Christianity, LGBTQ Suicide, and the Souls of Queer Folk

Cody J. Sanders

While garnering the attention of professionals across disciplines, from medicine to public health to psychology, and frequently covered as a topic of public concern in the news media, the elevated occurrence of suicide attempts among LGBTQ persons has received little attention within the literature of theology and religious studies. This book fills that lacuna by addressing the role that religious, spiritual, and theological narratives play in shaping the souls of queer folk. Taking a narrative approach to qualitative interview material from LGBTQ individuals who survived their suicide attempts, Cody J. Sanders argues that theological narratives can operate violently upon the souls of LGBTQ people in ways that make life precarious and, at time, seem unlivable. The book critically addresses the violence of theological narratives upon queer souls, filling a crucial void in scholarship concerning the role of religion—specifically Christianity—in LGBTQ suicide. Ultimately, the author draws upon the interview material to move readers toward constructive methods of contributing to the resistance and resilience of queer souls in relation to soul violence, asking how we can intervene with practices of care in order to cultivate livability of life for queer people.

Lexington Books

Pages: 152 • Trim: 6½ x 9⅛

978-1-7936-0609-9 • Hardback • May 2020 • $90.00 • (£69.00)

978-1-7936-0610-5 • eBook • May 2020 • $85.50 • (£66.00)

Series: Emerging Perspectives in Pastoral Theology and Care

Subjects: Religion / Sexuality & Gender Studies, Religion / Christian Living / Social Issues, Religion / Christian Ministry / Pastoral Resources, Social Science / LGBT Studies / General

Christianity, LGBTQ Suicide, and the Souls of Queer Folk

Hardback

eBook

Summary

While garnering the attention of professionals across disciplines, from medicine to public health to psychology, and frequently covered as a topic of public concern in the news media, the elevated occurrence of suicide attempts among LGBTQ persons has received little attention within the literature of theology and religious studies. This book fills that lacuna by addressing the role that religious, spiritual, and theological narratives play in shaping the souls of queer folk. Taking a narrative approach to qualitative interview material from LGBTQ individuals who survived their suicide attempts, Cody J. Sanders argues that theological narratives can operate violently upon the souls of LGBTQ people in ways that make life precarious and, at time, seem unlivable. The book critically addresses the violence of theological narratives upon queer souls, filling a crucial void in scholarship concerning the role of religion—specifically Christianity—in LGBTQ suicide. Ultimately, the author draws upon the interview material to move readers toward constructive methods of contributing to the resistance and resilience of queer souls in relation to soul violence, asking how we can intervene with practices of care in order to cultivate livability of life for queer people.

Details

Lexington Books

Pages: 152 • Trim: 6½ x 9⅛

978-1-7936-0609-9 • Hardback • May 2020 • $90.00 • (£69.00)

978-1-7936-0610-5 • eBook • May 2020 • $85.50 • (£66.00)

Series: Emerging Perspectives in Pastoral Theology and Care

Subjects: Religion / Sexuality & Gender Studies, Religion / Christian Living / Social Issues, Religion / Christian Ministry / Pastoral Resources, Social Science / LGBT Studies / General

Author

Cody J. Sanders is American Baptist chaplain to Harvard University, advisor for LGBTQ+ affairs in the Office of Religious, Spiritual, and Ethical Life at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and pastor to Old Cambridge Baptist Church, Cambridge, MA.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1God, Stories, and Queer Souls

Chapter 2Troubled Stories, Best Hopes, Precarious Survival

Chapter 3Theological Ambush

Chapter 4Soul Violence

Chapter 5Religious Resistance

Chapter 6Holding One’s Own

Chapter 7Revisioning the Care of Souls

Conclusion Constructive Lessons for Practices of Care

Bibliography

About the Author

Reviews

Listening carefully and closely to the complex stories told by and about queer folks, Rev. Dr. Cody J. Sanders speaks truthfully about matters of life and death for LGBTQ individuals. Caregivers, communities of faith, and individuals are invited to join queer folk as they resist violence to soul and body, and seek substantive ways to construct a flourishing life. Rev. Dr. Sanders' theological analysis is provocative and welcome as he points toward concrete practices and interventions for walking alongside Christian queer folks.
— Joretta Marshall, Brite Divinity School

I highly and enthusiastically recommend Christianity, LGBTQ Suicide, and the Souls of Queer Folk. Author Cody Sanders delivers on their promise to offer “guidance in reforming our religious practices in ways that promote the livability of life for LGBTQ people.” For pastoral caregivers—and anyone else, in fact—who is concerned about the souls and lives of queer folk, this book is an indispensable resource.
— Bernard Schlager, Pacific School of Religion

Christianity, LGBTQ Suicide, and the Souls of Queer Folk

Cody J. Sanders

Christianity, LGBTQ Suicide, and the Souls of Queer Folk

ALSO AVAILABLE