Theology Of The Body For Beginners

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 164 pages
• Published by: Ascension Press April 2004
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 1932645349
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-1932645347
• Book Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Weighs: 5 ounces

Book Description
According to Pope John Paul II, if we live according to the true meaning of our sexuality, we "fulfill the very meaning of [our] being and existence." The human body is a "theology" because it is meant to be a sign of God's own life and love in the world. With clarity and precision, Christopher West unpacks John Paul II's Theology of the Body, translating it into a language everyone can understand.

Theology of the Body for Beginners explores the profound interconnections between sex and the deepest questions of human existence, including:

What is the meaning of life?
Why did God create us male and female?
How do we attain true happiness on earth?
What kind of joys await us in heaven?
Why is there evil in the world and how do we overcome it?
How can we experience the love we long for in the depth of our hearts?

About The Author
Christopher West is widely recognized for his work popularizing John Paul II's theology of the body. His books (Good News About Sex & Marriage and Theology of the Body Explained), extensive lecturing, and numerous tapes have sparked an international groundswell of interest in the subject. Christopher teaches the theology of the body at St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver, the Institute of Priestly Formation in Omaha, and at the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family in Melbourne, Australia. He and his wife Wendy live in Pennsylvania with their three children.

Reader Reviews
This book illustrates one of the reasons I have come to respect Christopher West so much. He has the gift of making this beautiful teaching from John Paul II accessible to the common person. I have read John Paul's original audiences and West's Theology of the Body explained, as well as several other books on this topic. For a simple, easy to read explanation that includes a fair attempt to convey all the important points, this is the best I have read so far. It has a very useful glossary at the end of the book that provides helpful definitions which also serve as summary points for the chapters, as well as a resource section to help with further study. I plan to use this book as a textbook to teach upper high school students this material. If you are looking for an more in-depth explanation of the Theology of the Body, I would recommend West's TOTB Explained. I like it better than West's Good News about Sex and Marriage, because it gives a more well-rounded explanation of the other issues covered by John Paul's original talks. It is not so narrowly focused on marriage and sexuality. I think TOTB for Beginners is a good general introduction to the topic, and the best book to buy if you are looking for something simple and easy to digest. Comment | | (Report this)