E-Book Overview
Few issues today cause more public - and private - debate than the interaction of homosexuality and religion. From the question of gay marriage to the place of gays and lesbians within faith communities, religious leaders and lay members must deal with these issues for now and for years to come. What is the historical position of the major denominations? How are people of faith balancing their beliefs? This encyclopedia provides an overview of the various attitudes and responses that religions have had to the presence of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered persons within their communities. This is the most comprehensive volume to date on the intersections between religion and homosexuality.
E-Book Content
Homosexuality and Religion Homosexuality and Religion AN ENCYCLOPEDIA Edited by JEFFREY S. SIKER GREENWOOD PRESS Westport, Connecticut r London Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Homosexuality and religion : an encyclopedia / edited by Jeffrey S. Siker. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0–313–33088–3 (alk. paper) 1. Homosexuality—Religious aspects—Encyclopedias. I. Siker, Jeffrey S. BL65.H64H63 2007 2006026203 200.86 64–dc22 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available. Copyright © 2007 by Jeffrey S. Siker All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, by any process or technique, without the express written consent of the publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2006026203 ISBN: 0–313–33088–3 First published in 2007 Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881 An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. www.greenwood.com Printed in the United States of America The paper used in this book complies with the Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National Information Standards Organization (Z39.48