Human Embodiment: The Human Being as an Embodied Spirit PDF

Christian Education 12 Lesson 3 The Human Being as an Embodied Spirit NASA’s Voyager Satellite (1 and 2) and their Golden Discs How would you describe human beings to aliens? https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status/ https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status/  If you were given the...

Christian Education 12 Lesson 3 The Human Being as an Embodied Spirit NASA’s Voyager Satellite (1 and 2) and their Golden Discs How would you describe human beings to aliens? https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status/ https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status/  If you were given the authority to decide how you’d best introduce humanity to an alien being, how would you describe us? Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Thessalonians 5:23 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. – James 2:26 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Thessalonians 5:23 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. – James 2:26 “Human embodiment refers to the awareness of the experience of our bodies. The experience of our body is the first datum of we have of ourselves, far clearer in consciousness than even knowledge of our persons or of the self.” – Fr. Jose Cruz VP for University and Global Relations (AdMU) Author, A Note on Embodiment What is man? The word man is a general term which is commonly used to refer to the entire human race. Other related terms include humanity, mankind, and humankind. The term human refers to man as a species – homo sapiens or modern human beings. Person is a much complex term which generally refers to a human being granted recognition of certain rights, protection, and responsibilities. What are the different approaches to the study of man throughout history? I. Ancient Greeks: Cosmocentric Approach Popular Proponent(s): Many ancient Greek philosophers anchor their arguments on man’s “observable reality”. The Greeks were concerned with the nature and order of the universe. Man was part of the cosmos, a microcosm of things. So like the universe, man is made up of matter (body) and form (soul). Therefore, man must maintain the balance and unity with the cosmos. What are the different approaches to the study of man throughout history? II. Christian Era: Theocentric Approach Popular Proponent(s): St. Augustine of Hippo, Thomas Aquinas Man and his existence are understood as from the point of view of God, as a creature of God, made in His image and likeness, and therefore the apex of His creation. Upon conception, man is given not only a body but also with a soul and spirit. What are the different approaches to the study of man throughout history? III. Modern Era: Anthropocentric Approach Popular Proponent(s): René Descartes, Immanuel Kant Man and his existence are understood in his own terms. Man took God away from the equation and used human logic and reason to describe the capacity and value of man. What are the different approaches to the study of man throughout history? IV. Post-Modern Era: Existentialism Popular Proponent: Søren Kierkegaard Like the anthropocentric approach, however existentialism differs from it that it emphasizes on the individual and his feelings as opposed to rationalism.  What are the different perspectives on man’s nature? A. Biological Perspective: It considers man as a part of the natural world and a product of evolution. Though closely related to primates, man became the dominant species on this planet by successfully adapting to the environment. Man acquired distinct characteristics like bipedalism, highly developed hands and larger brains. Man, also has the capacity to plan, innovate, have intent, communicate complex languages, develop religion, art, and culture.  What are the different perspectives on man’s nature? B. Psychological Perspective: It places emphasis on human behavior and thought processes in analyzing human nature. Man possesses mental faculties that enable him to possess awareness, a sense of self, and the capacity to perceive and experience. Man’s mental faculties: the psyche (the conscious and unconscious mind), rationality (the state of being reasonable/logical), intelligence (ability to perceive, store, and apply information), and introspection (capacity for self-reflection).  What are the different perspectives on man’s nature? C. Economic Perspective: It focuses on man’s ability to engage in productive activities to meet his wants and needs. Man is perceived to be driven by rationality and self-interest in his desire to possess wealth. Sees man as a productive being. Man’s primary goal is to produce and engage in labor. Economic forces are considered a greater influence on the actions of man than society and culture (e.g. “The Great Resignation” during the Pandemic).  What are the different perspectives on man’s nature? D. Theological Perspective: It considers man as God’s creation. Man is considered to have a special relationship with God, the Creator of all things, being created in God’s image and given immortal spirit. Man’s existence was brought about by God’s purposeful and creative act, and his ultimate destiny is part of a divine plan.  In modern anthropology, man is an embodied spirit who thinks, acts, desires, and speaks. Man, by nature is both a rational and a social being. He is considered a higher form of being, as he is different from the rest of the animals for his ability to think, to reason, to love, to perform moral acts, and can exercise free will. We study the physical origins of man and produced a theory of evolution. We’ve also tried to study the diversity of cultures, behavior, customs, beliefs, and development of human beings, both in the past and present, and predict their possible future.  Man as an Embodied Spirit The Scriptures, on the other hand, tell us that the human body is an essential aspect of human beings during their earthly existence and, following Christ’s return and the resurrection of their body, in the age to come. † Ӿ At Conception: At Death: Body and soul/spirit Soul/Spirit separates are united from the body At the Resurrection: Soul/Spirit unites with an incorruptible body for the rest of eternity  Man as an Embodied Spirit Specifically, the body is the material component of human nature distinct from — but intimately linked with — the immaterial component(s), commonly called the soul and/or the spirit. This biblical understanding of the human person is affirmed by similarities in the different philosophical approaches, which basically deals with the what and the who of the human person (i.e. Tarzan).  Man’s Different Components A human being has two main components: 1. Physical body with all its physical properties 2. Non-bodily components a. The Soul – the “storehouse” of one’s character and behavior b. The Mind – the consciousness component c. The Spirit – the life-giving component and the non-bodily, non- biological, non-physical nature  The Gendered Body As embodied creatures, human beings are created either male or female (Gen 1:26-27). Gender is a fundamental reality of human existence. Unlike secondary characteristics such as hair and eye color, height, and body type, gender is a primary characteristic. God did not create a generic human being and then added on gender; rather, he creates a human being either as a male person or as a female person. Human genderedness means that a man is conscious of and knows himself as a man, he relates to other human beings as a man, and as a man he relates to God (and as a woman, she relates to man and God as a woman). Human beings are perceptively gendered as designed by God. Therefore, the proper reaction is that we should be thankful to God for the gender with which He created us.  One with Many Parts Embodiment also entails that all components (physical parts, history, experiences, knowledge, skills, etc.) that constitute you are united, inseparable from each other. On one hand, you have your body in the same ways that you have possessions, in terms of responsibility, utility, and control. That is why we can say, “I have a body” or “This is my body”. But unlike every other thing that you own, your body is not separable from you, and if you treat it like an object, its being yours vanishes.  One with Many Parts Therefore, your body is not simply an object that you have, your body is your identity. Embodiment grants you the ability to be identified as distinct from the person next to you. However, you are not just your body. Losing a limb and being incapacitated, cutting your hair short, or having mutated body parts do not make you less of a person. For example, our body structure and organs may help us define if we belong to either the male or female population. But belonging to either male or female group does not make you more or less a human person and be treated inhumanely or unjustly.  Man as a Sentient Being One of the unique traits of man is the awareness of self. Sentience is the ability to feel and experience, to perceive the surroundings and react to different stimuli such as pain. But not only that man are to experience and react to the world around us, we are also able to look into ourselves and be aware of our distinctness and uniqueness. We know ourselves through: natural self-awareness, interactions with others, and various elements that change over time.  Man as a Sentient Being Man is also seen as an autonomous being – possessing the ability to determine his or her life through “reasoned free choice”. Man is also a unified individual – that human beings have the inherent capacity to function as a person and is able to achieve his or her capabilities. Man also relates with others – man becomes a person through interactions with other human beings (again, like Tarzan).  Other Aspects of Man’s Embodiment 1. Man’s limitations, possibilities, and transcendence 2. Man being in their environment 3. Scope and limitations of man’s freedom 4. Man’s intersubjectivity 5. Man’s interactions with the society 6. Man’s death and inability to extend one’s life Human Beings as an Embodied Spirt [End]