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from Theological Issues
New Gay Book
Discusses "Sex As Prayer"
Alyson Publications, one of the largest gay publishers in the U.S.
has recently published Gay Perspective: Things Our Homosexuality
Tells Us About The Nature Of God And the Universe, by Toby
Johnson.
Dr. Peter J. Plessas reviewed Johnson's book in the May, 2004,
issue of the Lambda Book Report. Plessas is a clinician who lives
in San Francisco and has an "archetypal psychology practice"
working with gay males.
According to Plessas, the book claims that --
"... our purpose in our orgasms is an expression of 'expending
excess'--we do it for the evolution of the species. Gay Perspective
also reminds us that our sexuality has spiritual roots; sex as
prayer--a communion with self and with God."
Plessas also notes that the book praises pedophilia. He says it
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"reclaims pedophilia from its heterosexual fear-based projections.
The public eye has been focused on the shame of being molested in
male-male relationships as evidence of latent homophobia. Johnson
recalls the ancient practice of paiderastia; the practice of an
older man taking a younger man as lover/pupil. Johnson even
speculates that the current pedophile priests could be--as they
were in the past--initiators of young people into the realm of
sexuality."
Plessas says the book's author has been deeply influenced by the
writings of mythologist Joseph Campbell and urges "us to find God
inside our own lives." The reviewer notes that many of the
monotheistic religions failed to create room for gays in their own
mythology.
The book's author, however, combines the teachings of the
"historical Jesus and, from the Hindu tradition, the myth of
Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, a deity who transcends both
male/female and time/eternity," according to Plessas.
The reviewer concludes by noting that the book, "... offers a
transcendent doorway to spirit for anyone who is searching for
higher understanding of their sexuality and the spiritual power it
holds."
Updated: 8 February 2008
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