Drawing from his own pastoral experience as a priest and bishop before he became Pope John Paul II, Karol Wojtyla has produced a remarkably eloquent and resourceful defense of Catholic tradition in the sphere of family life and sexual morality. He writes in the conviction that science--biology, psychology, sociology--can provide valuable information on particular aspects of relations between the sexes, but that a full understanding can be obtained only by study of the human person as a whole. Central to his argument is the contrast between the personalistic and the utilitarian views of marriage and of sexual relations. The former views marriage as an interpersonal relationship, in which the well-being and self-realization of each partner are of overriding importance to the other. It is only within this framework that the full purpose of marriage can be realized. The alternative, utilitarian view, according to which a sexual partner is an object for use, holds no possibility of fulfillment and happiness. Wojtyla argues that divorce, artificial methods of birth control, adultery (pre-marital sex), and sexual perversions are all in various ways incompatible with the personalistic view of the sexual self-realization of the human person.
Perhaps the most striking feature of the book is that Wojtyla appeals throughout to ordinary, human experience, logically examined. He draws support for his views on the proper gratification of sexual needs, on birth control, and on other matters, from the findings of physiologists and psychologists. His conclusions coincide with the traditional teachings of the Church, which invoke scriptural authority. His approach ensures that non-Christians also can consider his arguments on their own merits.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
Flabbergasted:
Being a young man born unto an age rather confused about love, I must say that this book has opened my eyes to something which I can't quite put my finger onto but am certain it has planted a seed inside of me which has begun to fundamentally change my inner being... I always thought of John Paul II merely as some kind of great spiritual celebrity who routinely visited all the corners of the globe in order to promote world peace, like all social-activists should do. But this book has greatly changed my... more info
Very very deep:
If you are looking for light reading, or an overview of this topic, you probably want a different book. However, if you want a very deep, intricate analysis of the philosophical foundation for the Catholic Church's view on sex, you will find it here. He is incredibly thorough, and he starts at "the beginning," using philosophy and reason to explain the Church's teachings, not the Church's teachings to explain why you should behave a certain way. Very insightful and helpful to those who are struggling to... more info
Love & Responsibility:
Outstanding book. Real food for thought. It will still be read and discussed 100 years from now.
Great Insight:
Great insight into what it means to be human while addressing sexual issues that have never been addressed in this manner before.
