Theology is concerned with the nature of God's relationship to human beings, how people relate to each other, and the significance of those relations within society. These issues have been studied through various lenses - philosophical, sociological, anthropological, historical, etc.
There is an important angle that has largely been excluded from this discourse, which is sexual orientation. Queerness is a term used for identifying persons whose gender identity and/or sexual attraction deviates from conventional norms. Theologians have barely engaged with queer experience when it comes to understanding divine relationality and creativity.
Queer experiences and their implications
Queer experience involves a wide range of topics such as sexuality, gender identity, romantic relationships, family structures, parenting, workplace dynamics, community building, spirituality, and politics. From a theological perspective, focusing on these aspects offers valuable insights into divine relationality and creativity.
The biblical story of creation reveals the creative power of God who made humans in his image, male and female. This suggests that God created diverse bodies and sexual orientations intentionally. Therefore, to exclude certain groups from the conversation about divine creativity would mean ignoring part of reality.
Biblical references on queerness
The Bible contains several allusions to queer experiences without explicitly mentioning them. Genesis 19 describes the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah because of homosexual practices, but it also talks about Lot offering his daughters to be raped instead. Such stories provide insight into how some people may have engaged in non-normative sex during those times. In addition, there are stories of polygamy and incest between close relatives, which were not considered taboo at that time. These narratives indicate that the church has been silent on queer issues due to cultural biases.
How can we apply this knowledge?
By centering queer experience in theological reflection, we can expand our understanding of divine relationality beyond binary constructions. We can explore how God's love for us transcends gendered stereotypes and embraces all identities. We can interrogate traditional conceptions of marriage and family and envision new ways of living together as a community. We can challenge heteronormative assumptions and promote inclusive communities where everyone is valued and respected.
We can reimagine divine creativity as a process of creating diverse forms of life, including human sexuality.
What insights into divine relationality and creativity emerge from centering queer experience in theological reflection?
Queer experience can be understood as an embodied way of living that challenges the hegemonic normative structures of society by disrupting binary gender roles and expressions of sexuality. In the context of religious belief systems that often uphold traditional understandings of gender and sexuality, queer theology seeks to center queer experiences as a means of reimagining how we understand God's relationship with the world and humans' place within it.