Men, Homosexuality, and the Gods: An Exploration into the Religious Significance of Male Homosexuality in World Perspective (Haworth Gay & Lesbian Studies) - Softcover

Long, Ronald

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1560231521 ISBN 13: 9781560231523

Publisher: Routledge, 2004

Synopsis

Compare worldwide religious regulations involving gay sex and masculinity!

Men, Homosexuality, and the Gods: An Exploration into the Religious Significance of Male Homosexuality in World Perspective is an eye-opening look at the traditions of particular religions and their edicts concerning gay sex. This book examines the origins of holy directives involving homosexuality—whether forbidden, tolerated, or mandatory—and establishes a link between theology, sex roles, and the sensitive issue of masculinity. This text draws a parallel between homosexuality and the idea of religion, suggesting that gay rights can be understood as a freedom of religion issue.

While most readers are familiar with the traditional Islamic, Christian, and Hebrew prohibitions against sex between two males, this book also reveals other historic religions from around the world that neither opposed nor looked down on homosexuality. Men, Homosexuality, and the Gods argues that masculinity is the universal theme that formed historical interpretation—warriors and men of high status could not be sexually receptive or “feminine” and still be called “men.” This intriguing text shows how the modern homophile movements are in effect redefining masculinity to obliterate the stigma of being a sexually receptive man.

Men, Homosexuality, and the Gods examines the significance of homosexuality in such religions as:

• the Sambians of New Guinea
• the Taoists of Ancient China
• Plato and the later Stoics
• Islamic Sufism
• Native American culture
• Hebrew Scriptures
• early Christianity
• Buddhism

Men, Homosexuality, and the Gods is an enlightening book that honors homosexual claims to moral integrity and appreciates religion and religious figures without rancor. Easy-to-read and free of technical language, this volume is for anyone who has an academic, professional, or personal interest in theology and homosexuality.

The author is available for speaking engagements and can be contacted at Ronldlong@aol.com

About this title

About the Author:

Ronald E. Long is Assistant Professor of Religion at Hunter College of the City University of New York. His essays have appeared in The Harvard Gay and Lesbian Review, The Journal of Men's Studies and The Journal of the American Academy of Religion.

Review:

"Important....A timely, accessible, and valuable resource not only for gay and bisexual men but for everyone concerned with the interlocking questions of religion, gender, and violence."

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1560231521
• ISBN 13: 9781560231523
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 190