Thank you for this. Dualism has infiltrated so much of Christianity so negatively, it feels like a lifetime's work to free ourselves of that way of thinking and believing. I find being outside in nature(or even just a view of the sky or a patch of flowery weeds) helps enormously as the oneness of our being is reinforced by the physical sensations we experience along with awe, gratitude for beauty and simple awareness of God's presence in the world.
I know so many folks who feel most spiritually connected in nature! Sometimes I wonder if all this dualism is just trying to take out the competition! Kidding! (or am I?!!)
I’ve been reading and rereading this and trying to articulate my feelings on this. I am not Gen Z- I’m actually a youngish Gen X- but I definitely am reading a lot about “embodiment” mostly because I think “embodiment “ itself is the source of many of our problems. If we weren’t physical structures for example we theoretically wouldn’t have physical needs- essentially the root cause of the climate crisis. The main reason I hate being trapped in a physical body, however, is both universal and more personal. The physical form is the home of shame, embarrassment and disgust- the source of filth like sweat, shit and blood, creases and dents and smells and hair where there shouldn’t be or less hair than should be other places. We can never really become the beautiful enlightened creatures we may envision ourselves to be while we are dragging these rotting flesh sacks through the gutter.
I relate to this quite a bit. But I also wonder at the source of this shame: why should we feel shame for these normal parts of our bodies? Is there a way to return those shame messages back from whence they came?
I used to go to a church that poo-poo’d on yoga and I never understood their demonization of the mind-body-soul connection that happens when practicing yoga.
Yes, kneeling in prayer = totally okay, kneeling in yoga = 😈! But seriously, there are a lot of Christian practices that involved bodies in different ways, why has so much of the American church shunned this side of things?
the idea soul is pretty fascinating. I think you can generally get many people on board with it because I feel like there's appetite for some disembodied entity that is more than our sack of bones (when you start bringing in religion you lose folks). but are souls unique? and, if so, where do they come from?
too much time walking in the english countryside will prompt some bizarre conversations haha
In response to your question about perception of one's soul: I have started to think that the most powerful way that I understand my soul (I do believe we have them) is that our souls use our imagination to speak, to create, to fuse all kinds of worlds we move through in our individual lives into a sense of our "being" in the world. I am probably not explaining it very well. My soul is what reminds me to ask my ego to step out of the driver's seat. It is what helps me to notice and name beauty and meaning.
I appreciate this description of the soul- it is different from my lifelong concept of the soul- that of being a dossier of my personality and interests and general plot line of my life. I have never accessed my soul in my own definition and always believed I was more or less a mistake due to the lack. This definition of a soul I might be able to find.
I'm beginning to understand the soul as what animates us when we are in a moment of play, or creative flow, or deep connection with another part of creation. The soul is somehow both child and sage, and gives us capacity to generate meaning in our unique lives. I befriended my soul and made a home in it for the rest of me when I realized that I had the capacity to both sit in discomfort, uncertainty, and pain, but that I also had the capacity to be enchanted, open to learning, and in awe of life. I hope that isn't too esoteric!
Hmm. In my thinking, not quite highest self or inner parent, but more like what gets deeply moved in a person when they experience freedom, or liberation, or joy, or pain, and where we carry all that experience of being alive.
Ken Wilber is the person who got me started on understanding this idea. He uses a metaphor that the enlightenment (and Roman) dualism sees the body as a horse and the mind as the rider, with the need to “break” the “will” of the body, bringing it under the control of the rider. (This seems to be Paul’s idea too, but I think he’s imported this from stoicism)
Wilber suggests that the integral model is that of a centaur, where the horse and rider are one being. Where we integrate what the enlightenment thought of as “pre-rational” and emotional animal body and “rational” mind, also leaving room for the trans-rational too.
See the books Integral Spirituality and/or Sex, Exology, Spirituality.
That's such a cool metaphor. I need a good Ken Wilbur starter book! I got one on audiobook from the library and had a hard time getting into it. What was your gateway Wilbur?
Oh my. So much I could recommend! I’ve spent the last 45 years teaching and learning the way of embodiment and the art of ensoulment. I came to Christianity as a dancer and my mentors at the Graduate Theological Union supported my quest. I cofounded InterPlay, an active creative approach to unlocking the wisdom of the body. I believe a westerner must have an embodied wisdom practice in order have a theology of Body and Soul. The Art of Ensoulment: A Playbook on How to Create from Body and Soul is my practical theology and map for others. If you’d like to check it out I’d be happy to send you a copy for review. Warning: It changes everything about how we live and treat each other. As a dancer who has navigated church, academia, and the arts I’ve reckoned with the great shunning of the body in Christianity and modernity. it is real, pervasive, and dangerous.
Wow, I've never heard of "ensoulment" before--sounds intriguing! Dancers and athletes have always fascinated me because they seem so connected to how their bodies work, whereas I feel like a floating head most of the time. I'm interested in hearing more about your book! Do you want to send me a private message?
My daughter gave me a copy of Sonia Renee Taylor’s book, The Body is not an Apology. It gave me a better perspective on letting go of many of my “mind over body” attitudes. I am still trying to learn how to tune into my body and treat it better.
Another author that seems more in tune with body and soul is Cole Arthur Riley.
The last book that has informed and changed my ideas of body and soul is “The Immortal Diamond” by Richard Rohr.
I am in my late 60’s and I truly appreciate learning better ways of considering myself and others, my body, my mind, and my soul.
First, I have to say that I get some of my best sermon prompts from your pieces. So thanks for that. Second, this concept of a soul is interesting in that I think that there is a school of thought that has started to see the soul as something that is not separate from the body. Similar to the concept of the Trinity, it's distinct but not separate. It has different attributes but it's still connected to the body in a way that is more than just adjacent.
thanks, Shelly! Yes, I think this is an interesting line of thought. Is the soul part of the body? Is it our sense of self? When I was researching this piece, I came across discussion of the Greek word "psyche" which seems to be translated many different ways across the New Testament.
Thank you for this. Dualism has infiltrated so much of Christianity so negatively, it feels like a lifetime's work to free ourselves of that way of thinking and believing. I find being outside in nature(or even just a view of the sky or a patch of flowery weeds) helps enormously as the oneness of our being is reinforced by the physical sensations we experience along with awe, gratitude for beauty and simple awareness of God's presence in the world.
I know so many folks who feel most spiritually connected in nature! Sometimes I wonder if all this dualism is just trying to take out the competition! Kidding! (or am I?!!)
I’ve been reading and rereading this and trying to articulate my feelings on this. I am not Gen Z- I’m actually a youngish Gen X- but I definitely am reading a lot about “embodiment” mostly because I think “embodiment “ itself is the source of many of our problems. If we weren’t physical structures for example we theoretically wouldn’t have physical needs- essentially the root cause of the climate crisis. The main reason I hate being trapped in a physical body, however, is both universal and more personal. The physical form is the home of shame, embarrassment and disgust- the source of filth like sweat, shit and blood, creases and dents and smells and hair where there shouldn’t be or less hair than should be other places. We can never really become the beautiful enlightened creatures we may envision ourselves to be while we are dragging these rotting flesh sacks through the gutter.
I relate to this quite a bit. But I also wonder at the source of this shame: why should we feel shame for these normal parts of our bodies? Is there a way to return those shame messages back from whence they came?
I used to go to a church that poo-poo’d on yoga and I never understood their demonization of the mind-body-soul connection that happens when practicing yoga.
Yes, kneeling in prayer = totally okay, kneeling in yoga = 😈! But seriously, there are a lot of Christian practices that involved bodies in different ways, why has so much of the American church shunned this side of things?
the idea soul is pretty fascinating. I think you can generally get many people on board with it because I feel like there's appetite for some disembodied entity that is more than our sack of bones (when you start bringing in religion you lose folks). but are souls unique? and, if so, where do they come from?
too much time walking in the english countryside will prompt some bizarre conversations haha
hahaha, these are the perfect kinds of discussions for long walks!
Love this! The "soul over body" hierarchy has also been used to justify patriarchal hierarchy, as (certain) men associated women with flesh...
Also I'd add My Grandmother's Hands to the recs!
Thanks, Liz, I've heard good things about MGH, but haven't read it yet!
In response to your question about perception of one's soul: I have started to think that the most powerful way that I understand my soul (I do believe we have them) is that our souls use our imagination to speak, to create, to fuse all kinds of worlds we move through in our individual lives into a sense of our "being" in the world. I am probably not explaining it very well. My soul is what reminds me to ask my ego to step out of the driver's seat. It is what helps me to notice and name beauty and meaning.
I appreciate this description of the soul- it is different from my lifelong concept of the soul- that of being a dossier of my personality and interests and general plot line of my life. I have never accessed my soul in my own definition and always believed I was more or less a mistake due to the lack. This definition of a soul I might be able to find.
I'm beginning to understand the soul as what animates us when we are in a moment of play, or creative flow, or deep connection with another part of creation. The soul is somehow both child and sage, and gives us capacity to generate meaning in our unique lives. I befriended my soul and made a home in it for the rest of me when I realized that I had the capacity to both sit in discomfort, uncertainty, and pain, but that I also had the capacity to be enchanted, open to learning, and in awe of life. I hope that isn't too esoteric!
Hmm. In my thinking, not quite highest self or inner parent, but more like what gets deeply moved in a person when they experience freedom, or liberation, or joy, or pain, and where we carry all that experience of being alive.
Interesting! I'm going to ponder that one.
So maybe the soul is like your "highest self" or "inner loving parent" to borrow some therapy speak?
Ken Wilber is the person who got me started on understanding this idea. He uses a metaphor that the enlightenment (and Roman) dualism sees the body as a horse and the mind as the rider, with the need to “break” the “will” of the body, bringing it under the control of the rider. (This seems to be Paul’s idea too, but I think he’s imported this from stoicism)
Wilber suggests that the integral model is that of a centaur, where the horse and rider are one being. Where we integrate what the enlightenment thought of as “pre-rational” and emotional animal body and “rational” mind, also leaving room for the trans-rational too.
See the books Integral Spirituality and/or Sex, Exology, Spirituality.
That's such a cool metaphor. I need a good Ken Wilbur starter book! I got one on audiobook from the library and had a hard time getting into it. What was your gateway Wilbur?
Oh my. So much I could recommend! I’ve spent the last 45 years teaching and learning the way of embodiment and the art of ensoulment. I came to Christianity as a dancer and my mentors at the Graduate Theological Union supported my quest. I cofounded InterPlay, an active creative approach to unlocking the wisdom of the body. I believe a westerner must have an embodied wisdom practice in order have a theology of Body and Soul. The Art of Ensoulment: A Playbook on How to Create from Body and Soul is my practical theology and map for others. If you’d like to check it out I’d be happy to send you a copy for review. Warning: It changes everything about how we live and treat each other. As a dancer who has navigated church, academia, and the arts I’ve reckoned with the great shunning of the body in Christianity and modernity. it is real, pervasive, and dangerous.
Wow, I've never heard of "ensoulment" before--sounds intriguing! Dancers and athletes have always fascinated me because they seem so connected to how their bodies work, whereas I feel like a floating head most of the time. I'm interested in hearing more about your book! Do you want to send me a private message?
My daughter gave me a copy of Sonia Renee Taylor’s book, The Body is not an Apology. It gave me a better perspective on letting go of many of my “mind over body” attitudes. I am still trying to learn how to tune into my body and treat it better.
Another author that seems more in tune with body and soul is Cole Arthur Riley.
The last book that has informed and changed my ideas of body and soul is “The Immortal Diamond” by Richard Rohr.
I am in my late 60’s and I truly appreciate learning better ways of considering myself and others, my body, my mind, and my soul.
Thanks for writing ❤️.
thanks for these great recs, Linda! Adding them to my TBR list...
First, I have to say that I get some of my best sermon prompts from your pieces. So thanks for that. Second, this concept of a soul is interesting in that I think that there is a school of thought that has started to see the soul as something that is not separate from the body. Similar to the concept of the Trinity, it's distinct but not separate. It has different attributes but it's still connected to the body in a way that is more than just adjacent.
thanks, Shelly! Yes, I think this is an interesting line of thought. Is the soul part of the body? Is it our sense of self? When I was researching this piece, I came across discussion of the Greek word "psyche" which seems to be translated many different ways across the New Testament.