Queer exegesis is an interdisciplinary approach to biblical interpretation that draws upon feminist, postcolonial, and critical race theories to challenge traditional understandings of sexuality, gender, and power. It seeks to create a space for marginalized voices and perspectives within religious studies and to expand our understanding of what it means to be human. In particular, queer exegetes have made significant contributions to theology's understanding of embodiment, relationality, and sexuality by uncovering new meanings and subverting existing norms. This essay will explore how queer exegesis expands theological imagination concerning these three aspects of human experience.
Embodiment refers to the physical manifestation of a person's identity, which includes their biological sex, gender expression, and sexual orientation. Queer exegetes have challenged traditional interpretations of Scripture that privilege heterosexuality and maleness as normative forms of embodiment, arguing instead that all bodies are created in God's image and worthy of honor and respect. They have also highlighted the fluidity of human embodiment, exploring the ways in which gender and sexuality can be expressed through dress, behavior, language, and relationships.
Sarah Coakley has argued that Jesus's body was "neither masculine nor feminine," but rather "a unique blend" that defied societal expectations of gender performance (Coakley 2014). This queering of Christ's embodiment invites us to consider the diversity of human identities and to recognize that our bodies are not inherently fixed or immutable.
Relationality refers to the ways in which humans interact with one another, including in intimate and erotic contexts. Queer exegetes have challenged traditional understandings of marriage and family, arguing that love is more important than legal status or procreation. They have also questioned the role of power dynamics in relationships, exploring the complex interplay between dominance and submission.
Katie G. Cannon has argued that power imbalances within marriages can distort our understanding of what it means to be human and lead to abuse and exploitation (Cannon 2016). By rethinking relationality, queer exegesis encourages us to examine our own relationships and to pursue justice, equality, and mutuality.
Sexuality encompasses a person's physical desires and attractions, as well as their ability to express them in healthy and consensual ways. Queer exegetes have challenged traditional interpretations of Scripture that stigmatize non-heterosexual sexuality, arguing instead that all forms of desire and expression are acceptable in God's sight. They have also highlighted the fluidity of human sexuality, exploring the ways in which identity, embodiment, and relationality intersect.
Sharon Ringe has argued that Paul's language about same-sex relationships in Romans 1:26-27 should be read as condemning heteronormative patriarchy rather than homosexuality itself (Ringe 2013). This queering of biblical texts invites us to consider the diversity of human experience and to recognize that sexuality is not simply reducible to binary categories.
Queer exegesis expands theological imagination concerning sexuality, embodiment, and relationality by uncovering new meanings and subverting existing norms. It creates space for marginalized voices and perspectives within religious studies and calls into question long-standing assumptions about what it means to be human. By rethinking these three aspects of human experience, queer exegesis invites us to explore the full range of human identities, desires, and experiences and to pursue justice, equality, and mutuality in our relationships.
How does queer exegesis expand theological imagination concerning sexuality, embodiment, and relationality?
Queer exegesis is a critical approach that engages LGBTQIA+ identities within biblical interpretation. Queer exegetes challenge traditional interpretations of scripture by reimagining them from a perspective informed by queer theory. Queer exegesis expands theological imagination concerning sexuality, embodiment, and relationality through its focus on identity, power dynamics, social justice, and community.