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Janet Smith on Christopher West

Posted At : May 28, 2009 10:12 AM | Posted By : Anthony Buono
Related Categories: Theology of the Body

Someone just sent me this article by Dr. Janet Smith regarding Christopher West and the latest stirrings about his work. I think you will find this interesting. As always, I am interested in your comments. I will continue to say that I have tremendous respect for those who put themselves out there, as Mr. West has done and continues to do, in order to present to the public something new and in new ways. I have undergone a level of public scrutiny myself regarding my own advice and opinions regarding love, dating, and marriage, so I know how challenging and risky it is to do what Mr. West has done. The writings of John Paul II on "Theology of the Body" are going to take decades to unpack, and Mr. West is to be respected for being a forerunner to bringing these teachings of the Pope to the attention of the world. The subject matter is very delicate, and I think Dr. Smith makes an excellent point about how scholars disagree with their colleagues as a natural aspect of academic life. There is no doubt the teachings of John Paul II's "Theology of the Body" will go through countless disagreements among scholars for a long time to come.

Again, here is the article, and please comment.

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Jaime R's Gravatar Thank you for sharing this, Anthony. I am so glad that someone I respect as much as Janet Smith has stepped forward to defend the work (and defend it quite nicely) of Christopher West. I say AMEN!
# Posted By Jaime R | 5/28/09 11:03 AM
Peter A. Drabbant's Gravatar Hi Anthony,
I'm so grateful Janet Smith is defending Christopher West; we went to school together at the John Paul II Institute, and there is NOTHING I find that was in error regarding JPII"s Theology of the Body in Christopher's explanation of TOB. It is clear, even in Thomist circles (and personalist ones I assume) that "foreplay" between valid married couples is always morally permissible provided this lead to the marital act of intercourse AND that we never lose sight of the person during sexual forplay and treat the beloved as an object.
In His Image,
Peter
# Posted By Peter A. Drabbant | 5/28/09 2:39 PM
Gerard's Gravatar I'm not a fan of T.O.B. myself. I've taken the course and thought it contained dangerous omissions and lacked some foundational perspectives on man as a being created by God for God. JPII was too influenced by Darwinian thought and this affected his entire outlook and theology. Since Darwinism is faith-based yet not Catholic. The Catholicism espoused in T.O.B. has no sure foundation in metaphysics.

Bishop Fulton Sheen was way ahead of JPII and the advantage to his teaching is that it is understandable and doesn't take "centuries" for people to "interpret" it. In fact, the T.O.B. instructor kept including Fulton Sheen in order to fill in the gaps.
# Posted By Gerard | 5/28/09 3:00 PM
Dana's Gravatar Thanks for the update Anthony! I find this controversy fascinating. I'm not an expert on Theology of Body, I've only read one of West's books, and attended one of his talks. Many (including me) are being blessed by his work, and his faithfullness to the Church. If these professors want to start publicly criticizing specific Catholics, I can think of several other people to start with.
# Posted By Dana | 5/28/09 4:16 PM
Amy's Gravatar I agree with Janet that West's audience is different than academia (thank heavens!). We need to look at the fruit and what good comes from his talks. Thank you for your courage, Christopher!
# Posted By Amy | 5/28/09 6:15 PM
Anon. Catholic's Gravatar Prof. Smith's response, to my mind, does not touch upon the substance of Schindler's critique, but seems to pass it off as flippant criticism, which merely pours salt upon C. West's wound. I am somewhat familiar with Prof. Schindler's work as an accomplished theologian and his articles are far from 'flippant' but on the contrary very measured and reasonable. His critique of West is a serious critique and bears a serious tone filled with much regret that such a critque has to be made. In this light it seems to me quite obvious that Prof. Smith takes serious issue with "the lack of footnotes" and on another occasion calls into question Schindler's thorough reading of West and therefore his scholarship. This is a serious claim against one for who is well accomplished and respected. Smith from this point of view spends the majority of her article defending West, endorsing West, and hardly touching upon the substance of Schindler's criticism. For example the point that Schindler makes regarding a "style of speaking" as a matter of theology. Smith in her comments defending West's style does not mention Schindler's critique. All of this being said, Smith has said that this is only a "partial response" to Schindler. I am looking forward to her full response where she touches upon the substance of Schindler's critique which, as he says, bears in some way upon the whole of West's reading of the theology of the body and the worldview that it entails. In short, Schindler's critique deserves some serious thought, which I am quite confident West is doing, as for other's I am not so sure.
# Posted By Anon. Catholic | 5/28/09 8:11 PM
Robin's Gravatar Thank you Anthony for providing a different perspective from Dr. Janet Smith, a well respected woman. I've had enough already with the ultra conservative criticism of West from the Catholic academia. Dr. Janet Smith is right on! I thank Dr. Janet Smith for pointing out that Christopher West is faithful to the magisterium of the Church, and that he bears good fruit.
# Posted By Robin | 5/28/09 8:36 PM
Antigone's Gravatar After reading this article I'd like to give Dr. Smith an enthusiastic high five. :) It's respectful, reasonable, practical, clear, balanced, and spiritually sound. (And expresses my own opinion better than I ever could.) Rock on!
# Posted By Antigone | 5/28/09 10:17 PM
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