God, Sex, and Politics: Homosexuality and Everyday Theologies | 
 enlarge | Author: Dawne Moon
Publisher: University Of Chicago Press
Category: Book
List Price: $25.00
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Avg. Customer Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 622306
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 292
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6.2 x 0.7
ISBN: 0226535126
Dewey Decimal Number: 306.661835766
EAN: 9780226535128
ASIN: 0226535126
Publication Date: July 1, 2004
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Shipping: International shipping available
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Product Description
God, Sex, and Politics examines both sides of the church controversy over homosexuality to consider the ways in which people develop, in everyday thought and interaction, their beliefs about God and justice. Dawne Moon explores how members of Protestant congregations determine what is just and what is not, what is right and what is wrong, what is loving and what is sinful.
Through this compelling work we learn that the considerable turmoil surrounding homosexuality in churches has less to do with homosexuality than with the fear of weakening the church's spiritual, communal solidarity. We learn too how the church mirrors the secular world—the fear of division and politics leads members to avoid conflict in the congregations Moon examines. And so, the Protestants who are the subject of her study avoid debating the key issue of whether homosexuality is sinful because of its potentially polarizing effects. The religious culture Moon uncovers is ultimately critical of politics and of the intense moral and social discord that members believe it entails.
God, Sex, and Politics will be of enormous value to sociologists of religion and anyone interested in religious controversies over sexuality.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Sharp but too specific January 22, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Moon offers a compelling and often empathic look into two quintessential United Methodist congregations to assess how their members respond to debates over sexual orientation. She does not discuss any perceptions within the historically black Methodist denominations, a purposeful limitation to avoid overextending the scope of her project but that prevents a more comprehensive understanding of "everyday theologies."
She clearly reveals the multifaceted nature of the spiritual struggle as greater than the sum of the traditional two sides (pro- and anti-LGBT). Another frustrating element of this ethnographic is the lapse in discussion of national United Methodist policy and its influence within the denomination.
Her writing style is accessible, but teeters at times with an amateur tone.
This said, this is a stepping-stone work to glance at aspects of the national tribulations with sexual orientation in a theologically diverse Protestant context.
 An Amazing Book May 17, 2006
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is an amazing book; it is relevant well beyond the sociology of religion or the sociology of sexuality. Moon offers a compelling exploration of how communities debate contentious issues while attempting to hold the group together, pointing to how Christians use talk of feelings (particularly pain) to be able to discuss the issue of homosexuality in their churches. She also offers a fantastic examination of how people understand practices different than their own, pointing to the use of similes (homosexuality is like alcoholism or homosexuality is like race) and how the use of similes implies certain actions (if you see homosexuality as like alcoholism, you will try to treat it; if you see it as like race, you are more likely to accept it).
Moon writes in an accessible tone, peppers her book with interesting quotes from her interviews and participant observation, and makes compelling arguments on every page. A must read!
Interesting Account of Church Debates on Homosexuality July 10, 2004
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Dawne Moon employs ethnographic analysis at two Methodist congregations, one in Chicago and one in the suburbs, to examine debates occuring over the participation and acceptance of homosexuals. She begins with a lucid theoretical introduction to postmodern theories of power and language that should be accessible to most readers. Moon draws on the ethnographic style of 1980s reflexive anthropology (Clifford and Marcus, for example), which I'm not keen on, and in this instance one does get the feeling at times that the book is too autobiographical. Nevertheless, Moon does a good job detailing personal accounts of several church members and she conveys a rich account of church debates. The strength of Moon's work is in her attention to religious meaning, as she copiously details individual's beliefs. She doesn't fully consider the structure of the Methodist denomination, however, and how the two congregations she studied work within this institutional structure, which would have been illuminating as well. Still, Moon's book is a great contribution for anyone interested in academic discussions of religion, sexuality, and politics.
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