There is a buzz in the air about the new exhibit coming to the Milwaukee Public Museum, the Body Worlds Exhibit. I was initially surprised to hear the question asked on NPR of whether the museum expected there to be protesters, as apparently there have been when the exhibit has been in other places. It never occurred to me that such an exhibit would be controversial. The Archdiocese of Milwaukee has put out a reflection paper that lays out some of the issues and concerns that have arisen, such as are the bodies being treated with respect, was proper consent given for the use of the bodies, etc. (Note that the Archdiocesan statement is not "pro" or "con" attending the exhibit; it seems to be meant in a more reflective manner.)

Having read the statement, I can understand why some people have concerns, but I also think it gives those of us not in medical fields an incredible opportunity to reflect on the wonder of the way we have been created. Our bodies are truly phenomenal, and learning more about them should only make us reflect more deeply upon and be more in awe of the God who created us. One of the stated intentions of the exhibit is to make people realize how important their bodies are and how important it is to treat them well. This theme fits in well with our understanding that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and part of the Body of Christ. Our bodies are holy and sacramental, and as such, we should be extraordinarily aware of them.

There was a time in Christianity when the body was somewhat denigrated and separated from the spiritual life. Today there has been a turn away from a dualistic worldview that separates the material and the spiritual toward a new understanding that we are embodied spirits. We experience what it means to be spiritual in and through these bodies that are our means of expressing who we are in the world and in relationship to one another. That is what it means for a body to be sacramental; your body is a sacrament of yourself, the tangible presence of you. We have been given an incredible gift in being embodied that is too often simply taken for granted. Having only read about the exhibit, I am already more aware of the complexity and beauty of every movement I make, being able to breathe or to eat, feeling my heart beat, the way our senses work together to allow us to experience the world around us, etc. Regardless of whether one attends the exhibit or not, it should be a powerful reminder to us to be very thankful for the fact that we are embodied.