Sex Working And The Bible

by Ipsen, Avaren

• ISBN13: 9781845533328
• ISBN10: 1845533321
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2014-08-08
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Sex Working and the Bible interprets stories of biblical prostitution with activist sex workers and incorporates their social theory of prostitution to engage existing liberation and feminist readings. By reading with sex worker rights activists, unique and challenging interpretations were produced. The Sex Worker Outreach Project (SWOP-USA) conducted group readings of four biblical narratives: the story of Rahab in Joshua 2 and 6, the story of Solomon and the two prostitutes of 1 Kings 3:16-28, the anointing woman traditions (Jn 12:1-8/Mk 14:3-9/Mt 26:6-13/Lk 7:36-50) and the apocalyptic vision of the whore Babylon in Revelation 17-19. Rahab is read as a rebellious police snitch who sides with the revolutionaries. The story of Solomon's riddle is interpreted as a parody according to sex worker experiences of a corrupt justice system. Anointing woman is explored as a prostitute avatar of the Goddess of love who performs an act of erotic worship with Jesus. The whore Babylon is examined in light of the violence experienced by sex workers. This study also demonstrates and challenges interpretive trends that make sex workers invisible in feminist and liberation readings of biblical prostitution. The book concludes with recommendations for an inclusive liberation hermeneutic that engages sex worker standpoints.

Author Biography

Avaren Ipsen earned her doctorate in Biblical Literature in 2006 at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. She is a lecturer at UC Berkeley in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, where she teaches social theory. Ipsen has also served as vice-chair of the Berkeley Commission on the Status of Women.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	p. viii
Acknowledgements	p. ix
Introduction	p. 1
Methodological and Political Analysis: A Preferential Option for Prostitutes?	p. 13
Gutierrez' "Option for the Poor"	p. 14
Pastoral da Mulher Marginalizada	p. 17
The Prostitute Movement in Brazil	p. 21
A Preferential Option for Prostitute Women?	p. 27
Standpoint Theory	p. 29
Sex Worker Standpoint of SWOP	p. 33
Excursus on Decriminalization and Measure Q	p. 43
Measure Q	p. 48
Rahab's Deal	p. 55
Scholar Standpoints	p. 56
Sex Worker Standpoint on Rahab	p. 73
Majority SWOP Reading	p. 73
Minority Opinion of SWOP	p. 78
"Those are not her people!"	p. 81
Analysis of Differences between Biblical Scholars and SWOP Activists	p. 84
SWOP Retelling the Story of Rahab, a Collage of Quotes	p. 85
Solomon and the Two Prostitutes	p. 89
Scholar Standpoints	p. 90
Sex Worker Standpoint on Solomon and the Two Prostitutes	p. 97
Majority SWOP Reading	p. 98
Prostitute Mothers	p. 99
Corrupt Courts	p. 100
Solidarity with Both the Mothers	p. 103
Minority SWOP Reading	p. 108
A Bad Economy for Women	p. 109
Analysis of Differences between Biblical Scholars and SWOP Activists	p. 115
SWOP Commentary of the Story of Solomon and the Two Prostitutes	p. 116
Anointing Woman: "In Memory of Her": The Prequel	p. 120
Scholar Standpoints	p. 122
Sex Worker Standpoint on the Anointing Woman Traditions	p. 141
Is Anointing Woman a Prostitute? Anointing as Sex Work	p. 142
Anointing Woman as Sinner: Prostitution as Sin?	p. 147
Is There a Goddess Hidden in the Account of Jesus' Anointing?	p. 152
Analysis of Differences between Biblical Scholars and SWOP Activists	p. 159
Exegetical Quotes on Anointing Woman	p. 160
The Whore Babylon: Violence against Prostitutes	p. 166
Scholar Standpoints	p. 169
Sex Worker Standpoint on the Whore Babylon	p. 177
Reality of Violence against Prostitutes	p. 177
Is the Whore Babylon a Prostitute? Does it Matter?	p. 183
Being Oppressed is no Excuse	p. 188
Prostitutes as Scapegoats	p. 191
Analysis of Differences between Biblical Scholars and SWOP Activists	p. 196
SWOP Commentary on the Whore Babylon	p. 197
Conclusions: Amendments to Liberation Hermeneutics	p. 205
Discussion Questions	p. 213
Bibliography	p. 215
Index of References	p. 232
Index of Names	p. 235
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