See Me Naked
Stories of Sexual Exile in American Christianity
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- USD 19.99
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- USD 19.99
Descripción editorial
“A fascinating, troubling, and finally heartening book that subtly shows ways that Christians might reconcile their bodies with their devotion to God. Highly recommended for individual Christians but also for pastors and church groups.”—Library Journal, starred review
Stories of sexual scandals in churches throughout the nation have been downright routine in recent years, suggesting to many Americans that a deeply rooted problem plagues American Christianity—and prompting some to abandon their congregations altogether. In See Me Naked, Amy Frykholm takes us beyond simple indictments of, or blind allegiance to, Christian cultures to explore the complex, intimate intersection of sexuality and spirituality as it affects the lives of ordinary Christians.
Recounting with care and nuance the life histories of nine American Protestants, Frykholm shows us the harm done by the rules-based sexual ethic now dominant, which alternately denies and romanticizes sexuality. But she also points to how American Christians might otherwise access their spiritual tradition to heal the divide between religion and sexuality. One story examines the intricate relationship between a man’s religious faith and his sexual addiction. In another, a man defines religion as a wall that kept him from the discovery that he was gay. One young woman uses sex to defy her devout parents, while another seeks to transcend her body by going without food. Nearly everyone interviewed in See Me Naked remains a Christian, with some further on their journey than others. Yet each of them is working to understand the connection between their desires and their faith. Ultimately, their stories—stories of pain and violence, perseverance and courage—attest to the healing power of struggling through the wild and uncertain experiences of life.
See Me Naked explores the many ways that people work to recover from harmful beliefs and restores the notion that one of the key insights of Christianity is that the body, with all its struggles, pains, and difficulties, is a vehicle of the holy and can lead us into a more full relationship with God.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Frykholm (Rapture Culture), a special correspondent for the Christian Century, presents briefly the stories of nine individuals who have experienced deep disconnection in their attempts to reconcile their sexual and Christian selves. The stories deal with homosexuality, abuse, exploitation, repressive rules and shame. Each describes a process of reconciliation and the discovery of a new sexual ethic. Despite dealing with harrowing experiences, all end hopefully, with most individuals maintaining a Christian identity. Frykholm avoids editorializing and readily admits the stories do not present easy answers nor are they applicable to every believer. The stories also show that roots of sexual trauma are complicated, sometimes hazy and difficult to unravel, with blame both on and outside of Christianity. While the stories are too brief to satisfy all questions, they are complete enough to provide a sense of the individual and their struggles. Some may find, however, the brevity gives a sense of rushing; some may wish more of the subjects were men. In the final chapter, Frykholm hints at a new sexual ethic, one grounded in wonder and pleasure, but she only sketches this. Doing more would undermine the value of this work, which challenges all Christians to do the work of reconsidering their default opinion on sexuality and open themselves up to a deeper, truer connection between body and spirit.