We Are More Than Bodies
The person I’m about to talk about I’ve mentioned before, but this subject of identity politics calls for another mention. A little over ten years ago I sat at Skyline Chili, which is a chain restaurant in Ohio, and listened to one of the most fascinating stories I had ever heard. I had a notebook, my phone was recording, and a plate of chili spaghetti sat in front of me that I couldn’t care less about at that moment. As I leaned forward listening to this 70ish-year-old gentleman share his story of dying and visiting the other side I was debating its validity. I had read his book, and seen him on Unsolved Mysteries, TBN, Oprah, and YouTube, but I wanted to sit with him in person and find out myself if he believed his near-death experience happened or if he was just selling books.[i]
There is so much to my friend’s otherworldly story, but what stands out that I feel applies to Kenan Malik’s book dealing with an extremely complex subject, Not So Black and White, is his realization that he was not his body. Throughout our readings, like The Identity Trap, The Cancelling of the American Mind,[ii] and Identity,[iii] there seems to be a growing concern with the division being created when Western Americans overidentify with their “categories”. Without oversimplifying this issue, I see this as a product of the Western world losing its theological and philosophical footing. Yascha Monk mentions this in The Identity Trap when he says, “A surprisingly wide and varied set of political and religious traditions give their adherents reasons to view with deep skepticism any worldview that puts group identities like race and ethnicity at its moral and epistemological center. Philosophical liberals should welcome these allies with open arms.”[iv]
Before Monk warns against revolving our understanding and worldviews around identity groups he quotes Scripture from Genesis 1:27 concerning “in the image of God he created them”, and New Testament teachings from Paul in Galatians 3:28 who says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” When our identity, whether we are conservative, liberal, or moderate, is grounded in a view of ourselves or others as primarily skin color, genitals, hormones, ethnicity, and social status we lose a common bond and forfeit the ground we could all be standing on together as human souls.
I had never quite felt as strongly about this theological basis of universalism as much until I read Tom Holland’s book, Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind.[v] Holland assumed, as an agnostic historian from Oxford and a product of the Enlightenment, that human rights and universal dignity were the result of reason formulated during the modern period, (I would be interested to see Holland and Malik have a conversation). However, he claims his assumptions were wrong as he investigated history. He reluctantly admits that the Western belief system that all humans have rights and inherent dignity ultimately derives from the Jewish tradition expressed in Genesis that claims humanity was made in God’s image.
Holland claims this theological truth, regardless of whether one views the story as literal or ancient mythology, is the basis for human rights. Without that belief system, humanity has nothing to stand on when one group says to another, “Move out of the way, we are stronger and better than you are.” He goes on to make a compelling historical case for what has happened when humanity, even the Christians who have promoted this belief, do not live from this theological basis. Division, suffering, murder, slavery, and exclusion are inevitably the result of losing this ideological foundation. He concludes that he, and many others who resist or dismiss the faith, are more “Christian” than they may realize.
Kenan Malik, by quoting Franz Fanon, makes a case of what can happen when a person chooses to build from something immaterial over something “material” like an epidermis when shaping personal identity. Although Franz Fanon is a complex character and even contradictory, he makes some valuable points when he says, “Every time a man has said no to an attempt to subjugate his fellows, I have felt solidarity with his act. In no way should I derive my basic purpose from the past of the peoples of color.”[vi]I quote this, not to dismiss our heritage, race, or ethnicity, but acknowledge the common theme that emerges in our reading material that we need healthier theologies, practices, and values in the West that promote unity rather than division. This is certainly a “wicked problem”, but one that I think we can advance in our respective churches or organizations.[vii] How?
For my part in this “wicked problem” I hope to introduce more quality education, human stories, healthier theologies, critical thinking, and vertical learning within my ministry context. Some may say, the church is no place for some of that that, but I adamantly disagree. We are realizing that society both right and left, is encouraging us to quickly identify as black, brown, white, male, female, non-binary, gay, straight, etc. without acknowledging that there is something about us that is deeper than our physical categories.
As Kenan discussed the new identity politics, which is not new, just a different form which encourages a hyper fixation on race, gender, sex, and sexuality, I couldn’t help but think of not only the above near-death story, but multiple others I’ve heard over the years who now hold a new view of human nature that transcends these limited categories. Back to the initial story.
While my interviewee recalled his memories of fighting for his life in a French hospital, he remembers the moment he was standing in his hospital room, looking down at his body and thinking, “That looks like me dow
n there, but I’m up here.” For those of us who are skeptical Christians, it may be helpful to remember one of Paul’s own experiences of what he claims in 2 Corinthians 2:12, “I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows.”
If Paul claimed to have possibly left his body and experienced “the third heaven”, then it leaves us to conclude that something about us could be immaterial and eternal. As Westerners who live in post-modern world, highly influenced by the Enlightenment, which Malik points out throughout his book, we might be tempted to disregard theological assumptions about humans having “a soul” as ancient superstition from Plato’s day of dualism.[viii] However, without this theological basis, humans are no more valuable or dignified than fungus. We would have to force meaning in ourselves. Aayan Hirsi Ali, a former atheist and Harvard professor who became Christian points this out in a recent interview.[ix] If there is something deeper in us, like our faith tradition claims and near-death experiences hold, then we are continuing to overidentify ourselves, both conservative and liberal, with social, racial, sexual, and gender identities that are ultimately not who we are as souls. Although I believe our bodies are sacred and precious creations, we are more than that.
[i] Malik, Kenan. Not so Black and White: A History of Race from White Supremacy to Identity Politics. London: Hurst & Company, 2023.
[ii] Lukianoff, Greg, and Rikki Schlott. The Canceling of the American Mind: Cancel Culture Undermines Trust, Destroys Institutions, and Threatens Us All–but There Is a Solution, (New York: Simon and Schuster, 2023),
[iii] Fukuyama, Francis. Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2018.
[iv] Mounk, Yascha. The Identity Trap: A Story of Ideas and Power in Our Time. New York: Penguin Press, 2023, 280.
[v] Holland, Tom. Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind. Paperback edition. London: ABACUS, 2020.
[vi] Malik, Not so Black and White, 168.
[vii] Bentley, Joseph|Toth, Michael, Phd. Exploring Wicked Problems: What They Are And Why They Are Important. Archway Publishing, 2020, 55.
[viii] Plato. The Dialogues of Plato: Phaedrus. Translated by Benjamin Jowett. Vol. 7. 54 vols. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago, 1952.
[ix] “Ayaan Hirsi Ali: From New Atheist to Christian Convert.” YouTube, November 21, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B6oLMrHQhs.
About the Author
Adam Harris
I am currently the Associate Pastor at a church called Godwhy in Hendersonville, TN near Nashville. We love questions and love people even more. Our faith community embraces God and education wholeheartedly. I graduated from Oral Roberts University for undergrad and Vanderbilt for my masters. I teach historical critical Biblical studies at my church to help our community through their questions and ultimately deepen their faith. I love research, writing, learning, and teaching. I oversee our staff and leadership development. Before being at Godwhy I worked as a regional sales coach and director for Anytime Fitness. I've been married for over 13 years to my best friend and we have two amazing boys that keep us busy.12 responses to “We Are More Than Bodies”
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Hi Adam,
Such an interesting perspective. I harkened back to Francis Fukuyama. He understands that there needs to be a balance, in order to rectify social injustices. However he focuses on the cultivation of a shared identity (We the people?). Otherwise we are doomed to continuing conflict.
Shalom….
Thanks for mentioning “shared identities” that is the ticket. That is something that is being lost in identity politics. We need some theological (for faith folks) and values-driven (for secular folks) shared identities to move us away from our tribal default setting.
Adam, when you wrote about the uniqueness of the soul and it representing what we are more than…more than what we tend to over-identify ourselves in…my mind went back to a couple of things. First, Eve Poole’s junk code in Robot Souls — the essence of the human experience that would be seemingly impossible to code into A.I.; I also wondered… how would the things you highlighted — social, racial, sexual, and gender identities — play out if we lived as souls being re-fashioned in the image of Christ? It would seem those identities would take their rightful place (I’ve heard the song “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” remade to state “And the things of earth will ‘take their rightful place'” instead of stating “will grow strangely dim”). This seems to mean that everything…including our identities…are not unimportant, but are instead reframed with Christ as center. I likened your thought on soul to that which is who we are, and as Christians “in Christ.” Your post points in that direction. Great post, Adam.
Thanks for your response Travis, I hope this post didn’t come across as “our physical identities hold no value”. Part of why I brought voices in from the “Near Death Experience” community, many of which are Christians, pastors, and missionaries, is that they have a radical shift in priorities and identity when they “return” that I think is interesting and also resonates with Paul’s ideas, “there is no longer Jew or Greek…” especially in light of his “otherworldly” or “out of body” experience he seemed to have. The people I’ve researched and spoken with are quick to bypass the “outward appearance” and put less of an emphasis on “physical and racial categories” than they previously did before their experience. I just see part of the issues and divisions at hand is an “overidentification” with certain aspects of ourselves. Hopefully my posts is pointing to more of a “shared identity” that Fukuyama mentions in his book!
I enjoyed reading your post, Adam. You quote Holland as saying, “Without that belief system, humanity has nothing to stand on when one group says to another, “Move out of the way, we are stronger and better than you are.” This reminds me of Petrusek’s hierarchy of knowledge and how our theology (including an atheist’s unbelief in God) ultimately guides everything else we know or do. Have you found this premise working its way into your conversations with those you pastor? What about with non-Christians?
Thanks Kim, what is fascinating about Holland’s book is that one of his big ideas is that Christian theology is ingrained into EVERYONE in the Western world. Regardless if they are a confessional Christian or not. He believes that human rights, racial equality, social security, hospitals, equal rights for women, etc. all ultimately stem from the Judeo-Christian tradition and faith. He is claiming this as someone who is agnostic as well. There are confessing Christians and there are non-confessing “Christians” who are unaware that they ultimately have Christian values and conscience and would not want to live in a world without these belief systems.
He initially believed values like, helping the weak and poor, human rights, the inherent value of all people, were “universal” but began realizing they are very Jewish and Christian when comparing them to other parts of the world and history. The Roman Empire, Persia, and Germany being some. Without this theology “humans are made in the image of God” these beliefs have no foundation. It’s an interesting read!
Thanks Adam…if I am understanding your correctly, I would heartedly agree with your assertion that the ‘divine stamp’ or image of God provides the basis for the eventual post-enlightenment belief of the intrinsic worth of all people irrespective of race, gender, or any other identity group we might choose. Where I might extend the conversation further is in relation to our bodies: While I would agree that we are more than only our material bodies, I think we also are not LESS than our bodies. I’m not suggesting you were meaning to say that….but as I read your post, I thought that a modern-gnostic might agree with all that you said…until perhaps the last sentence where you name the body as sacred (and I would add, good). So while we might say that ‘who we are’ as individuals includes more than just our bodies, I think we can also say that our bodies are also one important part of who we are as people made in God’s image. We know from Paul that our bodies will be redeemed and restored and we will exist for eternity as embodied individuals, which is one way others in glory will know, “That’s Scott”. I guess what I am trying to get to is the fact that our body is not inconsequential as it relates to our identity despite the fact that it is material. It too will exist for all eternity as one part (not the only part) of me. So this ‘sacred part’ of who we are can’t be totally dismissed or disregarded. Does that make sense? Thoughts back?
Thanks Scott, that makes sense. You nailed it, part of my post, regarding Holland’s book, was that Jewish theology is ultimately the basis for the modern idea that humans have inherent value and it also challenges the idea that it is “self-evident” since history proves the strong and powerful did not always hold to this view. Holland, who is agnostic, says Western society can thank the Judeo-Christian tradition for that one.
When it comes to the body, I know there is a lot of Christian doctrine and biblical thought around this idea which is what is contributing to heated discussions around gender roles, racial equality, transgender issues, pronoun debates, and marriage equality. When it comes to epistemology and how we know what we know about the future, the afterlife, heaven, glory, and future bodies, I think I lean on “experience” in the Wesleyan Quadrilateral model more then some might be comfortable with. I find the anecdotal NDE stories fascinating and compelling. I do think Near Death Experience research has reached a tipping point in its legitimacy with the sheer amount of quantitative and qualitative research accumulated over the last 30 years. I’ll readily admit that the conversations I’ve had with researchers and experiencers have influenced my understanding and emphasis on ideas in Scripture and my faith tradition which I still hold as valuable and very much informs my faith. When it comes to our bodies the verdict is still out for me on how it all works. I’m just noticing through our readings an “overidentification” and identity lens regarding our physical attributes and social selves is leading to unintended division on all sides. Thanks for your response!
Hi Adam,
A thoughtful post as usual. You mentioned how we “overidentify ourselves.” What an intriguing thought. I remember taking course work in which we were encouraged to name all our identities which was insightful, nuanced, and uncomfortable. Your comment resonated with something Jill Weber said when she met with some of us at Waverley Abbey, “Just be a soul before God.” I have not forgotten that statement. Not only do I want to apply it to myself but I want to see every human I meet as simply a soul before God, beloved, and uniquely fashioned in His image. What a glorious heritage and identity!
I absolutely love the simplicity of “Just be a soul before God.” I think that kind of simplicity is almost offensive to some. I’m going to steal that statement like an artist. Thanks for sharing that one! I want to meet others from that theology as well.
I am reading this again and now because I was looking through your blogs to quote you in a sermon. I was looking for the story about you taking standardized tests and having to decide if you are Black or White. I was reading through this post though and your comment struck me and I want to ask for some clarification – because I might also use this quote.
You write, “When our identity, whether we are conservative, liberal, or moderate, is grounded in a view of ourselves or others as primarily skin color, genitals, hormones, ethnicity, and social status we lose a common bond and forfeit the ground we could all be standing on together as human souls.” Would you agree that first though, Black lives have to matter, that the lives of People of Color, or any lives who have historically and currently been relegated to the margins have to matter before that common bond as human souls can be realized and celebrated? Maybe not realized but celebrated???
Osheta Moore, author of Dear White Peacemakers, writes, “Being human is the standard. Beloved is the standard. Made in the image of God is the standard,” which I think is what you are also saying – but again, do white people have to realize that the lives of people of color matter and lift them up before this can be celebrated? Or maybe white people need to stop promoting their own power, their own status, so that the image of God in people of color can be celebrated instead of always celebrating white images of God?
Or, is that my white privilege showing?
Thanks for the response! “Being human is the standard. Beloved is the standard. Made in the image of God is the standard,” Yes, this is what I am getting at while wondering alongside you and others what the most effective strategy is for America when it comes to race. I do think what may seem to be helpful may turn out to be counterproductive in the long run.
For example, I was talking with a co-worker one day, who is African American about BET which we know created opportunities for the Black demographic in media and entertainment spaces at a necessary point in America’s history. This was a great thing. However, is there a point when this network actually perpetuates exclusion and division? I also think about Morgan Freeman who says if you want to stop racism stop talking about it all the time. Just live life and normalize integration. This is me processing, but I do think certain mindsets revolved around either guilt on one side or victimization on the other may be doing more harm then good at times.
To answer your question, I do think certain people groups and causes must have more attention at certain times in history, but here are things I honestly wrestle with: I do wonder if extra attention can run its course and ends up doing more harm than good if special treatment continues. Does this “special treatment” even perpetuate a superior / inferior dynamic. How long should you leave the cast on a broken bone? At some point the injured area needs to be treated like the rest of the body for it to fully heal. One of the reasons people liked the show Schitt’s Creek was due to its normalization of differences rather than continual emphasis or even celebration of it. They did not make things a “big deal”. Just to reinterate, I do think some groups and causes need more attention for certain periods of time, my question, like others is the time to normalize so we are not constantly reminded or encouraged how different we are from one another.
I don’t have this figured out by any means and some of this is what I have noticed in my own experiences. I’ve also noticed this type of shift with some of my near death research and interviews. I’m still wrestling and finding a balance in all of this. Thanks for your questions!