Good is the Flesh: Body, Soul and Christian Faith
Morehouse Publishing, 2005. 176 pages. ISBN-10:0819221317
Today, theologians, health professionals, and people in the pews are taking a fresh look at the importance of the body in drawing a person to God. Christians, going back to their roots in the ancient work of the church, are listening to the gospel message of wholeness and applying it in a variety of ways, from caring for the needs of the elderly to taking better care of their own bodies.
Good Is the Flesh brings together essays written by important contemporary thinkers in this field, examining many themes—from “The Theological Roots of Health” to “Christian Spirituality and Illness.” Contributors include theologians James B. Nelson, Bruce Epperly and Elisabeth Moltmann-Wendel. Each chapter includes questions for reflection and study, making this an ideal book for parish study groups, church ministry committees, and the professional development of health ministry professionals.
You can purchase a copy of Good is the Flesh here.
Reviews
“Good Is the Flesh is an exciting exploration of the central mystery of the church–the incarnation, God made flesh. When Christians confess the incarnation, that the infinite Spirit broke into time and space as Jesus, the Christ, making his body the means of our redemption and nourishing us with his spiritual body and blood, then the implications are staggering for the objective preciousness of our bodies. We are total body-spirit persons who live and move and have our being in and through the creative love of God. This book is fresh and poetic, scholarly and prophetic in challenging our docetic faith. Good is the flesh, indeed!”
–The Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Bakken, physician and pastor, and author of The Journey Into God: Healing and Christian Faith
“In bringing together these exquisite essays, poems, and book chapters on the spirituality of the body, Jean Denton has helped bring into focus why the separation of body from mind and spirit has led to a body mechanics approach to health that has failed to stem the modern day epidemics of hypertension, diabetes, and myocardial infarction, and how, assisted by congregational health ministries, getting them back together will lead to the solution.”
–Dave Hilton, MD, Ecumenical Health Ministries
“An embodied alternative to [a] Gnostic understanding of the Christian life … turning our attention to soul and body practices that affirm faithfulness in the midst of life, health, disease, and death.”
–Keith Meador, Professor of the Practice of Pastoral Theology and Medicine at Duke University (Read full review)
“Written specifically for people looking for deeper connections between contemporary expressions of Christianity… and health-related issues, both with regard to the individual and the communal…. Denton’s text, in creative and thoughtful ways … is a spirit-filled book … drawing from texts old and new, personal experiences of the authors, and tapping into God’s call to us.”
–Fr. Kurt Messick, Chaplain (Read full review)
“[This book] is a fine resource to help small groups in Christian communities upgrade their views…. Small groups will especially appreciate Denton’s inclusion of poetic gems…. Since we are so set in our tendency to separate body from soul, sometimes only poetry can move us to change our attitudes.”
–Fredric and Mary Ann Brussat for Spirituality and Practice (read full review)