Purity culture and the limits of queer evangelicalism

Taking purity culture as a framework for understanding evangelical approaches to sexual ethics, this article examines the connection between the recent emergence of queer evangelical celibacy narratives and the rhetoric of purity as a form of personal freedom. To do so, we approach the construction...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Sawyer, Lauren D. (Author) ; Houser, Victoria (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group 2023
In: Theology & sexuality
Year: 2023, Volume: 29, Issue: 2/3, Pages: 200–218
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Evangelical movement / LGBT / Chastity / Celibacy / Spirituality
IxTheo Classification:CB Christian life; spirituality
KDG Free church
NBE Anthropology
NCF Sexual ethics
Further subjects:B Celibacy
B Queer
B rhetorical analysis
B Purity culture
B Evangelicalism
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:Taking purity culture as a framework for understanding evangelical approaches to sexual ethics, this article examines the connection between the recent emergence of queer evangelical celibacy narratives and the rhetoric of purity as a form of personal freedom. To do so, we approach the construction of queer celibacy through a theology of sexuality and narratives of celibacy within purity culture. We constellate stories from gay- and lesbian-identifying evangelicals to question the limits of queer celibacy. How is evangelical celibacy queer? Can evangelical celibacy claim queerness when it depends on White heterosexist logics? To answer these questions, we explore a series of texts written by evangelical authors who have chosen celibacy as a method for their spiritual commitments while identifying as gay or lesbian. We work with these texts as examples of queer narratives that interanimate paths between evangelical belief and sexual identity.
ISSN:1745-5170
Contains:Enthalten in: Theology & sexuality
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/13558358.2024.2332982