From Vanderbilt's Collection
The #MeToo Reckoning: Facing the Church's Complicity in Sexual Abuse and Misconduct by
★ Publishers Weekly starred review. The #MeToo movement has revealed sexual abuse and assault in every sphere of society, including the church. But victims are routinely ignored by fellow Christians who deny their accounts and fail to bring accountability to the perpetrators. All too often, churches have been complicit in protecting abusers, reinforcing patriarchal power dynamics, and creating cultures of secrecy, shame, and silence.Pastor and survivor Ruth Everhart shines a light on the prevalence of sexual abuse and misconduct within faith communities. She candidly discloses stories of how she and others have experienced assault in church settings, highlighting the damage done to individuals, families, and communities. Everhart offers hope to survivors as she declares that God is present with the violated and stands in solidarity with victims. Scriptural narratives like those of Tamar and Bathsheba carry powerful resonance in today's context, as do the accounts of Jesus' interactions with women. God is at work in the midst of this #MeToo moment to call the church to repentance and deliver us from violence against the vulnerable.
Call Number: Available OnlineISBN: 9780830849437Publication Date: 2020-01-14
Passionate and Pious: Religious Media and Black Women's Sexuality by
In Passionate and Pious Monique Moultrie explores the impact of faith-based sexual ministries on black women's sexual agency to trace how these women navigate sexuality, religious authority, and their spiritual walk with God. Providing churchwomen a space to candidly discuss these issues, these popular ministries exist largely beyond the traditional church, with dialogues about sex taking place in chat rooms and through text messages, social media, email, and other media. Moultrie foregrounds televangelist Juanita Bynum's construction of the black Christian sexual identity these ministries promote while emphasizing how churchwomen reconcile these prescriptive identities with their individual experiences. What does it mean for senior women to exercise sexual agency when their church standing could be questioned? What does celibacy mean for women who experience same-sex desire while believing that such desire goes against God's will? Advancing a womanist sexual ethics, Moultrie reframes biblical interpretations and conceptions of what constitutes a healthy relationship to provide a basis for sexual decision making that does not privilege monogamy or deny female pleasure, thereby calling on black churchwomen to experience responsible and life-enhancing sex.
Call Number: Available OnlineISBN: 082237224XPublication Date: 2017-12-11
Queer Theologies: the Basics by
Queer Theologies: The Basics is a concise and illuminating introduction to the study of this controversial and discursive subject area. This book provides an accessible exploration into the major themes within queer studies, queer theologies, and themes of gender and sexuality in Christianity. Topics covered include: The development of queer theologies Queering 'traditional' theology Queer theologies in global contexts Queer Bible Queer theologies from queer lives With a glossary of key terms and suggestions for further reading throughout, this book is an ideal starting point for anyone seeking a full introduction to Christian queer theologies as well as broader themes in theology, gender, and sexuality.
Call Number: Available OnlineISBN: 9780429887673Publication Date: 2019-10-01
Research Database
- ATLA (American Theological Library Association) Religion Database with ATLA Serials (Alumni Access) This link opens in a new window
Index to journal articles, book reviews, and collections of essays in all fields of religion. Some full text. Alumni login using their VUNetID.
Where religious groups stand on ...
- Where major religious groups stand on abortion (2016)Pew Research Center
- Religion & LGBTQ AcceptancePew Research Center - all available survey findings related to this topic.
- iPOLL (Roper Center) This link opens in a new windowPublic opinion poll data: poll questions and answers, datasets, and survey questionnaires from academic, commercial, and media polls on opinions and behaviors from major survey research organizations in the United State, including Gallup, Pew, Annenburg Public Policy Center, and news organizations, such as CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC, the New York Times.
Useful Library of Congress Subject Headings
To get a sense of what we might have on the topic of religion and sexuality, try a "SUBJECT begins with" search in Library Catalog using one of the sample Library of Congress Subject Headings listed below:
- Birth control Religious aspects Islam
- Sex Biblical teaching
- Sex Religious aspects
