Adrian Thatcher

God, Sex, and Gender

An Introduction

• Gebundenes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

The last 50 years have seen unprecedented changes in sexual and gender relationships. These include the easy availability of contraception, the separation of sexual experience from marriage and marriage from parenthood, more broken marriages, and legal provision for same-sex unions. Relationships between men and women have changed from a model of male dominance, towards a new model of male/female equality, and on to a new recognition of sexual and gender difference. These transformations have resulted in great benefits but they have also generated great uncertainties and unfulfilled expectations. They have sparked painful and on-going controversies in all the churches. God, Sex, and Gender is a clear and engaging introduction to these issues. It offers a consistent theological understanding which is contemporary, undogmatic, questioning, and relevant to readers' experience, interests and needs. Throughout the book, Thatcher connects theological ideas, with broader, secular thought. It fills a gap in the literature by linking together the diverse themes of sexuality, gender and Christian thought in one coherent volume. Its comprehensive and even-handed discussion of these issues will ensure it becomes a vital text in the field.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Wiley
• Seitenzahl: 288
• Erscheinungstermin: 2. Mai 2011
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 246mm x 193mm x 23mm
• Gewicht: 726g
• ISBN-13: 9781405193696
• ISBN-10: 1405193697
• Artikelnr.: 35347589

Autorenporträt

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).

Inhaltsangabe

Introduction - Or, a Welcome to My Readers ix
Part I Sex, Gender, and Theology 1
1 Sex: Sexuality, the Sexes, Having Sex 3
1.1 Sexuality 3
1.2 How Many Sexes are There? 6
1.3 Having Sex 14
2 Gender: Language, Power, and History 17
2.1 Gender 17
2.2 Gender, Language, and Power 23
2.3 Gender in the Time of Jesus 28
3 Theology: Sources and Applications 33
3.1 Explaining the Sources: Scripture, Tradition, Reason 33
3.2 Applying the Sources 40
3.3 Using the Sources Well 49
Part II Being Theological about Sex 55
4 Desiring 57
4.1 Learning from Lust 57
4.2 Desiring 62
4.3 Desiring God? 66
4.4 God Desiring Us? 69
5 Framing Sex: Must the Framework be Marriage? 76
5.1 The Traditional Framework: Celibacy or Marriage? 76
5.2 The Case against Marriage 79
5.3 Alternative Frameworks: Justice and Friendship? 87
5.4 A New Case for Marriage? 89
6 Covenants and Covenant-Makers 96
6.1 Beginning with God 96
6.2 God the Father - Maker of Covenants 100
6.3 Christ - The Bridegroom, Maker of a New Covenant 106
6.4 The Eucharist - Sharing in the New Covenant 111
Part III Being Theological about Gender 115
7 God: Beyond Male and Female 117
7.1 Does God Have [a] Sex? 118
7.2 Is God the Son a Man? 123
7.3 Mary - Mother of All the Living 127
7.4 Womankind in God's Likeness? 131
8 ''In Christ there is neither Male nor Female'' 135
8.1 Sex in the Body of Christ 135
8.2 Gender in the Body of Christ 139
8.3 Masculinity in the Body of Christ 143
8.4 . . . Neither . . . Male nor Female . . .? 149
Part IV Being Theological about Same-Sex Love 155
9 The Bible and Same-Sex Love 157
9.1 What the Churches Teach 157
9.2 Same-Sex Relations in the Hebrew Bible 159
9.3 Same-Sex Relations in the New Testament 163
9.4 What Else Does the Bible ''Say'' about Same-Sex Relations? 168
9.5 Finding What We Want to Find? Evaluating Official Teaching 171
10 Tradition, Reason, and Same-Sex Love 175
10.1 Tradition and Same-Sex Love 175
10.2 Reason, Natural Law, and Same-Sex Love 180
10.3 Complementarity and Same-Sex Love 185
10.4 Experience and Same-Sex Love 188
Part V Learning to Love 191
11 Virginity, Celibacy, Chastity 193
11.1 Valuing Virginity? 193
11.2 Virginity ''for the Sake of the Kingdom'' 196
11.3 In Praise of Restraint 200
11.4 Commending Chastity 203
12 ''Condilemmas'': Sex and Contraception in the Time of HIV/AIDS 211
12.1 Contraception, Still a Theological Issue 211
12.2 Lambeth against Rome 214
12.3 Contraception and Natural Law 217
12.4 Sex and Love: An ''Unbreakable Connection''? 221
12.5 Moral Deficit Arguments 224
12.6 Condoms in the Time of HIV/AIDS 226
13 Marriage and the ''States of Life'' 234
13.1 Betrothal in the Bible 234
13.2 Betrothal and Tradition 237
13.3 Spousals, Nuptials, and States of Life 244
14 Inclusive Theology and Sexual Minorities 249
14.1 Sex 249
14.2 Gender 256
Index of Authors 259
Index of Biblical References 263
Index of Subjects 267

Rezensionen

"Many of the critiques of God, Sex, and Genderoffered inthis review emerge from Thatcher's own lines ofinterrogation. In this and other ways, the book succeeds in drawingreaders into what is truly an exhilarating mode of reflection. Assuch, it offers a major contribution towards theological depth andcreativity in this important set of discourses, renewing the oftenreflexive ethics of sex and gender through witness to the Wordbecome flesh." (Studies in Christian Ethics, 16April 2014)

"Written as a text for post-secondary courses, this bookaims to provide "a comprehensive and consistent theologicalunderstanding of sexuality and gender, which is broad,contemporary, undogmatic, questioning, inclusive, and relevant toreaders' interests, needs, and experience"(xi)." (Studies in Religion, 1 September2013)"Adrian Thatcher's new book will be a rich resource for thosestudying and teaching sex, gender and sexuality in theologicalperspective ... The volume is a valuable one, which I hope willprompt readers to go and explore Thatcher's own extensive work formthe past, as well as the broader context of theological scholarshipon sexuality, gender and marriage within which it sits." (Theology,1 January 2012)

"Although designed as an introduction for theology students, thisis a really remarkable book covering a whole range of sensitivesubjects in a deeply humane fashion." (Network Review, 1 June 2011)

"Adrian Thatcher brings an unparalleled knowledge and understandingto the writing of this book. He knows what readers - both beginnersand seasoned - want and need in an introductory text. Theauthor is not only sensible and comprehensive, but also criticaland challenging, as well as discerning and wise, and above allaccessible. His book provides a truly excellent introduction to theprofound and often troubling questions raised by the gender andintimacies of our bodies in relationship to one another and toGod."
--Gerard Loughlin, Durham University

"Two things shine through this book: Adrian Thatcher'sscholarship and his humanity. This book will help readersunderstand how and why centuries of Christian teaching on sex andgender developed as it did, and offers a wealth of resources formeeting the challenges of today."
--Elaine Graham, University of Chester