Sexuality and the Sacred: Sources for Theological Reflection

James B. Nelson, Sandra P. Longfellow

Westminster John Knox Press, Jan 1, 1994 - Religion - 406 pages

This volume is rooted in two convictions: first, sexuality is far more comprehensive and more fundamental to our existence than simply genital sex, and, second, sexuality is intended by God to be neither incidental nor detrimintal to our spirituality but a fully integrated and basic dimension of that spirituality. The authors address what our sexual experience reveals about God, the ways we understand the gospel, and the ways we read scripture and tradition and attempt to live faithfully.

Contents

• Introduction: 3
• Beyond Sexual Essentialism: 9
• How to Proceed: 19
• New Testament Sexual Ethics and Todays World: 28
• MARGARET A FARLEY: 54
• Sexuality and Spirituality: 69
• Wonder Eroticism and Enigma: 80
• The Sexuality of Jesus and the Human Vocation: 91
• Ethical Implications of Black: 105
• Gender and Orientation: 113
• Gender Relations: 120
• Womens Experience: 131
• The Erotic as Power: 145
• Toward Sexual Ethics: 149
• Toward a Feminist Theology of Friendship: 169
• Mens Experience: 183
• Embracing Masculinity: 195
• Mens Studies Feminist Theology and Gay Male Sexuality: 216
• Introduction: 231
• Sexuality and Social Policy: 242
• Singleness Marriage and Celibacy: 256
• Sex before Marriage: 262
• Celibate Passion: 277
• Sexuality and Aging: 288
• Older Adults: 297
• HIVAIDS: 305
• AIDS HighRisk Behaviors and Moral Judgments: 314
• Sexual Violence and Pornography: 326
• An Agenda for: 335
• An Agenda for the Churches: 345
• Sexual Orientation A Test Case for the Church: 355
• A Historical Approach: 361
• Homosexuality as a Test Case: 374
• Homophobia Heterosexism and Pastoral Practice: 387
• Church at the Margins: 397
• Acknowledgments: 403

About the author

James B. Nelson is Professor Emeritus of Christian Ethics at the United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in New Brighton, Minnesota. He is the author of numerous books, including Body Theology and The Intimate Connection: Male Sexuality, Masculine Spirituality, both published by WJK.

Sarah P. Longfellow is a spiritual director in private practice in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Sexuality and the Sacred: Sources for Theological Reflection
• Editors: James B. Nelson, Sandra P. Longfellow
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press, 1994
• ISBN: 0664255299, 9780664255299
• Length: 406 pages
• Subjects: Religion / Christian Theology / Anthropology