Adiaphora: The Israel Folau Case, Heterodoxy and ‘Orthodox Sexual Desire’ in Conservative Australian Christianity
In April 2019, athlete Isileli ‘Israel’ Folau was sacked for posting anti-LGBTQ+ social media messages. The ‘Israel Folau case’ was contentious in Australia and internationally. Although Folau claimed to be expressing genuinely held Christian beliefs, he has previously articulated heterodox anti-Tri...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2023
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| In: |
Journal for the academic study of religion
Year: 2023, Volume: 36, Issue: 1, Pages: 76-98 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Church of England, Diocese of Sydney
/ Australian Christian Lobby
/ Sexuality
/ Homosexuality
/ Orthodoxy (motif)
/ Discourse
/ Truth
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| IxTheo Classification: | AD Sociology of religion; religious policy CG Christianity and Politics CH Christianity and Society KBS Australia; Oceania KDG Free church NBE Anthropology NCF Sexual ethics VB Hermeneutics; Philosophy |
| Further subjects: | B
same-sex desire
B Michel Foucault B Australian Christian Lobby B scientia sexualis B Anglican Diocese of Sydney B Israel Folau case |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | In April 2019, athlete Isileli ‘Israel’ Folau was sacked for posting anti-LGBTQ+ social media messages. The ‘Israel Folau case’ was contentious in Australia and internationally. Although Folau claimed to be expressing genuinely held Christian beliefs, he has previously articulated heterodox anti-Trinitarian ideas. Throughout Christian history, orthodox beliefs concerning the Trinity have been central. Conversely, same-sex desire has been variously tolerated or censured, but has mostly been regarded as adiaphora: a matter of marginal importance. I argue that the support Folau received from two conservative Christian bodies—the Australian Christian Lobby and the Anglican Diocese of Sydney—suggests that in Australian conservative Christianity, ‘orthodox’ sexuality is now regarded as central, with orthodox belief now de facto consigned to adiaphora. |
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| ISSN: | 2047-7058 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal for the academic study of religion
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1558/jasr.22486 |
