Sex and the Sacred: Gay Identity and Spiritual Growth

* The Cover Art: A Gay Spiritual Journey (Heather L. Marrs) * Foreword (Moderator Troy D. Perry) * Preface and Acknowledgments * Chapter 1. The Spiritual Dimension of the Lesbian and Gay Experience * The Senseless Burden of a Bad Conscience * The Meaning of "Spiritual" * The Inner Push Toward Spiritual Growth * Coming Out As a Spiritual Exercise * Love As a Spiritual Exercise * Gay Strength, Virtue, Wisdom, and Spiritual Growth * Detours from the Spiritual Path * The Tug-of-War Between Religion and Spirituality * Spirituality Without God or Religion * Chapter 2. A Spiritual Lesson from the AIDS Epidemic * A Humanist Spirituality * The Spiritual Dimension of the Gay and Lesbian Experience * Nontheist Gay Spirituality in the Face of Death * Final Considerations * Chapter 3. Sexuality and Spirituality: Friends, Not Foes * Positive Attitudes * Negative Attitudes * Reemerging Positive Attitudes * Renewed Interest in Spirituality * Integration of Body, Psyche, and Spirit * Embodied Spirituality * Means of Integration * Conclusion * Chapter 4. Sexual Self-Acceptance and Spiritual Growth * Spiritual Development and Human Development * Sexual Self-Acceptance and Self-Esteem * Sexuality and the Handicapped * Acceptance of One's Homosexuality and Self-Esteem * Conclusion * Chapter 5. Sexual Pathways to Spiritual Growth * Sexual Arousal and Orgasm: Focus on the Individual * Loving Another Person: Focus on the Couple * The Pollyanna Effect: Focus on the Human Family and the Cosmos * Loneliness, That Endless Yearning: Focus on the Infinite * The Goodness of Creation: Enter Belief in God * Sexual Fulfillment in God: Enter Concern for Union with God * Summary About Sexuality and Spirituality * Chapter 6. Sexual Ethics Without Religion * The True Nature of Ethics * Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Dimensions of Human Sexuality * Ethical Guidelines * The Personal and Interpersonal Nature of Human Sexuality * The Social Implications of Human Sexuality * The Promise of Ethical Living * Chapter 7. The Right and Wrong of Sex, Queer and Otherwise * The Challenge of Ethics for the Gay Community * Reasons to Consider Sexual Ethics * Gay Is Good * Science-Based Ethics * One's Personal Best * Ethical Guidelines * The Ethical Attitude * Chapter 8. The Spiritual Crisis in Religion and Society * The Sad Record of Religion and Violence * The Political Side of Religion * Religion, Spirituality, and the Current Dilemma * Humanity As Inherently Spiritual * Built-In Requirements of Spiritual Fulfillment * Science That Is Open to God * A Spiritual Response to Religiously Motivated Violence * Chapter 9. Jesus: A Model for Coming Out * Mark's Picture of Jesus * Jesus As God Incarnate in Later Christianity * Jesus' Self-Understanding * Jesus' Claim to Unprecedented Authority * Jesus' "Crisis of Identity" * Jesus' Experience of Being Himself * Jesus As Everyman--and Everywoman * The Lesson of Mark and Jesus * Chapter 10. The Trinitarian Vocation of the Gay Community * Christian Belief About the Trinity * Human Relationships Within the Gay Community * The Gay Community As Trinitarian * The Vocation of Gay Christians * Chapter 11. Homosexuality in Catholic Teaching and Practice * The Heterosexual Issue: Birth Control * The Nature of Sex * "Comple