First published 2024
Diarmaid MacCulloch examines Christianity's complex relationship with sexuality across three thousand years of history. The Oxford professor explores how Christian societies have grappled with questions of sex, gender, and family from biblical times to the present day. MacCulloch argues that recent decades have witnessed unprecedented shifts in Christian attitudes toward sexuality, women's roles, same-sex relationships, and gender identity. These changes have created both liberation and conflict within Christian communities worldwide. The book presents an expansive historical narrative showing how ordinary and extraordinary Christians have interpreted their sacred texts and wrestled with humanity's deepest desires and fears. Rather than seeking a single answer, MacCulloch reveals the rich contradictions and competing voices that have always existed within Christian thinking about sexuality. The work offers readers a comprehensive view of this contentious subject, allowing them to judge whether Christianity speaks with one voice or many on matters of sex and gender.
Genres: history, gender-studies, religion, non-fiction, christianity, academic
Vibes: expansive, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: competing-voices, comprehensive-view
Period: Biblical Times, Present Day
660 pages · Hardcover · Penguin Books
Content warnings: homophobia, sexism, transphobia