“Gay and Lesbian Theologies: Repetitions with Critical Difference”
Elizabeth Stuart
Routledge, 2003, 132 Pages

At A Glance: “Gay and Lesbian Theologies: Repetitions with Critical Difference” examines the evolution and impact of gay and lesbian theology in Christian discourse, highlighting its achievements and limitations, and advocating for a return to the ancient Christian tradition that challenges rigid sexual and gender identities.

Overview: In “Gay and Lesbian Theologies: Repetitions with Critical Difference,” Elizabeth Stuart offers a critical analysis of gay and lesbian theology, a field that has significantly influenced Christian theology over the past 30 years. Stuart applauds the field for centering lesbian and gay experiences in theological discourse, transforming narratives that once condemned these identities into affirming ones. However, she critiques the field for its limitations, particularly in addressing the AIDS crisis and in providing universally convincing arguments for the inclusion of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals in the Church.

Stuart argues that both proponents and opponents of gay and lesbian theology within the Church have overly relied on modern constructs of sexual identity, neglecting the ‘queerer’ aspects of Christian tradition which challenge the stability of gender and sexual desire. She proposes that embracing this more ancient, fluid understanding of identity could resolve current stalemates regarding homosexuality in Christian communities.

Thoughts from Readers: