in Simple Language


"… [T]he Book of Genesis paints a profound picture of man. He's set above all the other animals; he possesses the power of language; he's a subject [(one who acts)] in the eyes of God, not an object; and he has free will … .

" … A person is meant to be a partner with God. He must choose between right and wrong, life and death. … Every person has a unique, exclusive, unrepeatable relationship with God himself.

"Formed from the dust of the ground, man is a physical being — a body among bodies. He participates in the visible world, tilling the ground and transforming his environment … through his body. … Man becomes aware that he's a person through the body.

"Looking at all the animals, Adam might have concluded that he was one of them. But he didn't. Significantly, he concluded that he was alone.

"Later, when Eve is created, Adam understands — as soon as he lays eyes on her — that man and woman are fundamentally alike, yet different in complementary ways. Before she even speaks a word, Eve's body reveals all this and more.

"The body reveals the person. This phrase tells us all there is to know about the body. Science can examine our flesh in minute detail … . But no amount of scientific exploration can replace the truth that our bodies reveal us, giving [visible] form to our innermost being and unique personality. Our bodies are sacramental — they make the invisible visible." Emphasis in original.




I'm posting these excerpts as a way of presenting a view of sexuality which I find compelling and which gives the general principles which support my views on homosexuality. Since my fundamental purpose in  having this blog is to present those views and to show that they allow a good life, I think it is important for me to present this material, and I encourage you not only to read it but to think about it. If you don't find the theology convincing, I hope you'll at least see that the Catholic Church's position is based on principles, and not on hatred.

Theology of the Body — 2012/02/01

"[L]et's take another look at the second Chapter of Genesis, pondering man's original solitude.

" … God says, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him' (Gen. 2:18). It is significant that this account describes the creation of the first man and the first woman separately.

"It is also significant that the first man … is called a 'male' only after the creation of the first woman. … Masculinity and femininity can only be defined in relation to each other.

"So when God, before he creates Eve says, 'It is not good for the man to be alone,' his statement applies to all [humanity.] God is speaking of the solitude of 'man' (male and female), not just the solitude of the male.

"Viewed in this light, 'original solitude' has two meanings. The first has to do with human nature: among the living creatures of the earth, human beings are unique and alone. The second has to do with the male/female relationship: without a suitable companion, Adam is alone.

"The problem of solitude arises only in the second creation story. The first account doesn't mention a time when man was alone. There, we read only that God created man in his image, 'male and female he created them" (Gen. 1:27). In the second account, the problem of man's solitude is raised before his division into male and female.

"The second story tells us … . … how man was placed in the Garden of Eden, where he lived in happiness … . Then God makes a covenant with man: 'You … must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it, you will surely die' (Gen. 2:16-17.

"This covenant emphasizes man's subjectivity. Man is not an impersonal object, but a subject capable of rational thought and communion with God. Man has free will — he can freely choose to keep the covenant or break it.

"Man's dignity as a subject is given more emphasis when God gives him the responsibility of naming the animals … (Gen 2:19).

"When Adam names the animals, he discovers the first meaning of his solitude. He realizes that he is in a class by himself, set apart from all the other animals. He is alone. 'So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found' (Gen. 2:20).

"This passage is leading up to the creation of woman, but it possesses its own meaning, even apart from Eve's creation. Right from the moment of his creation, man is in search of himself. … of his own identity. By naming every other living creature, Adam discovers what he is not — but he still wonders what he is.


"Here is the first clue to man's identity: he cannot identify completely with the physical world. The philosopher Aristotle defined man as a 'rational animal.' He is an animal, yes, but he is distinguished from the other animals by his rationality. …

"By exploring the world around him, Adam grew in self-knowledge. By naming the animals, he learned that he was peculiar among all living creatures. And because he was essentially different from the rest of the visible world, he was alone.

"For the first time, Adam became aware that he was a person."