Jesus, not Plato

To continue with my reflections on Bishop Robinson's book I'd like to offer the following important quote:

“Paul and his Greek and Persian contemporaries were also influenced by a popular notion from which most of the Western world still opereates—an idea that would have been foreign to the Hebrew mind and to Jesus—the notion of a mind/body dualism asserting that matters of the mind and soul were noble and striving for the good and perfect, while matters of the body were crude and obscene and inherently shallow, if not evil...Seeing the body, and especially sexuality, in this corrupting way is perhaps the most powerful source of our Pandora’s-Box attitude toward sex” (33).

With this statement, Bishop Robinson reminds us of the crucial truth that early on in the history of Christianity the influence of Greek philosophy came to hold theological sway in the church. As articulated in the philosophy of Plato, this line of thought suggested a fundamental mind/body split in which things pertaining to the mind are good and those related to the body bad. This school of philosophy actually has nothing to do with the life and teachings of Christ and therefore, though perhaps one might argue that it was useful for a time, there is no need to hold to this view of human beings or creation any longer.

Instead, I believe what is needed in the church is a reflective, intelligent return to the historical and biblical roots of the Judeo-Christian tradition, in which God's gift of sexuality is both respected and appreciated as good, holy and beautiful. In doing so we have the potential to help our sisters and brothers, whether gay or straight, regain a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the gift of sexuality in their lives.

Peace,
Padre Chuck