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Theology of the Body, Extended: The Spiritual Signs of Birth, Impairment and Dying
Pope John Paul II expected theologians to expand their insights of the 129 lectures given during his Wednesday audiences in St. Peter's Square and Paul VI Audience Hall between September 1979 and November 1984. However, his integrated vision of the human person - body, soul, and spirit - has rarely gone beyond the popular topics of moral theology associated with sexuality and marriage. Now, Susan Windley-Daoust, a passionate disciple of John Paul's complete work, devoted spiritual director, and popular Assistant Professor of Theology at St. Mary's University of Minnesota, extends the Theology of the Body to what it means to be human during the experiences of childbirth, impairment, and dying. Are there spiritual signs in these bodily events that are central to the human experience? Oh yes! And the signs mysteriously and wonderfully point to God.
270 pages, Paperback
First published April 18, 2014
127 people want to read
About the author
Susan Windley-Daoust
7 books2 followersDr Susan Windley-Daoust, assistant professor of Theology at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.
Dr. Susan Windley-Daoust received her academic degrees from Mary Washington College and Vanderbilt University. After teaching in the Theology department at the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) for five years, she has been part of the full-time faculty at Saint Mary’s since 2003. Her specialization is systematic theology, particularly theological anthropology and contemporary culture. She has recently published in America, Sojourners, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. She has worked with the local Catholic Worker community for many years, and has served the Church as a spiritual director since 2009.
She lives in Winona, Minnesota with her husband and five children.
Dr. Susan Windley-Daoust received her academic degrees from Mary Washington College and Vanderbilt University. After teaching in the Theology department at the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) for five years, she has been part of the full-time faculty at Saint Mary’s since 2003. Her specialization is systematic theology, particularly theological anthropology and contemporary culture. She has recently published in America, Sojourners, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. She has worked with the local Catholic Worker community for many years, and has served the Church as a spiritual director since 2009.
She lives in Winona, Minnesota with her husband and five children.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 18, 2014
Susan Windley-Daoust's brand new book Theology of the Body, Extended: The Spiritual Signs of Birth, Impairment and Dayingis a deep exploration into the human condition and our relationship with birth, death and impairment through the lens of the work known as the Theology of the Body given the Church by St. Pope John Paul II. While many people think the Theology of the Body is some version of the church's teaching on sexual chastity, they would be mistaken. The pope's work explores the meaning of the person, as ensoulled bodies, and our relationship to others and to God.
Windley-Daoust's take on this teaching is to recognize the moral theology in the second half of the pope's Theology of the Body, but to spend her time exploring the largely unarticulated first half: the "what does it mean to be human" question, and the implications of this for a theology of birth, death and impairment. The author asks whether these are signs and if so, whether they point to God.
The book is sectioned into four chapters. First is an introduction to the work of John Paul II, some background on his spiritual and philosophical influences, and some of the major points of his Theology of the Body. The other three chapters each cover the theme in context of childbirth, (bodily) impairment, and dying. Each chapter offers a particular theology of its theme: a theology of childbirth, a theology of impairment, a theology of dying.
What is different about this book from other book out there with Theology of the Body in the title? Well, this book reaches broadly across the spiritual and theological tradition of the Church, incorporating things such as Ignatian spirituality, the work of L'Arche, current theological views on death and dying, medical history of birthing and care of the body, and saints from Athanaius to Therese of Lisieux to Servant of God Dorothy Day. It appropriates the deep consideration of the meaning of the human person gleaned from John Paul II and applies it to the human condition and experience. And it asks how all of this has meaning, is significant, and teaches us perhaps something about God that God has revealed right in the very body of the people we are, and know, and come into contact with.
Who is this book for? This is an academically structured and theologically astute text, but it is by no means accessible only to theologians or academics (though they will find it gripping, as I have). It is for intelligent readers who want to explore the depths of the truth about who God makes us to be. For those who are unfamiliar with the Theology of the Body, it provides enough background and may pique your interest towards reading the original text. The author helpfully provides a short synopsis of key terms at the start iof each chapter, and also offers Scripture verses and saintly quotes for meditation as the reader moves forward.
But I've read someone else's version of the Theology of the Body, or I've read John Paul II's actual text - so what about me? For those of you who are familiar with the Theology of the Body and want more, or those who, like me, consider yourselves scholars of the Theology of the Body, I promise you will find that this book is an invitation to put out into the deep and to find yourself stirred by the layers of humanity and the call to truth within the pages. While it is intended for both a male and female readership, and I encourage both, intelligent women will recognize in this a book that finally says in text what so many of us suspect in our intellects and hearts about motherhood, womanhood, hospitality, and communion.
Finally, I have to admit that I picked up this book expecting to read a chapter and put it down for later, but I stayed up late to read it most of the way through in one sitting, because it captured my theological imagination and is an insightful synthesis of the Theology of the Body's anthropology with the spiritual life and tradition of the Church. I strongly recommend it for parents, armchair theologians, priests, smart women, Catholic readers, and the Theology of the Body curious.
Windley-Daoust's take on this teaching is to recognize the moral theology in the second half of the pope's Theology of the Body, but to spend her time exploring the largely unarticulated first half: the "what does it mean to be human" question, and the implications of this for a theology of birth, death and impairment. The author asks whether these are signs and if so, whether they point to God.
The book is sectioned into four chapters. First is an introduction to the work of John Paul II, some background on his spiritual and philosophical influences, and some of the major points of his Theology of the Body. The other three chapters each cover the theme in context of childbirth, (bodily) impairment, and dying. Each chapter offers a particular theology of its theme: a theology of childbirth, a theology of impairment, a theology of dying.
What is different about this book from other book out there with Theology of the Body in the title? Well, this book reaches broadly across the spiritual and theological tradition of the Church, incorporating things such as Ignatian spirituality, the work of L'Arche, current theological views on death and dying, medical history of birthing and care of the body, and saints from Athanaius to Therese of Lisieux to Servant of God Dorothy Day. It appropriates the deep consideration of the meaning of the human person gleaned from John Paul II and applies it to the human condition and experience. And it asks how all of this has meaning, is significant, and teaches us perhaps something about God that God has revealed right in the very body of the people we are, and know, and come into contact with.
Who is this book for? This is an academically structured and theologically astute text, but it is by no means accessible only to theologians or academics (though they will find it gripping, as I have). It is for intelligent readers who want to explore the depths of the truth about who God makes us to be. For those who are unfamiliar with the Theology of the Body, it provides enough background and may pique your interest towards reading the original text. The author helpfully provides a short synopsis of key terms at the start iof each chapter, and also offers Scripture verses and saintly quotes for meditation as the reader moves forward.
But I've read someone else's version of the Theology of the Body, or I've read John Paul II's actual text - so what about me? For those of you who are familiar with the Theology of the Body and want more, or those who, like me, consider yourselves scholars of the Theology of the Body, I promise you will find that this book is an invitation to put out into the deep and to find yourself stirred by the layers of humanity and the call to truth within the pages. While it is intended for both a male and female readership, and I encourage both, intelligent women will recognize in this a book that finally says in text what so many of us suspect in our intellects and hearts about motherhood, womanhood, hospitality, and communion.
Finally, I have to admit that I picked up this book expecting to read a chapter and put it down for later, but I stayed up late to read it most of the way through in one sitting, because it captured my theological imagination and is an insightful synthesis of the Theology of the Body's anthropology with the spiritual life and tradition of the Church. I strongly recommend it for parents, armchair theologians, priests, smart women, Catholic readers, and the Theology of the Body curious.
July 10, 2014
Another companion on my recent trip to Missouri, Susan Windley-Daoust’s book, Theology of the Body, Extended, was a book I had long looked forward to. My own research had pushed many exciting books down on my reading list and a 16 hour car ride presented a good opportunity to catch up. (PS: The two-year-old did a wonderful job, even when we were stuck at a dead stop for over 3 hours.)
Back to the book, when John Paul II used his first years as pope forming the Theology of the Body, he meant it as a springboard for further reflection by theologians. Windley-Daoust takes that invitation and runs with it. John Paul II focused on marriage and Catholic teachings regarding “pelvic issues.” She took it into three more places that most of us can or will be able to relate to: birth, impairment and death.
The book is pretty academic, but not so much so as to be inaccessible to an arm-chair philosopher that likes Theology of the Body. You don’t need to know John Paul II’s Theology of the Body very intimately to appreciate her extension. She mainly tells the reader what they need to know in the first chapter, although knowing a little about it before hand wouldn’t hurt.
In birth, impairment and death, we might not feel particularly close to God or even that God cares about our suffering, but we are still signs of spiritual Truth. We are still dependent on community and we can still help others. We are still signs of a Trinity of love and eternal gift. When we are in these three life transition, we are giving part of ourselves and we are learning about sacrifice. We are called to be open to God and to others. We are called to be like Christ for others and others are called to be like Christ for us.
This book shares all of those truths and many more. Parts of the book that I thought would be difficult for me because of my life experiences ended up not being difficult at all. She looks at all of these issues from many different points of view. Her definition of impairment is much broader than I’m used to, but she explains why to my satisfaction. Overall, I was really, really pleased by this book. It has inspired reflection in my own life and I am looking forward to any further thoughts Windley-Daoust has about childbirth.
This Review originally appeared on the reviewer's blog at: http://truedignityofwomen.wordpress.c...
Back to the book, when John Paul II used his first years as pope forming the Theology of the Body, he meant it as a springboard for further reflection by theologians. Windley-Daoust takes that invitation and runs with it. John Paul II focused on marriage and Catholic teachings regarding “pelvic issues.” She took it into three more places that most of us can or will be able to relate to: birth, impairment and death.
The book is pretty academic, but not so much so as to be inaccessible to an arm-chair philosopher that likes Theology of the Body. You don’t need to know John Paul II’s Theology of the Body very intimately to appreciate her extension. She mainly tells the reader what they need to know in the first chapter, although knowing a little about it before hand wouldn’t hurt.
In birth, impairment and death, we might not feel particularly close to God or even that God cares about our suffering, but we are still signs of spiritual Truth. We are still dependent on community and we can still help others. We are still signs of a Trinity of love and eternal gift. When we are in these three life transition, we are giving part of ourselves and we are learning about sacrifice. We are called to be open to God and to others. We are called to be like Christ for others and others are called to be like Christ for us.
This book shares all of those truths and many more. Parts of the book that I thought would be difficult for me because of my life experiences ended up not being difficult at all. She looks at all of these issues from many different points of view. Her definition of impairment is much broader than I’m used to, but she explains why to my satisfaction. Overall, I was really, really pleased by this book. It has inspired reflection in my own life and I am looking forward to any further thoughts Windley-Daoust has about childbirth.
This Review originally appeared on the reviewer's blog at: http://truedignityofwomen.wordpress.c...
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews