Caroline Bynum deals with the issues you raise, in her wonderful book _The
Resurrection of the Body_ -- a book about medieval intellectual history
from the second century to the thirteenth (including some attention to
Dante), but with (as I recall) some provocative comments in the
introduction or conclusion about the tenacity, in modern popular culture, of
the idea that we are not who we are without our bodies.
John Coakley
----- Original Message -----
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To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2000 11:38 AM
Subject: Resurrection of the body
> I'd appreciate some clarification on the concept of resurrection of the
body,
> or on the history of this particular affirmation. I've read Ignatius's
> letters, the Apostle's Creed, and 2 Maccabees. I gather this is quite an
> important concept to Catholics, never questioned after the Docetian
heresy.
> Also to Anglicans, as it's mentioned in the service for the burial of the
> dead in the Book of Common Prayer. I'm not sure where other Protestant
sects
> stand.
>
> The main point that has me confused is that it doesn't seem to be
reflected
> in popular belief as much as I'd expect. "Ghosts" are shown in movies as
> transparent ephemerons, and even Dante's "shades" mention their own lack
of
> physical substance. The idea that "souls" live on after death disembodied
> seems to be remarkably widespread.
>
> Why this disparity? If I'm correctly placing the ressurrection of the
body,
> it seems to be far too important a belief to have been "forgotten," and
I'd
> expect it to be reflected in popular culture more than it seems to be.
>
> Thanks for any advisement, suggestions, or clarifications.
>
> pat sloane
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