Being Human

Episode 197: Correcting Aquinas: JP2’s Truth Bomb on Gender and Human Dignity

Oct 22, 2024

The discussion dives into the limitations of Aquinas' views on gender and their lingering effects in the Church today. A compelling 'truth bomb' from JP2 reshapes our understanding of identity and human dignity. The conversation emphasizes the importance of mutual submission for true equality and critiques extreme Protestant gender interpretations. With insights from JP2, the talk highlights the need for a holistic understanding of gender amid modern confusion, serving as a guiding light through contemporary ideological shifts.

39:51

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Quick takeaways

St. John Paul II’s teachings challenge the outdated gender roles established by Aquinas, advocating for a modern understanding of human dignity and identity.

The podcast emphasizes the need for a unified psychological approach that aligns Catholic teachings with contemporary practices to address human relational challenges.

Deep dives

The Impact of St. John Paul II's Theology of the Body

St. John Paul II's contributions to the Catholic Church, especially his theology of the body, are positioned as transformative for both the church and society. His insights are believed to represent a significant psychological framework for understanding human dignity, sexuality, and relationships. The speaker emphasizes that the principles introduced by St. John Paul II are like a 'ticking time bomb' of truth that have not yet fully detonated in modern culture. The gradual integration of these ideas into societal consciousness is viewed as essential for addressing contemporary challenges related to human sexuality and identity.

Intro

8min

Exploring Thomas Aquinas and John Paul II's Contribution to Gender Understanding

19min

Revisiting Gender Roles: The Church's Call for Reform

6min

Integrating Spirituality and Psychology: Insights from St. John Paul II

7min

Do you know the limitations of St. Thomas Aquinas’ “pre-microscope” view on gender, and how it is still influencing the Church today? In this special episode on the feast of Pope St. John Paul II, Dr. Greg unpacks why JP2’s teachings on gender, identity, and what it means to be human are exactly what the Church—and the world—needs right now.

Discussed in this episode:

The limitations of Aquinas’ “pre-microscope” view on gender and how it still influences erroneous views of gender roles;
The “truth bomb” of JP2 that reshapes our understanding of gender, identity, and the dignity of the human person;
The shift from a “pre-microscope” to “post-microscope” view of gender and why it matters;
JP2’s teachings as a foundational response to today’s trans and gender identity confusion;
Why mutual submission between men and women is essential to true equality;
How Protestant approaches to gender often swing between extremes: complementarianism vs. egalitarianism;
The Catholic response is a “both/and” approach in contrast to “either/or” pendulum swings;
How JP2’s insights into human dignity answer today’s questions on gender and identity;
Why Pope St. John Paul II is considered the most impactful Catholic psychologist of the 20th and 21st centuries;
Why JP2’s teachings serve as a lighthouse through today’s “isms” and ideological shifts;
Why understanding true human dignity is essential to addressing gender confusion.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

The Personalism of John Paul II by Dr. John Crosby
Person and Act by Pope St. John Paul II
Please share your feedback and questions: drgreg@catholicpsych.com
Previous podcast series on the psychology of JP2:
Learn more about gender complementarity:
- Blog article: Celebrating the Differences of Men and Women
- Blog article: God Created Us to Need Each Other
- Episode 149: A New Approach to the Gender Crisis
- 4-part series on Gender Fluidity or Complementarity?
Mulieris Dignitatem – JP2’s apostolic letter on the dignity and vocation of women
Witness to Hope by George Weigel – An in-depth biography exploring John Paul II’s life, influence, and vision
Learn more about the Theology of the Body:
- Man and Woman He Created Them (original text by JP2)
- Theology of the Body Explained by Christopher West
- TOB Books and Resources by Jason Evert
- Theology of the Body Institute
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Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
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Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

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Being Human

Episode 197: Correcting Aquinas: JP2’s Truth Bomb on Gender and Human Dignity

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Impact of St. John Paul II's Theology of the Body

Addressing Modern Questions Through Catholic Anthropology

A Call for Integrating Faith and Psychology

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts