Jenni and I went to see Body Worlds, the museum exhibit of plastinated human corpses in various stages of dissection. I went with some trepidation, not because I get grossed out by that sort of thing (I don't--I like to watch operations on TV and stuff), but because I wasn't sure about the ethics of it all. There seemed to be a possibility that these images of God were being desecrated in the way they were put on display.
I didn't get that from the exhibit at all. What I saw was a presentation of how far "fearfully and wondefully made" really goes. The complexity of the design of our bodies is staggering.
Some have had a problem with this display based on the Law of God. There are all kinds of prohibitions regarding dead things and ceremonial cleanliness. But that principle, sanctification or holiness, is lived out in a different way under the New Covenant. We are set apart not by what we don't touch or don't eat, but rather by our love, and by the Holy Ghost within us. So the Law is the Law, but as the Apostles teach us the ceremonial types and shadows have given way to the antitype, and we obey in a different manner.
Truth be told, I was more offended by some of the quotations hung on banners around the display. All kinds of humanistic bullcrap by the likes of Kant, Nietzsche, Epikurus...though they also included some Truth by quoting King David in the Psalms.
Overall, what is told about the body by the exhibit itself is true, and IMO God is glorified in it.
1 comment:
Delicate subject matter, different circumstances.
I've seen some pictures of nicely made lampshades and wallets from a different epoch of German history.
The Chinese are doing something similar to this exhibit... but without the niceties of asking permission, apparently.
The Incarnation shows us the sacredness of Flesh. I remain unconvinced that this exhibit doesn't violate that sacredness.
Peace.
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