Body Connections

by Michael S. Koppel

Body Connections teaches pastors and other spiritual leaders to make the connections between their embodied experience and faithful spiritual care. Instead of reinforcing the mind body split that leads to body/self-alienation and impedes holistic relationships with God/self/others, this book treats the body as a central rather than as ancillary subject in care through engagement with the body's narrative.
Michael Koppel engages religious texts and traditions along with scientific insights to develop a 'faithfully hybrid' practical theological resource. This unique book offers intelligent and accessible theology plus spiritual practices for the healing and care of the body. Koppel introduces readers to the body as a source of vitality for faith, and the notion that our bodies are God's beloved and trusted partners.
Each chapter illuminates a facet of pastoral and spiritual care with the body, and includes stories that draw the reader into the issues, challenges, and questions to be raised in the pages; body practices that suggest practical skills for use in personal and community care; reflection questions and small group exercises to spark discussion; conversation with contemporary culture to reveal the wider context in which spiritual and pastoral care takes place; and a closing body care prayer to anchor the reader to the wider community of faith.
This book is highly useful for individuals and groups. It is for clergy, chaplains, spiritual directors, seminarians, clinical educators, lay people in churches, and those who are institutionally unaffiliated but care deeply about fostering a holistic spiritual path.

198 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2021

Reviews

[Jonathan A. · Rating 2 out of 5]

For centuries, Christianity has promoted a body/mind duality that has influenced a negative perspective of the flesh. Such a worldview contributes to a multitude of negative views towards one's self, others, creation, etc. Koppel's work attempts to create a bridge between the mind and the body specifically in the area of Christian/Pastoral care. He offers some ways to be aware of the presence of the body, but does not go as far as I would like. While it is well researched, there was less on the specific physiological impacts that faith might have and more on broad themes of pastoral counseling. In a number of places the body became a metaphor for one's spirituality. In a time when many in the therapy world are working to have a deeper sense of how one's body is connected with one's traumas, I would have hoped for a little more from a faith perspective. It is a good intro to pastoral counseling, but did not go as deep as I would have liked in the area of "embodied" spiritual practices and care.

[E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Caring for our bodies is faithful moral activity in a world that fragments, torments, and traumatizes."

A helpful book on how to engage in body-based spiritual care for yourself and as a care giver in your interactions with others.

I found some of the chapters stronger than others. And there are helpful practices suggested.