1st Edition
Sex and the Sacred Gay Identity and Spiritual Growth
By Daniel A Helminiak
Copyright 2006
260 Pages
by
Routledge
260 Pages
by
Routledge
260 Pages
by
Routledge
Also available as eBook on:
A down-to-earth look at the spiritual power of sex Sex and the Sacred examines the spiritual dimension of human sexuality in a way that is free of religious affiliation but still open to traditional religion and belief in God. Dr. Daniel Helminiak, author of the best-selling What the Bible Really Says about Homosexuality, looks at the relationship between sexuality and spirituality, first, from a... Read more
- The Cover Art: A Gay Spiritual Journey (Heather L. Marrs)
- Foreword (Moderator Troy D. Perry)
- Preface and Acknowledgments
- Chapter 1. The Spiritual Dimension of the Lesbian and Gay Experience
- The Senseless Burden of a Bad Conscience
- The Meaning of “Spiritual”
- The Inner Push Toward Spiritual Growth
- Coming Out As a Spiritual Exercise
- Love As a Spiritual Exercise
- Gay Strength, Virtue, Wisdom, and Spiritual Growth
- Detours from the Spiritual Path
- The Tug-of-War Between Religion and Spirituality
- Spirituality Without God or Religion
- Chapter 2. A Spiritual Lesson from the AIDS Epidemic
- A Humanist Spirituality
- The Spiritual Dimension of the Gay and Lesbian Experience
- Nontheist Gay Spirituality in the Face of Death
- Final Considerations
- Chapter 3. Sexuality and Spirituality: Friends, Not Foes
- Positive Attitudes
- Negative Attitudes
- Reemerging Positive Attitudes
- Renewed Interest in Spirituality
- Integration of Body, Psyche, and Spirit
- Embodied Spirituality
- Means of Integration
- Conclusion
- Chapter 4. Sexual Self-Acceptance and Spiritual Growth
- Spiritual Development and Human Development
- Sexual Self-Acceptance and Self-Esteem
- Sexuality and the Handicapped
- Acceptance of One’s Homosexuality and Self-Esteem
- Conclusion
- Chapter 5. Sexual Pathways to Spiritual Growth
- Sexual Arousal and Orgasm: Focus on the Individual
- Loving Another Person: Focus on the Couple
- The Pollyanna Effect: Focus on the Human Family and the Cosmos
- Loneliness, That Endless Yearning: Focus on the Infinite
- The Goodness of Creation: Enter Belief in God
- Sexual Fulfillment in God: Enter Concern for Union with God
- Summary About Sexuality and Spirituality
- Chapter 6. Sexual Ethics Without Religion
- The True Nature of Ethics
- Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Dimensions of Human Sexuality
- Ethical Guidelines
- The Personal and Interpersonal Nature of Human Sexuality
- The Social Implications of Human Sexuality
- The Promise of Ethical Living
- Chapter 7. The Right and Wrong of Sex, Queer and Otherwise
- The Challenge of Ethics for the Gay Community
- Reasons to Consider Sexual Ethics
- Gay Is Good
- Science-Based Ethics
- One’s Personal Best
- Ethical Guidelines
- The Ethical Attitude
- Chapter 8. The Spiritual Crisis in Religion and Society
- The Sad Record of Religion and Violence
- The Political Side of Religion
- Religion, Spirituality, and the Current Dilemma
- Humanity As Inherently Spiritual
- Built-In Requirements of Spiritual Fulfillment
- Science That Is Open to God
- A Spiritual Response to Religiously Motivated Violence
- Chapter 9. Jesus: A Model for Coming Out
- Mark’s Picture of Jesus
- Jesus As God Incarnate in Later Christianity
- Jesus’ Self-Understanding
- Jesus’ Claim to Unprecedented Authority
- Jesus’ “Crisis of Identity”
- Jesus’ Experience of Being Himself
- Jesus As Everyman—and Everywoman
- The Lesson of Mark and Jesus
- Chapter 10. The Trinitarian Vocation of the Gay Community
- Christian Belief About the Trinity
- Human Relationships Within the Gay Community
- The Gay Community As Trinitarian
- The Vocation of Gay Christians
- Chapter 11. Homosexuality in Catholic Teaching and Practice
- The Heterosexual Issue: Birth Control
- The Nature of Sex
- “Comple
Biography
Daniel A Helminiak
