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Thursday, January 11, 2007

Theology of Sexuality

I wonder if there are any really thoughtful works that develop theological thoughts on sexuality. I am thinking particularly from a conservative Christian position. To clarify, I am not talking about easy reading stuff that repeats the same old belief systems with a few biblical proof texts thrown in for good measure. I mean someone who has engaged with Scripture, contemporary psychology, sociology, and especially culture (pop culture and sub-cultures) and has developed accute and insightful thoughts that wind up still being conservatives. (Conservatives tend to write masses and masses of books, but many times if a conservative "deals with" a topic like sexuality they all just basically say the same thing and its stuff we all already know anyway....)

Where would one begin on such a topic?

In our American culture there are many very relevant issues and questions. The most obvious is the homosexuality issue. But this, as far as the greater culture is concerned, is already settled over and against the conservative perspective.

There are, of course, other issues that hit closer to home. For example, why not experiment with sex before marriage? Why not have live-in relationships with a serious boy/girlfriend? What is the real harm of an extra-marital fling if its all in good fun? How can there be any real moral consequences to getting some (or all) sexual needs fulfilled in cyberspace? It seems so perfectly harmless, right? Just a boy and his computer? Just a girl and a screen?

Are there really sexual norms that apply to all people at all times? Or is sexual im/morality tied to culture and changes over time? If we believe there are rights and wrongs that apply to all then what about instances of polygamy? Multiple wives by King David? Abraham sending Haggar away?

Where would one begin in developing a theology of sexuality? Something that engages the biblical texts in a serious and honest way. Something that is equally engaging with the current culture as well as with some of the stuff being put out by psychology and sociology, and even philosophy....

Where would one begin in developing a theology of sexuality?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Begin at the beginning: In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. And God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply." What does this say about the sexuality and reproductive capacity of God?