How Reading Love Thy Body by Nancy Pearcey Has Influenced My Thinking
Nancy Pearcey’s book “Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality” explores the complex topics of the nature of the human body, its ethical context, and its cultural connotation. It is based on a Christian worldview and contrasts the standard and religious definitions and concepts related to integrity, sexuality, and anatomy. The reading impacted my perception of self and has generated a transition in specific thought patterns regarding how people perceive their physical selves.
One of the ideas that the author emphasizes is the biblical overview of a human as a holistic being (Pearcey 2019). Hence, in secular dialogue, the person is often distanced from the body, which becomes a tool to enhance or minimize the experience.
A Suggestion for Addressing the Issues in Love Thy Body in Personal Self-Care
Like Pearcey’s viewpoint, I realized that I often separate the body from the mind. However, as the author logically states, one’s physical embodiment participates in the fulfillment and the purpose of the person’s existence (Pearcey 2019). Religion acknowledges that the matter is intrinsically linked to the substance as the two operate uniformly. However, another concept I reflected upon during the reading is the balance between being aware of the connection between body and mind while not emphasizing the importance of concepts such as appearance. Self-acceptance is the only way to reach the harmony between self-image and dignity.
Concerning self-care, the book’s content can be translated as caring for the body as it is a gift from God to be cherished. This implies adherence to a healthy lifestyle and avoiding habits that destroy health. A similar connotation can be applied when caring for others, such as encouragement or motivation to not engage in inherently negative actions for one’s dignity. As a suggestion to a fellow student, I would recommend further developing the idea of a balance between the connection between the material embodiment and the spiritual one.
References
Pearcey, N. (2019). Love thy body: Answering hard questions about life and sexuality. Baker Books.