Bisexuality, Religion and Spirituality: Critical Perspectives

Description

This book brings together the work of an international team of experts investigating the intersection of bisexuality, religion and spirituality. Drawing from disciplines such as sociology, psychology, theology, religious studies and literary studies, it critically examines, both theoretically and empirically, the lived experiences of bisexual people of diverse religious faiths and spiritualities, in the context of the UK, Canada, Lebanon, Turkey, Australia and the USA. As an important and insightful exploration of an under-researched and often misunderstood minority, this book will appeal to scholars across the social sciences with interests in sexuality, religion, spirituality and identity. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of contributors 1. Bisexuality, religion and spirituality: instigating a dialogue Introduction Bisexuality and its discontents Mixing bisexuality, religion and spirituality: muddling the waters? Introducing the chapters Concluding remarks References 2. Bisexuality, (non)religion and spirituality in Canadian young adults Introduction Research on (non)religion, spirituality, bisexuality Bisexuality, (non)religion and spirituality: identities and relationships Concluding remarks Notes References 3. Identifying as young, disabled and bisexual within evangelical Christianity: Abigail’s story Introduction Bisexuality and disability Christianity and (bi)sexuality in the lives of young disabled people Methodological account Bisexuality in Abigail’s life Everyday challenges Responding to challenges Religion in Abigail’s life Religious belief Responding to and negotiating challenges Religious life Concluding remarks Notes References 4. Bisexual erasure and religious spaces: experiences of young adults in the United Kingdom Introduction Methodological account Self-definitions and bisexual erasure in multiple spaces Negotiating the intersections: multiple outcomes Concluding remarks Notes References 5. Ritual and liminality: bisexuality within Christianity and Paganism Introduction Bisexuality Bisexual Christians Bisexuality and ambiguity Bisexual women Pagan spirituality and bisexuality Teenage Witchcraft and bisexuality Liminal ritual Pagan ritual and bisexuality Concluding remarks Notes References 6. Negotiating sexuality and spirituality: the lived experiences of bisexual persons Introduction Theoretical positioning Methodological account Negotiating bisexuality in Christian lives Bisexual Christianity Concluding remarks References 7. Ambiguities, authenticity and actualisation: life story research with a bisexual Christian Introduction Sexual storytelling Sam’s coming out’ The ambiguity of bisexuality Althaus-Reid’s Bi/Christ and authenticity Trauma as non-normative experience Identity and identification Flexibility in individual religious beliefs Concluding remarks Notes References 8. ‘Sweet blasphemy’: Elif Shafak, bisexuality and Sufism Sufism and love Bisexuality Openness to different religious/spiritual affiliations Conclusion Notes References 9. Religion, male bisexuality and sexual risk in Lebanon Introduction The social psychology of representation, identity and action Religion and bisexuality Lebanon: religion, politics and sexuality The impact of sexual identity on psychological wellbeing and sexual health Concluding remarks Notes References 10. Depression and suicidality among bisexual Christians Introduction Methodology and operationalisation They just can’t handle it’: voices of bisexual Christians A squeamishness around sexuality’: interviews with pastors and support workers in the UK and USA Concluding remarks Notes References 11. Bisexual wellbeing: impacts of current religion and childhood experiences Introduction Methodological account Results Concluding remarks Limitations References Index