Queer theology is a form of religious practice that challenges the conventional norms of heterosexual monogamy and patriarchal hierarchy within Christianity. It seeks to subvert traditional understandings of gender roles, sexual orientations, and interpersonal relationships through a radical reading of scripture and an emphasis on non-hierarchical communion. This paper will explore how queer theology can be used to reconstruct ethics around relational principles of empathy and desire based on the writings of theologians such as James Alison and Robert L. Brawley.
Empathy has been traditionally understood as the capacity for one person to feel what another feels, but in queer theology it becomes a relational principle whereby individuals are called to enter into the subjectivity of others and recognize their experience as valid and worthy of respect. Theologian James Alison articulates this idea when he states, "The most important moral task of Christian faith is to encourage and develop empathy." For him, empathy is a spiritual gift that allows people to transcend their own individual perspectives and recognize the inherent value of all human beings.
Desire is also a key concept in queer theology as it relates to ethical decision-making. Desire is not merely about physical attraction or sexual gratification, but rather a longing for deeper connection with others. According to Robert L. Brawley, "We desire not only the goodness of others, we desire union with them, as well as unity among ourselves." In other words, our desires must always be directed towards the flourishing of others and not just our own pleasure.
Empathy and desire create a framework for understanding interpersonal relationships that prioritizes compassion, mutuality, and intimacy over power, dominance, and exploitation. Queer theology challenges the notion that heterosexual monogamy is the sole expression of faithfulness by emphasizing the importance of non-binary expressions of love and care. It rewrites traditional understandings of marriage as rooted in covenantal commitment between two consenting adults, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. This can be seen in the work of theologians such as Virginia Ramey Mollenkott who suggests that same-sex unions are a form of sacramental covenant.
Queer theology also rejects patriarchal hierarchies that subordinate women and marginalize LGBTQ+ individuals. It calls on Christians to acknowledge the oppression faced by these groups and work towards dismantling systems of power that perpetuate injustice. By embracing the principles of empathy and desire, queer theology offers an alternative way of seeing human relationships that values equality, justice, and liberation.
Queer theology provides a unique perspective on ethics that focuses on relational principles of empathy and desire. Through this lens, we can better understand how to interact with one another in ways that promote connection, respect, and mutual growth. As Brawley writes, "The goal is not simply to make life pleasant for ourselves but to realize our own desire within a framework of compassion and justice."
How does queer theology reconstruct ethics around the relational principles of empathy and desire?
Queer theology is an interdisciplinary field that critically examines the role of queerness within Christianity. It challenges traditional Christian teachings on sexual orientation and gender identity by exploring the ways in which these categories have been constructed through social power dynamics and religious institutions. Queer theologians often draw from feminist and critical race theory to argue for new ethical frameworks based on empathy and desire.