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Gay Spirituality
by Toby Johnson
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Paperback
Publisher: White Crane Books
In this Lambda Literary award-winning title, author Toby Johnson explores how the rise of gay identity has become an important part of contemporary religious development. This dramatic transformation has resulted due to the perspective of gay men; their ability to step outside the assumptions and conventions of culture and see things from a different point of view. This book will reward readers seeking new insight into faith as well as culture, myth and traditions.
In this challenging and unusual book, Toby Johnson argues that while popular religion is supposed to be "the conveyor of wisdom," it relies on old myths that fail to address the most pressing issues of modern life (among them, the destruction of our environment, biotechnology, and racial equality). Gay men, he claims, by virtue of their position outside the mainstream, have developed ways of seeing that can help us develop a more evolved spirituality. Johnson's chief inspiration is Joseph Campbell, whose illuminations on myth and comparative religion have become wildly popular in the last two decades. But Johnson lacks much of Campbell's subtlety, and has a tendency to rely too much on Jungian thought. He argues against a dualistic world-view, for example, while reproducing some amazingly simplified views about women. And where are lesbians in Johnson's vision? All the enlightened knowledge bearers he anticipates are gay men (and childless ones, by the way). Despite these lapses, Gay Spirituality offers a lively romp through much New Age thought and, in Johnson's descriptions of biblical misreadings and cultural ignorance, a priceless survey of stupidity. Whether gay men can bring about a change in human consciousness is unclear--it is even less clear that, as Johnson breezily announces, "there is a goodness and virtue that runs through gay men's lives"--but his book should inspire serious thinking among spiritually minded gay men, and can serve as a useful antidote to Larry Kramer's Faggots. --Regina Marler
| Customer Reviews: |
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| The Search for Ourselves |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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Johnson, Toby. "Gay Spirituality: Gay Identity and the Transformation of Human Consciousness", Lethe Press, 2000.
The Search for Ourselves
Amos Lassen
So many of us struggle with both religion and G-d basically because we feel we have been shunned because of our sexuality and tardyons are often judgmental and critical of the way we live. Some of us, however, have found ways to reconcile faith for whatever reason and in the process we allow ourselves to be subjugated to anti-gay religious doctrine which we manage somehow to tolerate. With this reconciliation, we tend to forget our own gay spiritual heritage.
Looking at the word "spirituality", we can say it is a "celebration of our rightful place in" the universe of G-d. Toby Johnson, the author of "Gay Spirituality" explains that we, as gay people, are able to overlook dogma and religious indoctrination, and speak our own truth because we are not only aware but we know that we are sensitive, loving and compassionate and we have these qualities because we were created by G-d with them. We are positive and we both enrich and contribute to society in all of its aspects and this is the basic thesis of his book,
We constantly are faced with negativity, especially from the world of religion. Even with scientists constantly offering more and more truth that we are born with our sexual orientation, we still are the target of many churchgoers and clergy. Early on we begin to realize who we are sexually and have to give up so much in order to live our lives--we are ostracized by our peers and in many cases, disapproved of my our parents. Even if we accept ourselves, our road through life is not easy and the alienation that we feel also tends to keep us away from houses of worship and from spirituality.
Because we are not part of society, we have the advantage of intense knowledge and are imbued with inspiration about the real nature of what the Spirit is. Our experiences are different and we are more aware of difference. People should listen to what we have to what we have to say and accept our wisdom. We are in the midst of transforming human consciousness and are able to provide hope for those dealing with issues of spirituality.
Toby Johnson, himself, has a strong background to be able to say what he does. He has been a theologian, a teacher, a write and an ex-Catholic monk. Even I, as a Jew, who is a firm believer in my own religion and accepted as an openly gay practicing and observant Jew find myself totally agreeing with all he says and not having to deal with the issues that the Christian religions have to face. I have had my own problems in religious reconciliation but I have found my own way and Johnson makes it so much easier than dealing with the issues I once faced. We should accept being gay as an added blessing and in this way we gain the right to forgive the world for the injustices we have received.
For those who have not yet found a way to search for a meaningful spirituality, this book tells you hat you need to know to do so. We are not sinful nor or we immoral and we do not need to live lives without spirituality. We transcend the common duality. For personal change, here is the book you need to read to give yourself an extra reason for being proud of who you are.
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| Tremendously thoughtful and compassionate |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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In this book, Toby Johnson presents a deeply compassionate, affirming model of spirituality. So many of us gay men and women struggle with religion and God after years of negative programming by critical, judgmental, and often outright hateful "traditions." Some of us eventually manage to reconcile and even tolerate anti-gay religious doctrine so that we may continue to participate in family and community spiritual celebrations. But in doing so, we risk betraying our unique gay spiritual heritage.
Spirituality is a celebration of our rightful place in God's universe. As Johnson explains in his lovely, wise manner, our advantage as gay folk is our ability to step aside from dogma and indoctrination, and speak our own truth. We know that we are loving, sensitive, compassionate people, and God lovingly created us that way. We belong here, and with our unique talents, we enrich and contribute positively to every aspect of society, including our families. Nobody can, and nobody should, tell us otherwise - ever. If there is any doubt in your mind about these truths, this book is for you.
We often hear that homosexuality is evil and wrong. Toby Johnson reminds us that it is just the opposite - a wonderful, spiritual gift.
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| A Godsend in the Search for Meaningful Spirituality |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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On a daily basis, gay people are inundated with negative messages in every realm: social, political, cultural, and religious-especially religious. Many, if not most, mainstream churches have deliberate proscriptions against homosexuality, and with all that we've seen lately in the news, there seems to be no end in sight to the strife. Despite the fact that each year scientists offer more proof that sexual orientation is genetic (i.e. that's the way God made us), many churchgoers and clergy discriminate against gay people.
Lost in the midst of the polemics and condemnations are millions of non-heterosexual people trying to make their way in a world where matters of the Spirit are land mines and the path of that same Spirit does not always appear accessible. In his marvelous new book on this topic, Toby Johnson writes: "There is a Sufi saying: 'If the rose knew what the gardener's care would result in come spring, it would joyfully bend to the pruning knife.' Gay people experience pruning in late childhood and early adulthood. We realize the truth of our orientation and have to give up familial and cultural expectations of what our lives will be. Often we experience ridicule and ostracism by schoolmates and peers, along with rejection and disapproval by parents. Even if we grow up feeling it is okay to be gay, we experience confusion and trauma because we will not follow in the path that our parents, teachers, and role models have laid before us" (p. 239) It's this very phenomenon that tends to alienate gay people from churches and from the life-force of the Spirit.
For gay men, in particular, Toby Johnson' book GAY SPIRITUALITY is a lifesaver. Johnson's thesis is that gays are very much "Outsiders" in American society, and because of that, gay people possess valuable knowledge and inspiration about the true nature of the Spirit. Gay people experience the world differently than others do, including being more aware of the polarities. Rather than exclusion from the world of God, religion, and spirituality, Johnson calls for all people to listen to and heed the wisdom gay people have to offer. Because human knowledge and understanding continues to grow, Johnson wants any person struggling with gay issues to know that we are in the middle of a huge transformation of human consciousness-a major paradigm shift. Because of this, there is much to learn and room for growth, all of which is likely to give anyone struggling with issues of the Spirit a fair amount of hope.
Drawing from world religions, the Hero Cycle, Jungian thought, and dozens of other sources, Johnson discusses religion, spirituality, and sexuality from a variety of angles. With his background as a teacher, theologian, ex-Roman Catholic monk, and writer, this book has much to offer any person exploring spiritual paths. Ultimately, I found myself resonating strongly while reading part of the conclusion: "Being gay is a blessing... This discovery is an important part of spiritual maturation. As we understand how blessed we are, we begin to put out good vibes. When we realize that being gay is drawing a long straw in this life, we can forgive the world. We can accept things as they are with all the pain and loss that goes with being human. And when we do that we change the world" (p. 259).
It is clear from this book's premise (and that of the companion volume, GAY PERSPECTIVE: Things Our Homosexuality Tells Us About the Nature of God and the Universe), that Johnson is offer viable and life-changing alternatives for people, both gay and straight, to understand the search for a meaningful spirituality. This is a wonderful book to assist in that search. ~Lori L. Lake, reviewer for The Independent Gay Writer and Midwest Book Review
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| give me more like this one please! |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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With religious beliefs and homosexuality tendencies being at the forefront of all my waking hours, I found this book quick, interesting and wonderfully insightful. -> Do yourself a favor and give it a read!!!
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| Provocative and insightful |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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Homosexuality is objectively disordered, sinful, immoral. Such are the positions still held by the Roman Catholic church and many protestant Christian denominations. Having grown up with this kind of outright moral condemnation, many gay men go on to reject organized religion, and there's nothing wrong with that. Unfortunately, many throw the baby out with the bathwater, and ban not only religion, but spirituality from their lifes, leaving them spiritually empty and longing for that missing piece to the puzzle of happiness. This book can guide you to that piece. It shows that being gay is a spiritual asset, not a liability. Where some look down on same-sex love as defective, because it does not express the male-female duality, Johnson turns it around and proudly declares that to be the precise reason why same-sex love is spiritually superior. It transcends the duality. Johnson's vision of a life-affirming, sex-positive spirituality of love, cooperation, mutual respect and acceptance is in sync with modern scientific knowledge, and does not ask the reader to suspend logic or critical thinking. Gay christians who are struggling with their sexual orientation will especially appreciate Johnson's convincing refutation of common "biblical" anti-gay arguments. A powerful book for personal change, a wonderful antidote to the negativity of the Religious Right, and a great gift to a gay friend who is unhappy with his life or suffering from low self-esteem.
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