I just discovered yesterday that our Natural History museum has been carrying this exhibit called Bodyworlds. I have not seen it. We have not supported our local temple to the anti- God religion of death for some time.
According
to my extended family, it is a display of real people, who have died,
and, um, different layers of their flesh have been removed so that
people can see just under the skin, in stages, all the way down to the
bones. The bodies are encased in plastic to keep them from decaying.
Apparently this exhibit has been packing in the visitors.
When
the horrified shock registered on my face, I was told that everyone had
given permission for their bodies to be used in this way, to further
science and education.
Oh, well, that makes it all better, then. Even if these people did not believe that they were made in the image of God,
that does not change the fact that they were. Desecrating their dead
bodies and then putting them in a museum display degrades their innate
nobility, for man was made a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor.
By reflection, it attempts to degrade God’s glory, as well, even though
man can do nothing to diminish God in reality. Am I wrong to be
horrified?
I am not interested in seeing the display (for completely different reasons that you have stated), but I would suppose it is no different than med students dissecting cadavers for scientific purposes…
Throughout time, men have been fascinated by how the body works, this is definitely one way in which the next generations can learn.
I don't think I am horrified by this. I am not sure yet. It might be something very instructive. I assume it was done for educational purposes, not to be sensational. I don't think it necessarily degrades man and/or attempts to degrade God.
At our local science museum, there is a display of unborn babies throughout the stages of development. They are real babies that were miscarried (not aborted, according to the information). It is a fascinating exhibit and my kids never fail to go look at it. They are amazed at these tiny babies at the earliest stages of development. It is concrete information for them that a fetus is a baby. I suppose it can be disturbing when we remember that they are not models but real babies. Apparently the parents gave permission to use them. To me it is an incredible pro-life exhibit, though it most likely is not intended as such. No one, after seeing it, can say a baby in the early states of gestation is anything but a baby!
I think the human body exhibit might be just as interesting and instructional. Sometimes when things are going on in my body I wish I could see inside. But as I said, I am not sure yet. Don't know if I'd want to see it if it came to my town.Edited by hsmomof2 on Sunday, July 16, 2006 at 6:13 PM
Thank you so much for your comments. They have inspired me to think more deeply about this subject, and I will probably make another post about human bodies used in museum displays this week. God bless, Love Christine
It was at our museum recently. I did not see it although I am curious at the intrique beauty that God has created. I feel that God created us in him image then why not see the wonder and glorious work he made. I do not think it is degrading God although I see your point completely. I will have doubts that I should go because I do not want to be part of the worldly sensationalism that goes with the display. If it were linked to a more Godly display of the bodies I may consider going.