Spirituality.

Saints are traditionally depicted with halos around their heads.

As if spirituality is somehow mental.

But true spirituality is of the heart.

And our hearts are in our bodies.

This brings into question the dichotomy between body and spirit.

Love, as the source of Life, is in our body.

So perhaps God's heart of flesh (Ezekiel 11:19)(NRSV) is the more accurate terminology.

Paul's body of death (Romans 7:24)(NRSV) seems inappropriate in this context.

This is a relic of ancient Asceticism which Paul inherited from the Pharisees.

It was never part of Jesus' teachings.


[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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