They begin with a group prayer, concluded in Jesus’ name. Their music is religious in nature, a compilation of upbeat and encouraging Gospel music. Their workout kinesthetics could be confused for the choreography of a church piece.
These are the images from the Body Gospel DVDs, the latest in the religious diet/workout culture.
CNN covered this organization in a piece dated July 21. Donna Richardson Joyner was quoted in the piece speaking about the intersection of exercise and faith in God:
Adding God into the mix “requires not only to believe it, but the willpower to change,” Joyner said. “It’s a different type of willpower.”
“This is saying to your faith, ‘I’m doing this because my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit,’ ” she said. “This is not about losing weight to look good — it’s more purposeful than that.”
Joyner’s videos, touted as “America’s #1 Faith Based Workout” on its website, have been supported by Oprah Winfrey; those interested can purchase the “Six Inspiring, Prayer Led Workouts” on DVD for just under $80.
This question of bodies, exercise, and religion, however, raises interesting ethical and theological questions. Do these efforts imply that success in weight loss are guaranteed by invoking God? Some people say it helps. But in a culture that places so much emphasis on the body and on looks, where does one draw the line between healthy participation and unhealthy obsession? Will this lead people to push a campaign of being “Slim for Him,” of looking good as part of divine favor?
I am not the only one asking these, and similar, questions. As the CNN article quoted:
“There’s a part of me that cringes a little bit when I sense that there’s this idea or concept that all you need to do for [a] weight loss program is [have] a little prayer or Bible study and all becomes easier,” said Peter Walters, an associate professor in the applied health science department at Wheaton College in Illinois.
Academics in the Study of Religion are also taking up this question about the place and use of the body in Christian circles. R. Marie Griffith at Harvard Divinity School published a book in 2004 that addressed this directly. Titled, “Born Again Bodies: Flesh and Spirit in American Christianity,” the piece looks at the role and importance of the body in American Christianity by looking at different religious communities: the Puritans, Christian Scientists, Nation of Islam, etc.
For now, it seems that Joyner’s enterprise will join other ventures into the realm of Christianity and modern-American life, a giant realm of religion and media, such as Christian siding that battles socialism, Veggie Tales and their pseudo-Christian messages, and chastity rings.
