Is Theology of the Body Fundamental Theology? On the Nature of Theology of the Body as a Discipline of Knowledge

Abstract

This paper elaborates upon the status of the Theology of the Body (TOB) among the philosoph- ical and theological disciplines. The TOB is a relevant part of ecclesiastical reflection due to the modern cultural context. The genesis of the TOB is deeply rooted in social, political and econo- mic development of the Western civilization after the Enlightenment and Positivism of the 19th c. The TOB is a part of theology which is a valid and necessary part of the human knowledge. The justification for the TOB comes from its subject matter, which is the human body. The human body transcends physical reality through its actions and points towards the invisible realm of the soul and morality. The TOB needs to be recognized as one of the ontological disciplines rather than a deontological one, only. The TOB can be categorized as a part of fundamental theology within systematic theology.