Sexuality

The emerging study of sexuality within the sociology of religion is becoming a significant research area; both the reasons for this growth and the current scope of this research warrant broader attention. Much of the existing research interest focuses on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) experiences, especially due to the perceived conflicts experienced between these identities. This chapter will argue that it is unhelpful to castigate religion exclusively as a sexuality-regressive space, noting how it is often rhetorically convenient for secular publics to view religion in this way. Instead, utilizing a “lived religion” approach, the nuances and complexities in the relationships between religion and sexuality can be explored. This approach will be facilitated through an examination of a broad range of issues pertinent to sexuality and religion, including gender and sexuality, counter-normative sexualities, LGBTQI experiences and youth sexualities. As heteronormative assumptions continue to pattern the experiences of many individuals – of varying sexualities, genders, ages and (non)religions – heteronormativity as a concept will be drawn upon throughout.