Reclaiming the spirit
Book Description
For many individuals raised in traditional religious households, the journey to authentic self-acceptance creates a profound spiritual crossroads. David Shallenberger explores this deeply personal terrain through intimate conversations with gay men and women who navigated the challenging intersection of faith and identity.
These individuals grew up within Jewish, Roman Catholic, and Protestant communities where their emerging sexual orientation was viewed as incompatible with religious teachings. Faced with this conflict, many chose to distance themselves from their childhood faith traditions as they embraced their authentic selves and found acceptance within gay communities.
Yet as these men and women settled into their new identities, something unexpected emerged: a renewed longing for spiritual connection and religious belonging. This awakening prompted difficult questions about whether they could reclaim elements of their original faith traditions or needed to seek entirely new spiritual homes.
Through these personal narratives, Shallenberger examines whether the process of coming out itself carries spiritual dimensions and how individuals can authentically integrate both their sexual identity and their desire for religious community. The book addresses the complex challenge of maintaining faith while living openly, and explores the various paths people take to satisfy their spiritual hunger without compromising their true selves.
This thoughtful exploration offers insight into the universal human need for both authentic self-expression and spiritual connection, revealing how some find ways to honor both aspects of their identity.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~8 hours)
🕉️ Tradition: Comparative Religion
📄 Length: 281 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Interviews
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects of Homosexuality
- ✓ Explore Lesbe
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects
- ✓ Explore Homosexuality, religious aspects
- ✓ Explore Homosexuality
- ✓ Explore timeless philosophical wisdom
- ✓ Explore Homosexueller
