Sexuality and the World's Religions

by David W. Machacek (Editor), Melissa M. Wilcox (Editor)

Exploring one of the most controversial topics in contemporary theology, this scholarly volume reveals what the world's great faiths―East and West―preach about sexuality, with a special emphasis on American religion.

What do the world's most important religious texts have to say about one of humanity's favorite activities? Editors David W. Machacek and Melissa M. Wilcox have brought together top scholars in the field of religious studies to ask and answer these critical questions. Carefully researched, elegantly written, and respectfully presented, Sexuality and the World's Religions explores the intersection of the spiritual and the carnal in Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Daoism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and African and Native American spiritual traditions.

A separate section explores critical religious and sexual topics in American society, including the role of spirituality in gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities; the role of sex in the modern witchcraft community; and the ever thorny problem of religion and sexual liberty. Reconciling sexuality and spirituality in every human soul is one of religion's most important tasks. Students and other readers will find this timely and comprehensive volume of interest in exploring these issues.

Genres: Religion

452 pages, Hardcover

First published August 13, 2003

Reviews

[char]

A great overview of how sexuality exists within various religions, and other issues of sexuality in religion. The range of authors presents a range of readibility, but I really appreciated all of the authors' attention to diversity within each religion.

[Sumayyah]

Very informative about the ultimate separation of sexuality and religion.