Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body Paperback – July 31, 2006

Pope John Paul II's "Man and Woman He Created Them," popularly known as "A Theology of the Body" may be the most important theological work of the 20th century. I say this because John Paul II is not only a first-rate theologian but also because "Theology of the Body" strikes at the heart of a series of related issues that desperately need addressing today. "Theology of the Body" begins with the Pope's Trinitarianism, a fundamental doctrine that Christians often don't know what to do with. At the heart of his thinking, and all true Christian thinking, is God's self-giving love that is rooted in the Trinity. "Theology of the Body" also explores the nature of what it means to be human and made in the image of God. The book is titled "Man and Woman He Created Them" because it is especially in the relationship between a man and his wife that the relational and loving identity of God is revealed in humanity. Throughout, the Pope reaffirms the essential goodness of the human body."Theology of the Body" is thus a profound theological work that I highly recommend to pastors, teachers, and educated laymen. Be aware: it's not an easy read! But a patient and thoughtful reading of "Theology of the Body" will, in time, become a blessing to the reader. One of the reasons it remains such a timely work is that it confronts some of the Gnostic tendencies in the Church today that spiritualize things and tend to downplay the significance and basic goodness of the body. At a time when humanistic and distorted views of human sexuality and identity abound, "Theology of the Body" provides an intelligent and profound rationale for the biblical, Christian meaning of sex, the body, and being made in the image of God.While Protestants may think that a work written by a Pope would be too Roman Catholic for them, in reality "Theology of the Body" is a work for the whole Church and all Christians. The book is filled with profound and rare insight into who God is and who man is. It will help to complete the theology of most Christian readers and also has important practical implications.Because the book was originally an extended series of lectures at times it can be unwieldy and difficult to comprehend. Sometimes it's difficult to understand what the Pope means in certain sections, since his writing is often dense. In spite of the difficulty in reading, it's well worth the effort. Because of the depth and difficulty of the work, some have found it beneficial to also read "Theology of the Body for Beginners" by Christopher West.

St. Pope John Paul II may have been a polymath, but his approach to explaining the metaphysical relationship of man and the human condition as it relates to theology and our relationship with God make this a great read!

This book is a work of art, in which John Paul II, helps one to come to understand God’s design for the human person and the truth to which all mankind is called to live, in relation to God. It is a beautiful work that helps one to understand more deeply a human anthropology, in line with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

I'll never forget the way I first heard the Theology of the Body. I was a brand-new sister, having made my first vows the year Pope John Paul II was elected. My community used to read a snippet or two from the Papal Audience talks right after breakfast, before we scattered to the four winds in carrying out the day's mission. Bit by bit, as we made our way through an unusual series of meditations on the book of Genesis, I found that the whole theme of "gift" was beginning to resound within me. It was like a new wine being poured into the wineskin of the Church.Whatever our vocation, we are each called to be a "person-gift," as the Persons of the Trinity are "gift," given over unreservedly, and unreservedly received. In a vague way, even though I was still very young (!), I realized that something extraordinary was going to come from these talks, and that it would mean great things above all for women.It took twenty years for that message to begin to seep into the language of our Church culture, but now small groups of young adults and couples are beginning to meet in homes and conferences to ponder John Paul's vast, fully Christian vision of humanity. I've used the Theology of the Body to present the essence of the vow of chastity to our novices and junior sisters, and I keep looking for ways to introduce it to others, especially to people who find themselves struggling to understand the Church's teaching in all those areas that touch on our vocation to love. The beauty of its truth is hard to resist.This new and carefully researched translation offers more than just a consistent translation of key terms: previously unpublished units came to light; the Pope's original title and subtitles have been added; the whole content appears in the order in which the Pope meant for it to be covered. Yes, Dr. Waldstein's careful and scholarly introduction can be a bit overwhelming, but this book is worth taking the time simply to sit with.That's what you do with beauty anyway.