Religion And Sexuality In Cross Cultural Perspective

Issues of sexuality and gender are hotly contested in both religious communities and national cultures around the world. In the social sciences, religious traditions are often depicted as inherently conservative or even reactionary in their commitments to powerful patriarchal and pronatalist sexual norms and gender categories. In illuminating the practices of religious traditions in various cultures, these essays expose the diversity of religious rituals and mythologies pertaining to sexuality. In the process the contributors challenge conventional notions of what is normative in our sexual lives.

"Of all the major religions, Judaism is arguably the most welcoming of gays and lesbians. The contributors to Queer Jews offer a pioneering anthology of probing, insightful, humorous and soul-searching essays that explore the joys and the conflicts of being both Jewish and queer. Combining memoir, pop culture analysis, and stories from the front lines, Queer Jews introduces a new generation of post-Stonewall writers and scholars, who, together with well-known voices, present a dynamic vision of change, progress, and the future."--From publisher.

Gender, Religion and Diversity provides an introduction to some of the most challenging perspectives in the contemporary study of gender and religion. In recent years, women's and gender studies have transformed the international study of religion through the use of interdisciplinary and cross-cultural methodologies, which have opened up new and highly controversial issues, challenging previous paradigms and creating fresh fields of study. As this book shows, gender studies in religion raises new and difficult questions about the gendered nature of religious phenomena, the relationship between power and knowledge, the authority of religious texts and institutions, and the involvement and responsibility of the researcher undertaking such studies as a gendered subject. This book is the outcome of an international collaboration between a wide range of researchers from different countries and fields of religious studies. The range and diversity of their contributions is the very strength of this book, for it shows how gendering works in studying different religious materials, whether foundational texts from the Bible or Koran, philosophical ideas about truth, essentialism, history or symbolism, the impact of French feminist thinkers such as Irigaray or Kristeva, or again critical perspectives dealing with the impact of race, gender, and class on religion, or by deconstructing religious data from a postcolonial critical standpoint or examining the impact of imperialism and orientalism on religion and gender.

This introduction to human sexuality uses case studies, cross-cultural studies, critical thinking questions and personal exploration exercises to bring out the human side of this often clinical material. Cross-cultural perspectives introduce students to diverse views on sexuality as it relates to society, religion, culture and history. Case studies personalize issues by showing individuals working through problems as they try to integrate their sexuality into their lives. In addition, this book examines the findings and controversies of sex cyberspace.

Sex, Gender and the Sacred presents a multi-faith,multi-disciplinary collection of essays that explore theinterlocking narratives of religion and gender encompassing 4,000years of history. Contains readings relating to sex and religion that encompass4,000 years of gender history Features new research in religion and gender across diversecultures, periods, and religious traditions Presents multi-faith and multi-disciplinary perspectives withsignificant comparative potential Offers original theories and concepts relating to gender,religion, and sexuality Includes innovative interpretations of the connections betweenvisual, verbal, and material aspects of particular religioustraditions

Exploring the intersection between religion, gender and sexuality within the context of everyday life, this volume examines contested identities, experiences, bodies and desires on the individual and collective levels. With rich case studies from the UK, USA, Europe, and Asia, Religion, Gender and Sexuality in Everyday Life sheds light on the manner in which individuals appropriate, negotiate, transgress, invert and challenge the norms and models of various religions in relation to gender and sexuality, and vice versa. Drawing on fascinating research from around the world, this book charts central features of the complexities involved in everyday life, examining the messiness, limits, transformations and possibilities that occur when subjectivities, religious and cultural traditions, and politics meet within the local as well as transnational contexts. As such, it will be of interest to scholars of sociology, anthropology, geography and cultural studies examining questions of religion and spirituality, gender and sexuality, and individual and collective identities in contemporary society.

The Body in Religion: Cross-Cultural Perspectives surveys influential ways in which the body is imagined and deployed in religious practices and beliefs across the globe. Filling the gap for an up-to-date and comparative approach to theories and practices of the body in religion, this book explores the cultural influences on embodiment and their implications for religious institutions and spirituality. Examples are drawn from religions such as Jainism, Confucianism, Daoism, Shintoism, Paganism, Aboriginal, African, and Native American religions, in addition to the five major religions of the world. Topics covered include: - Gender and sexuality - Female modesty and dress codes - Circumcision and menstruation rituals - God language and erotic desire - Death, dying, and burial rites - Disciplining the body through prayer, yoga, and meditation - Feasting and fasting rituals Illustrated throughout with over 60 images, The Body in Religion is designed for course use in religious studies as well as interdisciplinary courses across the humanities and the social sciences. Further online resources include a sample syllabus.