God of Thinness

I think that Mary Louise Bringle has given the modern theological community a strong challenge concerning our concepts of health, appearance, and spirituality.I appreciate her examination of Biblical texts that discuss feasting, gluttony, and outward appearance. Bringle claims to have struggled with bulemia and anorexia. Her personal stories of binging, guilt, and shame are a powerful tool for helping the minister understand the grip that this problem has on many young women, and men. Her challenge to churches and ministers to avoid equating outward appearance with spirituality are needed in today's society. Many Christians feel guilt and shame because American Christianity has adopted a "Greek" mindset concerning the appearance of the body as indicative of one's spiritual character. Bringle opposes this and gives examples of Christians who carry this shame in many churches today.I appreciated her discussion of gluttony and body size. She gives examples of Biblical texts and theologians (Aquinas who was a large man) and explains that gluttony has no relation to body size.Bringle indicates that this mindset may actually increase the fear, control, and guilt that many bulemics and anorexics experience in their struggle to overcome this problem. If the spiritual community desires to help women with this guilt, we need to rethink our outward view of people.As a minister I feel that this book calls the spiritual community to respect all people, regardless of outward appearance, as children of God. It challenges us to avoid the danger of equating body size and build with one's spirituality.