Body, sex, and pleasure
Book Description
Ethicist Christine Gudorf presents a transformative approach to understanding sexuality within the Christian faith, challenging centuries of traditional teaching that have often fostered shame rather than celebration of our embodied nature. Drawing from diverse sources including Scripture, theology, social sciences, and the authentic experiences of contemporary believers, she constructs a comprehensive framework for sexual ethics grounded in appreciation rather than rejection.
At the heart of Gudorf's vision lies a radical proposition: that our physical bodies, sexual desires, and capacity for pleasure represent divine gifts that reveal God's grace in tangible ways. She invites readers to embrace sexual desire as inherently good, viewing it as a wellspring of love and deeper commitment rather than something to be suppressed or merely tolerated.
The author directly confronts "procreationism," the restrictive belief that reproduction must always be sexuality's primary purpose, arguing that this perspective creates unnecessary suffering and injustice. Instead, she advocates for a more expansive understanding that honors the full spectrum of human sexual experience.
Through careful scholarship and compassionate insight, Gudorf calls believers to move beyond harmful body-soul divisions that have long plagued Christian thought. Her work offers a pathway toward integrating sexuality with spirituality in ways that honor both human dignity and the incarnational heart of Christian faith. This thoughtful reconstruction of sexual ethics provides essential guidance for anyone seeking to reconcile their spiritual beliefs with their embodied humanity.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~8 hours)
📄 Length: 276 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Aspect religieux
- ✓ Explore Religion and Sex
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects of Sex
- ✓ Explore Église catholique
- ✓ Explore Catholic Church
- ✓ Explore Morale sexuelle
- ✓ Explore Doctrines
