Gnostic bodies
Nothing seems as anti-gnostic as the contemporary obsession with bodily perfection. We can remold our bodies in any way we want - tuck in here, enhance there, replant hair and remold biceps, remove wrinkles and signs of aging.
In fact, this obsession is completely gnostic. It attempts to side-step the effects of time. We want to grow old without any bodily traces of aging.
And we break the links that bind our actions to bodily consequences. Time was when gluttony unavoidably marked the body; we aspire to be trim and slim gluttons.
For all our carnality, we don’t really like bodies.
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
In Medias Res
Your weekly digest for all things Theopolis.