A valuable new book

At long last I had a chance to catch up with the pile of "good books to read" that lives on the corner of my desk. It is rare that I have the opportunity to read for pleasure so it was thrilling to make my way through three books last weekend!

The best by a long shot was Michelle Lelwica's The Religion of Thinness (Gurze Books, 2009).  Dr. Lelwica, with a Harvard Divinity School doctorate of theology, does a beautiful job at helping us change our paradigm "from "The Religion of Thinness" to practicing peace with our bodies." In her Introduction she states:

The unfortunate truth is that by placing our hopes on the size of our bodies, we bury the deeper yearnings that are disguised by our anxieties about weight and eating, including a sense of purpose, inspiration, transformation, responsibility, unconditional love, and peace. The real problem is not our soft bellies or well-rounded buttocks. We crave much more than food, which is why some of us feel we can never get enough.

In this book we are given a different way of thinking about weight and eating while we are also instructed in how to regain our "sense of purpose, inspiration, ... and peace."

The spiritual aspects of our culture's focus on weight, looks, and body are discussed thoroughly with spot-on comparisons and contrasts with many of the major religions in the world. When the Religion of Thinness is juxtaposed next to these other faiths it becomes apparent how thoroughly "religious" is our reverence for thin. The good news is that "becoming conscious of the beliefs we have internalized loosens their grip on us." It is that consciousness this book endeavors to give its readers.

What I loved most about the book is how Lelwica interweaves lessons in how to practice mindfulness with clear, precise instructions on how to critically evaluate our culture's values and the mass media that bombards us daily. The author wisely asserts that, "Becoming mindful of what's going on in our bodies, feelings, thoughts, behaviors, and the world around us enables us to avoid doing further harm."

Lelwica proposes that The Religion of Thinness ...

Implicitly promises The Salvation of Thinness--health, happiness, and a life without problems--if we can achieve some imagined state of physical perfection. However, we know that "good health" entails much more than having a particular kind of body. It encompasses mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being, which are qualities that no amount of weight loss can provide. If we can let go of the assumption that health and thinness are somehow equated, we free ourselves to see salvation from a much broader perspective, namely, as the holistic pursuit of a life full of meaning, presence, and peace.

Since reading The Religion of Thinness I have added a number of its mindfulness activities to my meditations and now begin and end my days with "embodied prayer"--an exhilarating way to be completely present while praying.

All women (and the men who love them) need to read this book. I believe it can change lives--it has already changed mine. Once you've read it, I'd love to hear what you think. Until then, I send you ...

Blessings until next time,

Doris