Love, Sex and Gender in the World Religions

by Runzo, Joseph; Martin, Nancy M

• ISBN13: 9781851682232
• ISBN10: 1851682236
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-08-31
• Publisher: Oneworld Publications

Summary

Bringing together original work from some of the world's leading specialistsn the field, this new volume offers wide-ranging and enlightening newerspectives on the role of love, sex and gender in a variety of differentaiths.;Among the issues covered are gender politics, sexual symbolism andeligious ecstasy, and their role in religions as diverse as Christianity andibetan Buddhism. Featuring essays by such distinguished thinkers as Arvindharma, Karen Lebacqz, Julius Lipner, Karen Jo Torjesen and Carter Heyward,his new collection combines classic sources of text and tradition withnnovative ideas and modes of thought, creating a detailed but accessibletudy.;This clear and concise book will challenge the reader to thinkreatively about both past and present concepts of sexuality, relationshipsnd the role of women in the world faiths. It should be of interest totudents, scholars and the interested general reader alike.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	ix
List of Contributors	xi
Acknowledgments	xv
Introduction	1	(14)
Part I LOVE AND SEX IN THE CONTEXT OF RELIGION
The Symbolism of Sex and the Reality of God	15	(22)
Joseph Runzo
Love's Insufficiency: Zen as Irritant	37	(14)
William R. LaFleur
Part II LOVE AND RELIGION
The God of Love and the Love of God in Christian and Hindu Traditions	51	(38)
Julius J. Lipner
Loving the Goddess in Hinduism	89	(24)
Nancy M. Martin
Taming the Powers of Desire: Love and Sex in Jewish Culture	113	(16)
Charlotte Elisheva Fonrobert
Love, Sex, and Gender Embodied: The Spirits of Haitian Vodou	129	(18)
Elizabeth McAlister
Love's Sacred Grove: H.D.'s Poetics of Spirituality	147	(20)
Clare B. Fischer
Part III GENDER AND RELIGION
Toward a General Theory of Women and Religion	167	(14)
Arvind Sharma
The Real Trouble with Confucianism	181	(22)
Vivian-Lee Nyitray
Gendered Imagery in Early Christian Theologies of Salvation	203	(20)
Karen Jo Torjesen
Politicizing Gender and Religion: Love for Women, Love for Islam	223	(16)
Zayn Kassam
Krishna and the Gender of Longing	239	(20)
John Stratton Hawley
Part IV SEXUAL LOVE AND RELIGION
The Tarnished Temple: Sex and Difference in Christian Ethics	259	(12)
Karen Lebacqz
Reason and Orgasm in Tibetan Buddhism	271	(16)
Jeffrey Hopkins
The Erotic as Power and the Love of God	287	(22)
Carter Heyward
Suggested Further Reading	309	(6)
Index	315