Cinnabon and the Beatific Vision | ACW126

Can a woman morally learn to pole dance if her intentions are good? When is using NFP to avoid pregnancy licit, and when is it being used with a contraceptive attitude? How is the body the only thing capable of making visible what is invisible?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

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Patron Question:
There is a documentary that was recently added to Netflix called, "Strip Down, Rise Up." I have not seen it, but from the description and the reviews I have read, it is about a group of women who take an intensive class on pole dancing to "reclaim their sexuality" and to help them use their bodies as an art form to heal from wounds of their past that are related to their bodies and minds. Can a woman morally learn to pole dance if her intentions are good?

Question 2:
When is using NFP to avoid pregnancy licit, and when is it being used with a contraceptive attitude? It seems there is no clear answer. Some Catholics say it must be a grave situation (such as losing your job, or medical reason), while some say it's fine to use NFP to avoid pregnancy for the first few years of marriage to enjoy your time together before having kids, or simply to space children out to the ideal 2-3 years. I imagine the answer is somewhere in the middle, but where exactly do we draw the line?

Qestion 3:
I don't understand the thesis statement of Theology of the Body. How is the body the only thing capable of making visible what is invisible? Christopher always talks about how other things (i.e. a Cinnabon, a good beer) are sacraments of invisible realities, or foretastes of the beatific vision. Can you please explain how the body is the only thing capable of making visible invisible divine realities?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

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Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.