The Oxford Handbook of Theology, Sexuality, and Gender

The Oxford Handbook of Theology, Sexuality, and Gender presents an unrivalled overview of the theological study of sexuality and gender. Not merely contentious and pervasive topics, sexuality and gender have escalated in importance within theology. Theologians increasingly agree that even the very doctrine of God cannot be contemplated without a prior grappling with each. Featuring 41 newly-commissioned essays, written by the foremost scholars in the discipline, this authoritative collection presents and develops the latest thinking in the area.

Divided into eight thematic sections, the Handbook explores key methodological approaches, concepts, and issues, as well as current controversies within various denominations. Selected essays draw on reason as a distinct source of theology, discussing evolutionary biology and behavioural genetics, psychology, anthropological research, philosophical research, and queer theory. It examines the history of in theologies of sexuality and gender, with close analysis of the Bible and the Christian tradition. The final section considers theology in relation to different expressions of sexual identities. This volume is an essential reference for students and scholars, which will also stimulate further research.

Adrian Thatcher is Visiting Professor in the Department of Theology and Religion at the University of Exeter. He was formerly Professorial Research Fellow at the University of Exeter (2004-2011), and Professor of Applied Theology at the University of St. Mark and John, Plymouth (1995-2004). His publications include Making Sense of Sex (SPCK, 2012), God, Sex, and Gender (Wiley Blackwell, 2011), and The Savage Text: The Uses and Abuses of the Bible (Wiley Blackwell, 2008).

1. Methods
1. Introduction, Adrian Thatcher
2. The Theological Study of Sexuality, Elizabeth Stuart
3. The Theological Study of Gender, Tina Beattie
4. Doctrine and Sexuality, Eugene Rogers
2. What Theologians Need to Know
5. Contributions from Biology, Neil Messer
6. Contributions from Psychology, Brendan Callaghan
7. Contributions from Anthropology, Simon Coleman and Anna Stewart
8. Contributions from Sociology, Marta Trzebiatowska
9. Contributions from Philosophy, Cynthia Nielsen and Michael Barnes Norton
10. Contributions from Queer Theory, Patrick S. Cheng
3. Sexuality and Gender in the Biblical World
11. Marriage and Sexual Relations in the World of the Hebrew Bible, Ken Stone
12. Marriage and Sexual Relations in the New Testament World, William Loader
13. Same-sex Relations in the Biblical World, Theodore Jennings
14. The Construction of Gender in the New Testament, Colleen Conway
4. Sexuality and Gender in Christian Tradition
15. Desire and the Body in the Patristic Period, Mathew Kuefler
16. Duns Scotus on the Female Body, Marilyn McCord Adams
17. Reproducing Medieval Christianity, Ruth Mazo Carras
18. Chaste Bodies, Salacious Thoughts, Dyan Elliott
19. Sex and Marriage in the Protestant Tradition, 1500 - 1900, John Witte, jr.
5. Controversies within the Church
20. Conflicts within the Roman Catholic Church, Linda Hogan
21. Conflicts within the Anglican Communion, Jane Shaw
22. Pentecostal Churches and Homosexuality, William Kay and Stephen Hunt
23. Theology and Practice in Evangelical Churches, Andrew Goddard
24. Conflicts within the Black Churches, Angelique Harris
6. Inter-religious Conversations
25. Judaism, Ronit Irshai
26. Islam, Asma Barlas
27. Hinduism, Madakranta Bose
28. Buddhism, Rita Gross
7. Concepts and Issues
29. Violence and Justice, Pamela Cooper-White
30. Pleasure, Margaret Kamitsuka
31. Desire and Love, Ola Sigurdson
32. HIV/ Aids, Mary Jo Iozzio
8. Sexual Theologies for All People
33. People Beginning Sexual Experience, Todd Salzmann and Michael Lawler
34. Wives and Husbands, Thomas Knieps Port Le-Roi
35. Families, Adrian Thatcher
36. Gay People, Gerard Loughlin
37. Lesbians, Lisa Isherwood
38. Bisexual People, Margaret Robinson
39. Intersex and Transgender People, Susannah Cornwall
40. Disabled People, Deborah Creamer
41. Friends and Friendship, Steve Summers