The Human Body in Crisis. What Does the Incarnation Mean?

Hanna-Barbara Gerl-Falkovitz

Technische Universität Dresden , Austria

Abstract

The article concerns the contemporary anthropological crisis in the field of experiencing human corporeality. The answer to the problems of today‘s man, who struggles with his body and tries to deny it, transcend it or treat it as just a tool, is faith in the Incarnation, which helps find the deepest meaning of matter and body. The first part of the article presents the contemporary crisis with all its features, such as: transhumanism, contraception, so-called gender change and others. The author presents the philosophical foundations of this crisis, perceiving them in the understanding of man as a machine and in the overemphasized idea of selfdetermination. The second part shows the philosophical and theological meaning of matter and body, which is ultimately spiritual. Contrary to appearances, matter turns out to be a connected with the spirit, and the opposition between the material and spiritual worlds is apparent. Finding the spiritual meaning and foundation of the world can save also the human body.

Keywords:

body, spirit, Incarnation, theology of the body, anthropological crisis