{"id":17293,"date":"2018-04-04T13:50:19","date_gmt":"2018-04-04T20:50:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/?p=17293"},"modified":"2018-04-04T13:51:18","modified_gmt":"2018-04-04T20:51:18","slug":"sexual-theology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/sexual-theology\/","title":{"rendered":"Sexual Theology"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.truthfollower.com\/2015\/08\/woman-is-gods-finest-and-beautiful.html<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Author Adrian Thatcher wrote his book, God, Sex, and Gender: An Introduction<\/em>, for three reasons. They are:<\/p>\n

1. “To introduce students and general readers to the exhilaration of thinking theologically about sex, sexuality, sexual relationships, and gender roles.<\/p>\n

2. To introduce students and general readers to a comprehensive and consistent theological understanding of sexuality and gender, which is broad, contemporary, undogmatic, questioning, inclusive, and relevant to readers\u2019 interests, needs, and experience.<\/p>\n

3. To offer to university and college lecturers a comprehensive core text that will provide them with an indispensable basis for undergraduate and postgraduate courses and modules in and around the topics of Theology, Sexuality, and Gender.\u201d (xi)<\/p>\n

As a professor of theology, he knew these issues were not being addressed in the church. He divided the book into five parts:<\/p>\n

Part I, \u201cSex, Gender, and Theology\u201d, an introductory beginning with an understanding of the construction of sex, sexuality, and\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 gender in biblical times and in late-modern Western societies, and to discover how some of the churches and some theologians\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 identify and use theological sources for thinking about them.<\/p>\n

Part II, \u201cBeing Theological about Sex,\u201d address Desire, and Marriage. Distinguishing between different forms of desire, and links\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 sexual desire with desire for God. Questioning whether marriage must remain the framework within Christian thought for thinking\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 about and having sex.<\/p>\n

Part III, \u201cBeing Theological about Gender,\u201d – A crucial issue of whether the God of Christian faith is to be thought of as masculine,\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 and if so, whether the male sex images God in a way the female sex does not.<\/p>\n

Part IV, \u201cBeing Theological about Same-Sex Love,\u201d closely examines passages in the Bible which have been used to condemn all\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 same-sex contact, and concludes, perhaps controversially, that these passages can no longer be used in this way.<\/p>\n

Part V, \u201cLearning to Love,\u201d develops an inclusive theology of sexual love informed by the gender awareness that a contemporary\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 faith can provide; develops theological understandings of virginity, chastity, and celibacy that may be embraced in the twenty-first\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 century. The final chapter draws together the theology of the previous chapters and briefly applies it to sexual minorities, and to the\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 further transformation of relations of gender. (xi)<\/p>\n

There are many aspects to this book that would have been best discussed in its own book. Thatcher addressed some issues I remember that surface in past years. For example, Is God a woman or man? According to Thatcher, God is much more than a sexual identity. The image of God is in both women and men. He goes a step further to say that \u201cthe suprasexual God may be found in the meaning of sexual love, while never being completely identified with it.\u201d (117-119) Thatchers approached a view that homosexuality as a sin may have been misconstrued by Christians using Jesus\u2019 affection towards his disciples. \u201cFor example, those which describe the relationship between Jesus and someone called \u2018the beloved disciple\u2019? Now there was leaning on Jesus\u2019 bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. (John 13:23, Authorized Version) Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? (John 21:20, Authorized Version)\u201d (169-170) This scripture does not represent nor support a sexual relationship between same sex. Jesus and the disciples were more than friends they were family. The disciples were in fear for Jesus since he announced that one of them would betray him. They were celebrating the Passover and relaxing, I am offended by his suggestion.<\/p>\n

In reviewing the book, it is a book of conversation. It touches on sensitive issues personally, community, spiritually, and the world. He wrote this book as a tool to teach students, but I would hope that these students are wise enough to study other sources themselves to balance his views with the truth. I am not sure it would be one that would be received in the church community in Sunday School but it would encourage one to study the Word.\u00a0 Thatcher being a professor of recognition words would be influential to a young person still growing in wisdom.<\/p>\n

Thatcher address lust in relationship to the \u201cstimulation of desire.\u201d (62) “Lust is not just sexual but could be whatever you desire after for personal satisfaction. He says that lust is wanting what we don\u2019t need.” (62) My lust for food has been with me as a child. Our relationship has seen and experienced the world changes. Food is a necessity but certain types of food continue to invade my healthy choices.\u00a0 Maybe he should address how one can control our weaknesses to lust. He addresses \u201cdesire as a lack\u201d (63) He provides his support using Plato and Socrates. He says, \u201cPlato establishes three logical points: love always has a direct object, we must presently lack the objects of our desire, and love is divine.\u201d (63). I”m not a\u00a0student\u00a0of Plato but I agree with those points. There is a \u201cdesire as a union. It does not an artist with a determination to possess what we lack but we are drawn to them.\u201d (66)\u00a0 \u201cDesiring of God\u201d- we should lust after a relationship with God. (67) I desire to have a better relationship with God daily. His compassion, faithfulness, and love it is more than any human you will ever know.<\/p>\n

I agree with Andrew Marin, author of Love Is an Orientation: Elevating the Conversation with the Gay Community. [1] We need to as a Christian community to have a true and honest conversation about the love of Jesus and his love for the people. Church leaders need to address their fears and the fears of their sheep so that we can lead them the way Jesus led us. Our desire to be Christlike should be our greatest lust.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[1]Andrew Marin, Love Is An Orientation: Elevating the Conversation with the Gay Community<\/em>, Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, April 2009.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

http:\/\/www.truthfollower.com\/2015\/08\/woman-is-gods-finest-and-beautiful.html   Author Adrian Thatcher wrote his book, God, Sex, and Gender: An Introduction, for three reasons. They are: 1. “To introduce students and general readers to the exhilaration of thinking theologically about sex, sexuality, sexual relationships, and gender roles. 2. To introduce students and general readers to a comprehensive and consistent theological understanding of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1216],"class_list":["post-17293","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-thatcher-god-sex-gender","cohort-lgp7"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17293","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/84"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17293"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17293\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17308,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17293\/revisions\/17308"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17293"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17293"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17293"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}