Reclaiming the spirit : gay men and lesbians come to terms with religion / David Shallenberger.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Shallenberger, David, 1950-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Gay people--Religious life.

Gay people.

Gay people--Interviews.

Homosexuality--Religious aspects.

Homosexuality.

Interviews.

Physical Description:

x, 281 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

New Brunswick, N.J. : Rutgers University Press, [1998]

Summary:

David Shallenberger interviewed gay men and women, many of whom grew up in families practicing traditional religions - Jewish, Roman Catholic, and Protestant - that condemned homosexuality as an unacceptable life-style. When these children grew into adulthood and "came out", many rejected the religion of their childhood as they sought a more accepting gay community. But once they became comfortable with their new gay identity, they began to experience a spiritual hunger and a desire to be part of a religious community. Some sought to return to the traditions from which they came; others desired membership in new sacred communities. The quest for an integration of homosexuality and spirituality is the focus of Reclaiming the Spirit. Shallenberger asks how individuals can balance both a gay and a religious identity, whether coming out is a spiritual experience, and how coming out affects an individual's relationship to a traditional religious community.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [279]-281).

ISBN:

0813524881

OCLC:

37024972