Negotiating sexuality and spirituality: the lived experiences of bisexual persons

Toft, A. ORCID: 0000-0003-3734-2242, 2020. Negotiating sexuality and spirituality: the lived experiences of bisexual persons. In: A.K.T. Yip and A. Toft ORCID: 0000-0003-3734-2242, eds., Bisexuality, spirituality and religion: critical perspectives. Routledge studies in the sociology of religion . London: Routledge. ISBN 9780367030209

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Abstract

Bisexuality challenges binary conceptions of sexuality, and therefore 'doing' bisexuality within an organisation such as the Christian Church is often challenging. This chapter utilises data from a British mixed-methods study that explored how identities were managed in relation to being Christian and bisexual. The research found that the participants repackaged and reimagined their faith and, to a lesser extent re-imagine their sexuality. Bisexual Christians used creative agency in their intimate lives and found support from personal communities and friendships. This chapter attempts to move from exploring sexuality and faith separately, towards an intersectional approach to the experiences of the participants. Although their religious and sexual lives are considered, the chapter aims to explore how the experiences of the participants intertwine and how the identities speak to, and inform each other. As a result, the chapter takes the original research as a starting point and explores how we might see the participants as bisexual Christians rather than bisexuals who happen to be Christian (and vice-versa). The stories and the experiences of the participants suggest a bisexual Christianity rooted in Christianity morality and individualism.

Item Type:	Chapter in book
Description:	Chapter 6
Creators:	Toft, A.
Publisher:	Routledge
Place of Publication:	London
Date:	14 February 2020
ISBN:	9780367030209
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Linda Sullivan
Date Added:	09 Sep 2019 08:59
Last Modified:	03 Mar 2020 11:43
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/37597

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