God, Sex, and Gender
An Introduction
1. Auflage April 2011
288 Seiten, Softcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
ISBN:
978-1-4051-9370-2
John Wiley & Sons
Engagingly and clearly written by a highly respected theologian,
God, Sex, and Gender is the first comprehensive introduction
to a theology of both sexuality and gender available in a single
volume.
* Makes a theological contribution to understanding the
unprecedented changes in sexual and gender relationships of the
last fifty years
* Discusses many topics including: sexual difference; sexual
equality; gender and power; the nature of desire; the future of
marriage in Christian sexual ethics; homosexuality and same-sex
unions; the problems of sexual minorities; contraception in a time
of HIV/AIDS; the separation of sexual experience from marriage; and
offers new arguments for marriage and for chastity
* Offers a consistent and engaging introduction at the cutting
edge of theological inquiry, which is contemporary, undogmatic,
questioning, and relevant to readers' experience, interests, and
needs
* Written lucidly and engagingly by an established and respected
academic who has published widely in this area
Introduction
Part 1: Sex, Gender and Theology.
1. Sex. Sexuality, the Sexes, Having Sex.
1.1 Sexuality.
1.2 How Many Sexes are There?
1.3 Having Sex.
2. Gender. Language, Power and History.
2.1 Gender.
2.2 Gender, Language and Power.
2.3 Gender in the Time of Jesus.
3. Theology.Sources and Applications.
3.1 Explaining the Sources: Scripture, Tradition, Reason.
3.2 Applying the Sources.
3.3 Using the Sources Well.
Part 2: Being Theological About Sex.
4. Desiring.
4.1 Learning from Lust.
4.2 Desiring
4.3 Desiring God?
4.4 God Desiring Us?
5.Framing Sex: Must the Framework be Marriage?
5.1 Traditional Framework: Celibacy or Marriage?
5.2 The Case Against Marriage.
5.3 Alternative Frameworks: Justice and Friendship?
5.4 A New Case for Marriage?
6. Covenants and Covenant-Makers.
6.1 Beginning with God.
6.2 God the Father - Maker of Covenants
6.3 Christ - the Bridegroom, Maker of a New Covenant.
6.4 The Eucharist - Sharing in the New Covenant.
Part 3: Being Theological about Gender.
7. God - Beyond Male and Female.
7.1 Does God Have [a] Sex?
7. 2 Is God the Son a Man?
7.3 Mary - Mother of all the Living.
7.4 Womankind in God's Likeness?
8. "In Christ there is Neither Male nor Female".
8.1 Sex in the Body of Christ.
8.2 Gender in the Body of Christ.
8.3 Masculinity in the Body of Christ.
8.4...Neither...Male nor Female...?
Part 4: Being Theological about Same-Sex Love.
9. The Bible and Same-Sex Love.
9.1 What the Churches Teach.
9.2 Same-Sex Relations in the Hebrew Bible.
9.3 Same-Sex Relations in the New Testament.
9.4 What Else Does the Bible "Say" about Same-Sex
Relations?
9.5 Finding What We Want to Find? Evaluating Official
Teaching.
10. Tradition, Reason and Same-Sex Love.
10.1 Tradition and Same-Sex Love.
10.2 Reason, Natural Law, and Same-Sex Love.
10.3 Complementarity and Same-Sex Love.
10.4 Experience and Same-Sex Love.
Part 5: Learning to Love.
11. Virginity, Celibacy, Chastity.
11.1 Valuing Virginity?
11.2 Virginity "for the Sake of the Kingdom".
11.3 In Praise of Restraint.
11.4 Commending Chastity.
12."Condilemmas": Sex and Contraception in the Time
of HIV/AIDS.
12.1 Contraception, Still a Theological Issue.
12.2 Lambeth Against Rome.
12.3 Contraception and Natural Law.
12.4 Sex and Love: An "Unbreakable Connection"?
12.5 Moral Deficit Arguments.
12.6 Condoms in the Time of HIV/AIDS.
13. Marriage and the "States of Life.
13.1 Betrothal in the Bible.
13.2 Betrothal and Tradition.
13.3 Spousals, Nuptials and States of Life.
14. Inclusive Theology and Sexual Minorities.
14.1 Sex.
14.2 Gender.
References.
Part 1: Sex, Gender and Theology.
1. Sex. Sexuality, the Sexes, Having Sex.
1.1 Sexuality.
1.2 How Many Sexes are There?
1.3 Having Sex.
2. Gender. Language, Power and History.
2.1 Gender.
2.2 Gender, Language and Power.
2.3 Gender in the Time of Jesus.
3. Theology.Sources and Applications.
3.1 Explaining the Sources: Scripture, Tradition, Reason.
3.2 Applying the Sources.
3.3 Using the Sources Well.
Part 2: Being Theological About Sex.
4. Desiring.
4.1 Learning from Lust.
4.2 Desiring
4.3 Desiring God?
4.4 God Desiring Us?
5.Framing Sex: Must the Framework be Marriage?
5.1 Traditional Framework: Celibacy or Marriage?
5.2 The Case Against Marriage.
5.3 Alternative Frameworks: Justice and Friendship?
5.4 A New Case for Marriage?
6. Covenants and Covenant-Makers.
6.1 Beginning with God.
6.2 God the Father - Maker of Covenants
6.3 Christ - the Bridegroom, Maker of a New Covenant.
6.4 The Eucharist - Sharing in the New Covenant.
Part 3: Being Theological about Gender.
7. God - Beyond Male and Female.
7.1 Does God Have [a] Sex?
7. 2 Is God the Son a Man?
7.3 Mary - Mother of all the Living.
7.4 Womankind in God's Likeness?
8. "In Christ there is Neither Male nor Female".
8.1 Sex in the Body of Christ.
8.2 Gender in the Body of Christ.
8.3 Masculinity in the Body of Christ.
8.4...Neither...Male nor Female...?
Part 4: Being Theological about Same-Sex Love.
9. The Bible and Same-Sex Love.
9.1 What the Churches Teach.
9.2 Same-Sex Relations in the Hebrew Bible.
9.3 Same-Sex Relations in the New Testament.
9.4 What Else Does the Bible "Say" about Same-Sex
Relations?
9.5 Finding What We Want to Find? Evaluating Official
Teaching.
10. Tradition, Reason and Same-Sex Love.
10.1 Tradition and Same-Sex Love.
10.2 Reason, Natural Law, and Same-Sex Love.
10.3 Complementarity and Same-Sex Love.
10.4 Experience and Same-Sex Love.
Part 5: Learning to Love.
11. Virginity, Celibacy, Chastity.
11.1 Valuing Virginity?
11.2 Virginity "for the Sake of the Kingdom".
11.3 In Praise of Restraint.
11.4 Commending Chastity.
12."Condilemmas": Sex and Contraception in the Time
of HIV/AIDS.
12.1 Contraception, Still a Theological Issue.
12.2 Lambeth Against Rome.
12.3 Contraception and Natural Law.
12.4 Sex and Love: An "Unbreakable Connection"?
12.5 Moral Deficit Arguments.
12.6 Condoms in the Time of HIV/AIDS.
13. Marriage and the "States of Life.
13.1 Betrothal in the Bible.
13.2 Betrothal and Tradition.
13.3 Spousals, Nuptials and States of Life.
14. Inclusive Theology and Sexual Minorities.
14.1 Sex.
14.2 Gender.
References.
"Many of the critiques of God, Sex, and Genderoffered in
this review emerge from Thatcher's own lines of
interrogation. In this and other ways, the book succeeds in drawing
readers into what is truly an exhilarating mode of reflection. As
such, it offers a major contribution towards theological depth and
creativity in this important set of discourses, renewing the often
reflexive ethics of sex and gender through witness to the Word
become flesh." (Studies in Christian Ethics, 16
April 2014)
"Written as a text for post-secondary courses, this book
aims to provide "a comprehensive and consistent theological
understanding of sexuality and gender, which is broad,
contemporary, undogmatic, questioning, inclusive, and relevant to
readers' interests, needs, and experience"
(xi)." (Studies in Religion, 1 September
2013)
"Adrian Thatcher's new book will be a rich resource for those
studying and teaching sex, gender and sexuality in theological
perspective ... The volume is a valuable one, which I hope will
prompt readers to go and explore Thatcher's own extensive work form
the past, as well as the broader context of theological scholarship
on sexuality, gender and marriage within which it sits." (Theology,
1 January 2012)
""Here is a clear and coherent account of where we are in terms of
Christian teaching and practice about sex and gender, and it should
appeal to students and general readers alike." (Church Times, 26
August 2011)
"A theologian offers a theology of both sexuality and gender,
discussing such topics as homosexuality and same-sex unions."
(Publishers Weekly, 8 March 2011)
"Adrian Thatcher brings an unparalleled knowledge and understanding
to the writing of this book. He knows what readers - both beginners
and seasoned - want and need in an introductory text. The
author is not only sensible and comprehensive, but also critical
and challenging, as well as discerning and wise, and above all
accessible. His book provides a truly excellent introduction to the
profound and often troubling questions raised by the gender and
intimacies of our bodies in relationship to one another and to
God."
--Gerard Loughlin, Durham University
"Two things shine through this book: Adrian Thatcher's
scholarship and his humanity. This book will help readers
understand how and why centuries of Christian teaching on sex and
gender developed as it did, and offers a wealth of resources for
meeting the challenges of today."
--Elaine Graham, University of Chester
this review emerge from Thatcher's own lines of
interrogation. In this and other ways, the book succeeds in drawing
readers into what is truly an exhilarating mode of reflection. As
such, it offers a major contribution towards theological depth and
creativity in this important set of discourses, renewing the often
reflexive ethics of sex and gender through witness to the Word
become flesh." (Studies in Christian Ethics, 16
April 2014)
"Written as a text for post-secondary courses, this book
aims to provide "a comprehensive and consistent theological
understanding of sexuality and gender, which is broad,
contemporary, undogmatic, questioning, inclusive, and relevant to
readers' interests, needs, and experience"
(xi)." (Studies in Religion, 1 September
2013)
"Adrian Thatcher's new book will be a rich resource for those
studying and teaching sex, gender and sexuality in theological
perspective ... The volume is a valuable one, which I hope will
prompt readers to go and explore Thatcher's own extensive work form
the past, as well as the broader context of theological scholarship
on sexuality, gender and marriage within which it sits." (Theology,
1 January 2012)
""Here is a clear and coherent account of where we are in terms of
Christian teaching and practice about sex and gender, and it should
appeal to students and general readers alike." (Church Times, 26
August 2011)
"A theologian offers a theology of both sexuality and gender,
discussing such topics as homosexuality and same-sex unions."
(Publishers Weekly, 8 March 2011)
"Adrian Thatcher brings an unparalleled knowledge and understanding
to the writing of this book. He knows what readers - both beginners
and seasoned - want and need in an introductory text. The
author is not only sensible and comprehensive, but also critical
and challenging, as well as discerning and wise, and above all
accessible. His book provides a truly excellent introduction to the
profound and often troubling questions raised by the gender and
intimacies of our bodies in relationship to one another and to
God."
--Gerard Loughlin, Durham University
"Two things shine through this book: Adrian Thatcher's
scholarship and his humanity. This book will help readers
understand how and why centuries of Christian teaching on sex and
gender developed as it did, and offers a wealth of resources for
meeting the challenges of today."
--Elaine Graham, University of Chester
Adrian Thatcher is currently Visiting Professor in Applied Theology at the University of Exeter, UK. He is the author of numerous books, including: The Savage Text: The Use and Abuse of the Bible (Wiley-Blackwell, 2008); Theology and Families (Wiley-Blackwell, 2007); The Guide to Christian Marriage and to Getting Married in Church (2003); Living Together and Christian Ethics (2002); and Celebrating Christian Marriage (ed., 2001).
