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The Religion of Thinness

A religion scholar reflects on our culture's devotion to thinness and explores the unmet spiritual needs that eating and body image problems mask.
by Michelle Lelwica
Michelle Lelwica is an Associate Professor at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and the author of The Religion of Thinness. See full bio
December 9, 2009

The Good Health and Healing of "Salvation"

A few blogs ago, I challenged the futuristic, other-worldly orientation of The Religion of Thinness, which is epitomized in the belief that "I will be happier when I'm thinner." This belief, I suggested, mirrors a popular Christian view of "salvation" as something that happens later (i.e., in the afterlife). But this suggestion raises other questions, such as: What does "salvation" really mean? And how might a better understanding of this term shed light on women's body image and eating problems? Read More

November 30, 2009

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? Read More

November 18, 2009

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? Read More

November 11, 2009

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. Read More

November 4, 2009

Exchanging the Hope for "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? Read More

October 28, 2009

When Thinness Becomes Our "Ultimate Purpose"

I was talking with a radio host the other day, explaining what I mean by "The Religion of Thinness." 

"But most women," she said, "aren't trying to lose weight for religious reasons." Of course, she is right. Most women don't consciously associate their desire to be slender with something spiritual. And yet... Read More

October 21, 2009

How Might a Religion Scholar Understand Women’s Body Image and Eating Problems?

How might our culture's devotion to thinness reveal a deeper spiritual malaise? Read More

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Books by Michelle Lelwica

Image of The Religion of Thinness: Satisfying the Spiritual Hungers Behind Women's Obsession with Food and Weight
The Religion of Thinness: Satisfying the Spiritual Hungers Behind Women's Obsession with Food and Weight
Image of Starving For Salvation: The Spiritual Dimensions of Eating Problems among American Girls and Women
Starving For Salvation: The Spiritual Dimensions of Eating Problems among American Girls and Women

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