Queer Religiosities: An Introduction to Queer and Transgender Studies in Religion

by Melissa M. Wilcox

Queer Religiosities is the first comprehensive, comparative, and globally focused introduction to queer and transgender studies in religion. Addressing sophisticated topics in clear and accessible language, award-winning teacher and scholar Melissa M. Wilcox brings her engaging lecture style into conversation with the work of scholars around the globe to welcome students into these rapidly growing fields. Following an introduction to key concepts in religious studies, queer studies, and transgender studies and an overview of the history of transgender and queer studies in religion, thematic chapters address the topics of stories, conversations, practices, identities, communities, and politics and power. This inherently comparative organization helps readers to understand the details and complexities of religions, genders, and sexualities as they are lived out around the world. Additional resources include study questions, discussion questions, suggestions for further reading, a glossary, an annotated filmography, and a selected bibliography to encourage further study.

Genres: Religion, Theology, Nonfiction, LGBT, Spirituality, College, Gender Studies

240 pages, Paperback

Published February 14, 2020

About the author

Melissa M. Wilcox is Professor and Holstein Family and Community Chair of Religious Studies at the University of California, Riverside. She is the author of Queer Women and Religious Individualism, winner of the 2010 Book Award of the ASA’s Sociology of Religion Section.

Reviews

[Paige Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for class, and it served as the backdrop for our discussions on queerness, power, and religious structures and institutions. This book offers many examples of queer religious groups historically and contemporarily and challenges its readers to consider how religious studies scholars can analyze topics through a queer studies lens and vice versa.

[Helena Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

Contained some interesting case studies of queer Theology, but I struggled with the structure. While I can appreciate the reasons for a thematic approach over a world religions approach, the chosen themes did not really work for me and I found it repetitive and difficult to pull out key information. Might have been better if it was divided by case study rather than by themes that felt forced and led to lots of repetition.

[Georgie Greene · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book allegedly being an introduction to queer theory AND religion for college students is so ridiculous 😭 aside from the fact that it reads like it was written for high schoolers, i feel like wilcox actively universalizes white queer experience and projects it onto non-white queer people (despite their repeated assertions that they feel this is bad) which is both deeply troubling and also unbearably irritating

[Elisabeth Galbraith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tellement accessible et informatif; offre des portes d’entrée sur pleins d’angles d’analyse différents! (Le cover est toutefois tellement laid je l’ai lu en numérique and im not considering adding to my library )

[Cris(tina)]

Interesting & informative, if at times repetitive, introduction to this field of study. Read for professional & personal reasons

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Accessible for all levels of academia. Has an abundance of resources for further reading and research. An amazing book for beginners and those looking to go more in-depth.

[Asia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for school