Sexuality and the Theology of the Body

1. Sexuality and the Theology of the Body

2. Sex vs. Sexuality • Sexual Identity: • Our own personal understanding of what it means to be masculine or feminine • Sexual Orientation: • Whom we are attracted to • heterosexual orientation – attraction to persons of the opposite sex/gender • homosexual orientation – attraction to persons of the same sex/gender

3. Sex vs. Sexuality • Sexual Behavior: • How we express our sexuality in relationships with members of both genders • Sexual values: • What we believe is right and wrong, acceptable and unacceptable, permitted and not permitted regarding sex and sexuality

4. The Theology of the Body • Series of addresses given by John Paul II from 1979-1984 • God has created our bodies and our sexuality • Our bodies tell us about who God is and who we are

5. The Body as a Sacrament • Makes the invisible, visible • Our bodies (which are visible) can make God (invisible) present to us

6. In the Beginning… • Jesus refers to sexual morality and says that we need to look to the beginning (Genesis) • To learn about what our sexuality is and what is right and wrong, we need to look at how and why we were created

7. Created for Love • We are created in the image and likeness of God • “It is not good that man should be alone” • We are created with a desire to love and be loved, know and be known • Love is a communion of persons gift • We are created male and female so that we can give to the other

8. Personalistic Norm • John Paul II • Human persons deserve only the best – we should never treat anyone with less than love

9. What is love??? • If the personalistic norm is true, we should treat each other with love • The earlier a woman becomes sexually active, the more likely she is to experience: • Out of wedlock pregnancy • STD’s • Multiple sexual partners • Depression • Single motherhood • Divorce • We have to ask ourselves, “If a young man really loves a girl, is becoming sexually active worth the risk for her?”

10. Original Man • The existence of humanity before sin entered the world • Humanity as God created it to be • Sexuality as God created it to be

11. Originally…. • Original Solitude – man as being different from the animals; Adam’s need of a companion • Original Unity – the initial perfect unity between man and woman • Original Nakedness – the experience of Adam and Eve being naked without shame. Before original sin, pure sexual desire without lust

13. This process of original solitude, unity, and nakedness tells us what our bodies and sexuality were meant for… • Love • To give ourselves as a gift to another • We are born with this desire

14. The Effects of Sin… • The serpent approaches the woman • Says that God lied, God then does not love, does not want what is best for them • Adam and Eve turn away from God

15. The Effects of Sin… • Adam and Eve believe the lie of the serpent • Original sin enters into the world • This disrupts the relationship between God and humanity • The relationship between man and woman is also disrupted

16. Love Gone Awry • After sin, selfishness enters • Giving the gift of our bodies in our sexuality feels good (physical & emotional) • In order to obtain that feeling people will USE others or themselves • They will bypass love (gift of self) • Because of sin, sexual desire is distorted. It is not as God created it to be.

17. Historical Man • JPII uses this term to describe man after sin has entered the world

18. Hope and Redemption in Christ • Because of original sin there is a distortion of the relationship between God and Humanity and between Man and Woman • Jesus Christ comes to restore that relationship

19. Jesus • Humanity thought God did not love, did not want the best for humanity • Jesus proves that God loves Humanity • Jesus embodies self-giving love by dying on the cross

20. Jesus Redeems Our Sexuality Spousal Analogy Ephesians 5 

21. Heavenly Marriage • Jesus dies in order to open heaven for us • The union of man and woman on earth is a glimpse of the union of God and man in Heaven

22. Historical and Original Man Today… Historical Man… Original Man… “All I need is a lil’ bit, not a lot, baby girl, just a lil’ bit” I want your ugly, I want your disease, I want your everything as long as it's free, I want your love “I don't wanna waste my time and take home a girl that just wants to hang out, I just wanna get to the business.” “A young husband should say to his bride: ‘I have taken you in my arms, and I love you, and I prefer you to my life itself.’” “God has assigned a duty to every man: the dignity of every woman.” “Now I take this sister of mine not because of lust, but with sincerity. Grant that we may find mercy, and that we may grow old together.”

23. Chastity • The chaste person expresses their sexuality in a loving and responsible way • Chastity and abstinence are NOT the same thing • Expresses their sexuality within God’s design • Not about saying “No” to sex • It is about saying “Yes” to Love • If we love someone, we put what is best for thembefore ourselves, this includes our sexual desires

24. Positive Purity vs. Negative Purity • Negative Purity – avoiding sexuality because of the fear that one will lust • Positive Purity – looking at a person and overcoming the temptation to lust with love for the person • We want to strive for a positive purity • End part I

25. Language of the Body • Our bodies are a sacrament • The body speaks a language • The body can tell the truth, or it can lie

26. The Language of the Body • “Don’t you know that when you sleep with someone your body makes a promise whether you do or not?” –Vanilla Sky • The language of sex says, “I love you, I am yours, I am here for you, I care for you, forever, etc…”

27. The Language of the Body • If we have sex with someone we are saying one thing with our bodies, but we must be sure we are telling the truth

28. The Language of Premarital Sex • Bodies say: I love you, I will never leave you, you are safe… • Premarital sex says: I love you and I care about you, but I am not fully committed to you

29. The Language of Contraception • Bodies say: all that I am is yours, I hold nothing back, I give to you all that I am • Contraception says: I cannot give you all that I am, I am not fully committed to you, not open to sharing my fertility with you, not open to receiving your fertility

30. The Language of Pornography • Our bodies say: I love you, I love your soul, body, and all that you are • Pornography says: I am willing to use your body, I do not care about your heart, soul, or mind

31. Tell the Truth • We should strive to tell the truth with our bodies • In order for us to tell the truth in our sexual activity, we must be married • When we are not married we should tell the truth with our bodies as well

32. Marriage: Love as God Loves • We are meant to love as God loves • Fully • Freely • Faithfully • Fruitfully

33. Full, Free, Faithful, Fruitful • Full – the couple holds nothing back from each other • Free – it is a free gift, no one should be pressured by the other person or by lust • Faithful – the two should be committed to one another • Fruitful – sex should not exclude the procreative aspect

34. Wedding Vows… • (Name) and (Name), have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage? • Will you love and honor each other as man and wife for the rest of your lives? • Will you accept children lovingly from God and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church? • I, (Name), take you, (Name), to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.

35. We can apply the 4 F’s to questions of sexual morality • Premarital sex • Contraception • Same Sex Marriage • Divorce • Masturbation • Lust • Etc…

36. Homosexuality and Natural Law • Nobody ever chooses their sexual orientation • Being homosexual or having homosexual feelings is not a sin because it is not a choice • It is not known if there is a genetic cause of homosexuality • Some personal factors such as child abuse or parenting issues may contribute to homosexual orientation

37. Homosexuality and Natural Law • Natural Law – Set of moral norms we discover when we look at how we are created physically, psychologically, and spiritually • Just because we can do something does not mean we should

38. Church Teaching on Homosexuality • Homosexuals should live a life of chastity as all Christians are called to do • The Church does not decide to prohibit marriage to homosexuals • The Church must follow scripture and natural law and cannot change those things • The Church cannot redefine marriage

39. To Summarize… • The Church does NOT teach that sex is a bad thing • Sex is powerful, and created by God for a purpose • Through sex and marriage, we can make God’s love visible on earth • Sex is a great gift, but we need to treat it with reverence!