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Bisexuality and the Western Christian Church

The Damage of Silence

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  • © 2019

Overview

Authors:
  1. Carol A. Shepherd

    1. University of Winchester, Winchester, United Kingdom

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  • Highlights the pressing need for the western Christian church to review its binary understandings of human sexuality
  • Considers the mental health implications of ignoring bisexuality, within religious communities as within secular ones
  • Explores the marginalization of bisexual congregants in light of the binary categorization of sexual identities

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Table of contents (12 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiii
    Download chapter PDF

  2. A Conspiracy of Silence: Bisexuality and Christianity

    • Carol A. Shepherd
    Pages 1-24

  3. Why Be Happy When You Can Be Normal? Heteronormativity and Worship in the Western Christian Church

    • Carol A. Shepherd
    Pages 25-41

  4. Too Hot to Handle: A Denominational Sweep of Bisexual Erasure in the Church

    • Carol A. Shepherd
    Pages 43-69

  5. The Damage of Silence: Bisexual Christians Discuss Mental Health

    • Carol A. Shepherd
    Pages 71-115

  6. Intersectional Identities: Bisexual Christians Discuss Self-Actualisation and Spirituality

    • Carol A. Shepherd
    Pages 117-139

  7. Great Is Thy Faithfulness: Bisexual Christians Discuss Non-monogamy and the Bible

    • Carol A. Shepherd
    Pages 141-156

  8. The Church Doesn’t Know What to Do with Us: Bisexual Christians in the UK Discuss Church Life

    • Carol A. Shepherd
    Pages 157-186

  9. It’s Just Crap: Bisexual Christians in the USA Discuss Church Life

    • Carol A. Shepherd
    Pages 187-199

  10. The Silent B: Pastors and Educators Discuss Bisexuality and Bisexual Provision

    • Carol A. Shepherd
    Pages 201-231

  11. Believing Out Loud: Pastors and Educators Discuss Affirming Practices

    • Carol A. Shepherd
    Pages 233-247

  12. Prudery, Primates and Public Conveniences: Specific Challenges Faced by Pastors and Educators

    • Carol A. Shepherd
    Pages 249-268

  13. Conclusion

    • Carol A. Shepherd
    Pages 269-291

  14. Back Matter

    Pages 293-306
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Keywords

About this book

This book critically examines the lived experiences of bisexual Christians across a range of Christian traditions in the UK and the USA. Shepherd assesses whether current data on elevated rates of depressive illnesses among bisexual people also apply to the bisexual Christian community. Drawing on data collected by the author on bisexual Christians across the lifespan, the book uncovers shocking incidences of biphobia and bi erasure in the Church. Widespread ignorance among pastors of middle sexualities outside of the hetero-/homonormative binary is revealed as well as a corresponding absence of appropriate support resources.

Bisexuality and the Western Christian Church will be of interest to students and scholars across a range of disciplines, including gender studies, applied theology, sociology and social psychology. It is also important reading for clergy, and LGBT faith organisations.

With a Foreword by Eric Anderson, Professor of Sport, Masculinities, and Sexualities, University of Winchester, UK.


Reviews

“In Bisexuality and the Western Christian Church, Shepherd provides an important contribution to our understanding of Christian bisexual people. Straddling two sub-disciplines which are all-too-often inaccessible or focused on theory rather than the everyday experiences of people’s lives, Shepherd has found a way to give voice to her participants in a way that engages and enhances our knowledge. Drawing on an impressive 83 interviews with bisexual Christians, the book provides a sensitive and nuanced account of these peoples' lives and offers important arguments about how our social institutions can support them and reduce prejudice against them.” (Mark McCormack, University of Roehampton, UK)

Authors and Affiliations

  • University of Winchester, Winchester, United Kingdom

    Carol A. Shepherd

About the author

Carol Shepherd is a researcher at the University of Winchester, UK. She is a bisexual Christian and former lay preacher.


Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Bisexuality and the Western Christian Church

  • Book Subtitle: The Damage of Silence

  • Authors: Carol A. Shepherd

  • Series Title: Palgrave Studies in Lived Religion and Societal Challenges

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94679-5

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham

  • eBook Packages: Social Sciences, Social Sciences (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2019

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-94678-8Published: 20 August 2018

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-06897-4Published: 22 December 2018

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-94679-5Published: 01 August 2018

  • Series ISSN: 2946-4390

  • Series E-ISSN: 2946-4404

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XIII, 306

  • Number of Illustrations: 1 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Gender and Sexuality, Religion and Gender, Religion and Psychology

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