The Embrace of Eros: Bodies, Desires, and Sexuality in Christianity - Edited by Margaret D. Kamitsuka (original) (raw)

Shepherding Sexually Diverse Eros in Religious Formation

Review for Religious: New Series, 2022

The author explores the persistence of eros in religious formation for celibate chastity. He argues that this erotic energy is sexually diverse and that the religious formator is challenged to find ways to "shepherd" the formandi in the recognition and appropriate vocational integration of this vital dimension of love. After discussing traditional and current ecclesial obstacles to a positive evaluation of sexually diverse eros, he outlines four principles for a formation community capable of shepherding eros, based on original focus group research with twenty men's religious formators. L OVE IS PATIENT, LOVE IS KIND" (1 Cor 13:4, NABRE) rhapsodized the apostle Paul. But Bette Midler, in her beautiful rendition of The Rose, sings of love's other dimensions, a love that can be wild, a longing, a deep desire for connection and interrelationship: It's the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance. It's the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance. It's the one who won't be taken who cannot seem to give, and the soul afraid of dyin' that never learns to live. 1 Recognition is growing among spiritual writers today that this dimension of love courses through both human sexuality and the spiritual quest for union with God. This passionate and, yes, sometimes urgent dimension of love is called eros (from the Greek god of love and sexual desire). Our sexuality, even with its erotic notes, is not just a part of us we can turn on and off, nor in this life can it be entirely sublimated to a higher plane 55

The Future of the Holy: From Sex to Eros (Marc Gafni, 2012)

In this paper, Gafni compares Kabbalistic and other wisdom traditions with regard to sex and Eros. He concludes that contrary to classical religion and much of psychology, Hebrew tantra insists that sex is integrally related to love and eros. It was first published in the SpandaJournal.

Eros & Psyche: Existential Perspectives on Sexuality (Volume 2: Clinical & Spiritual Perspectives)

2023

Human beings are sexual beings. While this is an existential reality, the way individuals relate to sexuality—their own and the sexuality of others—varies significantly. In our contemporary world, understanding what it means to be sexual beings is ever-evolving. Eros and Psyche is an in-depth encounter with sexuality through diverse existential perspectives. In this 2-volume series, many leaders in the existential field explore topics including how Heidegger and Foucault could reinvigorate your sex life, sexuality and the arts, finding God in the bedroom, and working with sexual attraction in psychotherapy. Eros and Psyche is essential reading for existential scholars, researchers, and therapists. Volume 2 focuses on clinical and spiritual perspectives with chapters by Tom Pyszczynski, Peggy Kleinplatz, Susi Ferrarello, Nisha Gupta, Steve Simpson, Louis Hoffman, Melissa Racho, and others.