Contemporary Theological Approaches to Sexuality

Contemporary Theological Approaches to Sexuality provides a much-needed overview of the state of scholarship on Christian theological reflection on sexuality and sexual theology. Critically, it also intervenes in the cultural debate over sexuality by privileging feminist, queer, and other counter-normative perspectives. Comprising twenty-three chapters by a team of international contributors this volume is divided into four parts:

? Normativity and transgression

? Bodies

? Economies and violence

? Divinity.

Within these sections central issues, debates and problems are examined, including consideration of the complexities of Christian theology in regard to contemporary sexuality debates. Contemporary Theological Approaches to Sexuality is essential reading for students and researchers in the field of religion, sexuality, and Christianity.

Contents

Part I: Normativity and transgression

1. Normativity and Transgression- Lisa Isherwood & Dirk von der Horst

Part II: Bodies

2. Gender –AdrianThatcher
3. Transgender – Sharon A. Bong
4. A sexual communion of subjects- Anne Benvenuti
5. Neurotheologies and sexualities – Montserrat Escribano-Cárcel
6. Sexual renunciation in Christian history and theology – Sarah Moslener
7. Theeology: the "not necessarily Christian alternative" available to pre-Stonewall gay women – Marie Cartier
8. Music – Dirk von der Horst
9. Queering Desire- Robyn Henderson-Espinoza

Part III: Economies and Violence

10. Marriage – Lisa Isherwood
11. Just sex work: a liberation thological, Marxist economic, and global feminist analysis of sex in the sex trade – Thia Cooper and Kristian Braekkan
12. Christian theology, sexuality and globalization: shifting practices, revitalizing traditions – Heather Shipley
13. Rape culture and the politics of sainthood – Gina Messina-Dysert
14. Sexual abuse by clergy in the Catholic Church – Rosemary Radford Ruether
15. Reproductive rights and women's rights: justice in sexual relationships - Rosemary Radford Ruether
16. AIDS: deviancy, stigma, and grace: counter-theology from the genitals of the Body of Christ – Robert E. Shore-Goss
17. Queer incarnational bedfelloows: Christian theology and BDSM practices – Robert E. Shore-Goss

Part IV: Divinity

18. Love and desire – Gianluigi Gugliermetto
19. Sexuality in religious polemics – Dirk von der Horst
20. Sexuality and the 'person' of Christ – Lisa Isherwood

21. More than a divine ménage à trois: friendship, polyamory, and the doctrine of the Trinity – Hugo Quero and Joseph N. Goh

22. Sacramental sex/uality – Alejandro S. Escalante
23. Virgin Mary, mother of God: from phallic fetish to fleshy womanhood? – Lisa Isherwood

Lisa Isherwood is Professor of Feminist Liberation Theologies and Director of the Institute for Theological Partnerships at the University of Winchester, UK.

Dirk von der Horst is Instructor of Religious Studies at Mount St. Mary's University, Los Angeles, USA.