theology of the body genesis

8/14/2019 Theology of the Body Genesis

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Theology of the body

Catechesis on the book ofGenesis

Robert [email protected]


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Essential Points of Genesis

We are made in the image andlikeness of God (Genesis 1:26-7)

God created male and femaleFirst commandment of God to man,Be fruitful and multiply

God gives man dominion over theearth

God created out of nothing.


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On Imaging God in thecommunion of Persons

Formed in the image of God, asloinasmuch as they form a true

communion of persons, the firstman and the first woman mustconstitute the beginning and themodel of that communion for all

men and women, who, in anyperiod, are united so intimately tobe one flesh. (Nov 21, 1979)


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On Imaging God in thecommunion of persons

Man becomes the image of God not so much inthe moment of solitude as in the moment ofcommunion. Right from the beginning, He is

not only an image in which the solitude of aperson who rules the world is reflected, but also, and essentially, an image of an inscrutabledivine communion of persons. (Nov 14, 1979).


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God saw everything that he had made,and behold, it was very good. (Gn 1:31)

They were Naked without shame (Gn 2)Original Innocence outside the sphereof knowledge between good and evil.


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Naked without shame

According to this passage, the man andwoman saw themselves, as it were,through the mystery of creation. They saw

themselves in this way, before knowingthat they were naked They see andknow each other with all the peace of theinterior gaze, which creates precisely the

fullness of the intimacy of persons. (Nov14, 1979)


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Further Points of Genesis

Gaudium et Spes n. 24: Man The onlycreature on earth that God has wanted forits own sake.

Man, with intellect and will, can formrelationship of communion, solidarity andself giving.

Man can enter relationship of knowledge

and love of God.God created the human soul.

Catholics can believe in evolution.


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Two accounts of creation:

Elohist Genesis 1

Yahwist Genesis 2Genesis 2:18 It is not good that manshould be alone- I will make him ahelper fit for him.

Self consciousness of man.Creation is a gift to man.


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The Mystery of the tree ofknowledge

You may freely eat of every treein the garden, but of the tree of

the knowledge of good and evilyou shall not eat, for in the daythat you eat of it you shall die.

(Gn 2:16-7).


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Genesis 2

Bone of my bone, flesh of myflesh Gn 2:23.

Adam rejoices in the discovery ofwoman.

Two become one flesh Gn 2:24

Conjugal act a powerful bondestablished by the creator.


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Nuptial meaning of thebody

Man can fully discover his trueself only in a sincere giving of

himself. GS 24Disinterested love


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Personalistic Norm

The principle that recognizes thatthe only proper and adequate

attitude toward human persons islove.

The opposite of love is to use

someone as a means to an end.


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The Fall

Eve was tricked into questioning thegenerosity and motives of God. Shethought she was missing out on

something. Adam did nothing to defendor protect her.

Satan convinced them that if God hadhis way, they would live miserable lives.

Adam and Eve lacked trust in God.

To what extent do we live out thisoriginal lie today?


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On Shame

Man is ashamed of his body because oflust. In fact, he is ashamed not so muchof his body as precisely of lust. He is

ashamed of his body owing to lust. He isashamed of his body owing to that stateof his spirit to which theology andpsychology give the same name: desire

or lust, although with a meaning that isnot quite the same. (May 28, 1980).

Shame is absorbed by Love.


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everything in Genesis as literallytrue?

Following the contemporary philosophyof religion and that of language, it canbe said that the language in question isa mythical one. In this case the termmyth does not designate a fabulouscontent, but merely an archaic way of

expressing a deeper content. (Nov 7,1979).

Therefore, the answer is negative.


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theology of the body genesis

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