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Three (Incorrect) Views of the Body
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Understanding our body’s value, meaning, and purpose has become increasingly challenging in a world with varying perspectives on almost every subject. These perspectives not only influence our individual beliefs but also shape society’s mindset as a whole. In this lesson, Dr. Jonathan Morgan presented three prevalent but misguided views of the body and their detrimental effects on our understanding of self-worth.
The Obsessive View (or Body Idolatry)
This perspective is when a person is obsessed with his or her body and appearance. A person may tie his or her value to physical appearance. The more conventionally attractive or fit you are, the higher your perceived worth.
It’s no surprise that this dynamic has thrived in the age of media, where body images dominate screens, billboards, and social platforms. These images can create unrealistic standards, leading many to invest vast amounts of time, energy, and money in pursuit of the “perfect” physique. This sort of obsession not only detracts from understanding the deeper aspects of our identity but also perpetuates the idea that our self-worth is dependent on outward appearance.
The Hedonistic View
Hedonism puts pleasure as the main goal of living. When applied to our bodies, hedonism primarily uses the body as a tool or instrument to attain pleasure. Whether indulging in food, endlessly pursuing sex, or constantly pursuing physical pleasure in some other way, this approach effectively sees the body’s value in gratification. It prioritizes fleeting pleasure over long-term well-being.
The “Gnostic” View
The Gnostics were groups of Jewish and Christian thinkers in the late first century and beyond who basically saw the body and material world as intrinsically evil. Some went so far as to say that the God of the Old Testament was not the same God as the Father of Jesus but instead an evil creator god. Some people today consider the current state of their body to be wrong or misaligned, effectively calling it evil.
In this same vein, there are many who may not exactly consider their bodies evil but severely undervalue them. They may follow the old Greek view that the body was the prison house of the soul. They might see their true self or spirit as trapped within this imperfect shell, with the ultimate goal being to transcend or escape this physical existence.
Each of these views, while reflecting aspects of our culture today, represents a faulty understanding of the body’s significance. They are “reductionistic,” meaning that they reduce our selves to something less than they are. They limit our sense of self-worth to mere physical appearance, momentary pleasures, or a desire to escape physicality.
The danger lies not just in adopting these perspectives but in their potential implications. They can lead to incredibly unhealthy living. Some harm themselves because they cannot stand their bodies. Others might engage in incredibly unhealthy lifestyles, leading to obesity or devastated relationships. One might harm one’s own body in desperation to find a body that they feel more at home with. When our self-worth is so closely tied to these limited views, it can result in a cycle of dissatisfaction, always seeking yet never truly finding meaning or contentment.
Our bodies are part of our identities, but they are not all of our identities. In particular, how we look should not be the determining factor in our thinking about ourselves. Similarly, God created pleasure, but physical pleasure should never be the central driving force of our lives – that role belongs to God. Finally, our bodies are not a cage from which we want to escape or of which we are ashamed. Surrender whatever body you have to God as a vessel for his purposes.