THIS IS A Catholic blog. I am a Catholic journalist and author. If you enjoy this Blog, you'll probably enjoy my books - so contact me (via a Comment to this blog) and ask me about them.
Friday, April 20, 2018
On Christpher West, Theology of the Body, and more...
I think some of the concern about Christopher West is not his material, or his enthusiasm, but rather that sometimes the combination can lead to a level of ... vulgarity, perhaps? Inappropriate language in mixed company? Something along the lines of lack of reverence for things that ought to be veiled, even as we try to discuss them forthrightly. I know it will be a challenge for any speaker on the topic, but some are more circumspect than others, and whether the reach of one or the other suffers because of their manner of speaking, it's hard to say.
--Amanda, a US follower who got to hear you speak at an HLI event when I was feeling very lonely while on a semester abroad in London back in 1997, and has sought out your writing ever since (thank you!!)
I have not found Christopher West to speak in any inappropriate way, but I think he has felt that he has sometimes done so, because he wrote a thoughtful and profound piece a little while back which indicated a desire not to repeat the offence. It is certainly difficult to speak of senstive things without sometimes being a little too frank. But I have not heard him name any intimate part of the body, or anything like that.
It's a problem for all speakers on this topic. remember that in the early years of the pro-life movement people sometimes used very biological language which, though accurate, emerged somehow as crude. I think we are steadily learning how to speak in a more delicate way....and St John Paul also gave us a good direction on that.
Thank you agaiun...I hope you continmue to enjoy my writing.
2 comments:
I think some of the concern about Christopher West is not his material, or his enthusiasm, but rather that sometimes the combination can lead to a level of ... vulgarity, perhaps? Inappropriate language in mixed company? Something along the lines of lack of reverence for things that ought to be veiled, even as we try to discuss them forthrightly. I know it will be a challenge for any speaker on the topic, but some are more circumspect than others, and whether the reach of one or the other suffers because of their manner of speaking, it's hard to say.
--Amanda, a US follower who got to hear you speak at an HLI event when I was feeling very lonely while on a semester abroad in London back in 1997, and has sought out your writing ever since (thank you!!)
Thank you for your kind message...
I have not found Christopher West to speak in any inappropriate way, but I think he has felt that he has sometimes done so, because he wrote a thoughtful and profound piece a little while back which indicated a desire not to repeat the offence. It is certainly difficult to speak of senstive things without sometimes being a little too frank. But I have not heard him name any intimate part of the body, or anything like that.
It's a problem for all speakers on this topic. remember that in the early years of the pro-life movement people sometimes used very biological language which, though accurate, emerged somehow as crude. I think we are steadily learning how to speak in a more delicate way....and St John Paul also gave us a good direction on that.
Thank you agaiun...I hope you continmue to enjoy my writing.
Joanna
Post a Comment