Religion of Thinness

How the Religion of Thinness Grips Us -- Existentially

Why do so many smart, educated, and beautiful women buy into the false promise of the slender ideal?

Mindfulness as a Tool for Cultivating Compassion and Body-Acceptance

In my last blog, I suggested that those who suffer from body image and eating problems need to find ways to move from a spirituality steeped in judgment to one based in compassion. But how do we find the bravery we need to let go of the right-and-wrong mode of thinking that gives us a false sense of security and covers the psychic wounds that need healing? How do we transform the habit of escaping our pain and problems by fantasizing about food and thinness?

Changing Our Habit of Judgment to the Practice of Compassion

    A few days ago, I heard a wonderful interview on the National Public Radio program, “Speaking of Faith.” The show’s host, Krista Tippett, was talking with Karen Armstrong, a freelance theologian who is known for her passionate interest and scholarly expertise in the field of religion, as well as her down-to-earth way of articulating the common truths of diverse spiritual traditions. Although the conversation didn’t focus on body image issues per se, it nevertheless reminded me of the spiritual needs that draw us to religious ideas and behavior—whether in the context of traditional religion or in the context of “secular” culture.

Exchanging the Hope of "Salvation" Later for the Peace of Acceptance Now

            “Lose 10 Pounds in Just Two Weeks!”

            “21-Day Countdown to a Better Body!”

            “New Exercise Plan Will Help You Reach Your Ideal Weight Faster!”

            Have you ever noticed how future-oriented our culture’s devotion to thinness is?