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Rating: 
Summary: Provocative and insightful
Review: Homosexuality is objectively disordered, sinful, immoral. Such are the positions still held by the Roman Catholic church and many protestant Christian denominations. Having grown up with this kind of outright moral condemnation, many gay men go on to reject organized religion, and there's nothing wrong with that. Unfortunately, many throw the baby out with the bathwater, and ban not only religion, but spirituality from their lifes, leaving them spiritually empty and longing for that missing piece to the puzzle of happiness.This book can guide you to that piece. It shows that being gay is a spiritual asset, not a liability. Where some look down on same-sex love as defective, because it does not express the male-female duality, Johnson turns it around and proudly declares that to be the precise reason why same-sex love is spiritually superior. It transcends the duality. Johnson's vision of a life-affirming, sex-positive spirituality of love, cooperation, mutual respect and acceptance is in sync with modern scientific knowledge, and does not ask the reader to suspend logic or critical thinking. Gay christians who are struggling with their sexual orientation will especially appreciate Johnson's convincing refutation of common "biblical" anti-gay arguments. A powerful book for personal change, a wonderful antidote to the negativity of the Religious Right, and a great gift to a gay friend who is unhappy with his life or suffering from low self-esteem.
Rating:
Summary: A Godsend in the Search for Meaningful Spirituality
Review: On a daily basis, gay people are inundated with negative messages in every realm: social, political, cultural, and religious-especially religious. Many, if not most, mainstream churches have deliberate proscriptions against homosexuality, and with all that we've seen lately in the news, there seems to be no end in sight to the strife. Despite the fact that each year scientists offer more proof that sexual orientation is genetic (i.e. that's the way God made us), many churchgoers and clergy discriminate against gay people.
Lost in the midst of the polemics and condemnations are millions of non-heterosexual people trying to make their way in a world where matters of the Spirit are land mines and the path of that same Spirit does not always appear accessible. In his marvelous new book on this topic, Toby Johnson writes: "There is a Sufi saying: 'If the rose knew what the gardener's care would result in come spring, it would joyfully bend to the pruning knife.' Gay people experience pruning in late childhood and early adulthood. We realize the truth of our orientation and have to give up familial and cultural expectations of what our lives will be. Often we experience ridicule and ostracism by schoolmates and peers, along with rejection and disapproval by parents. Even if we grow up feeling it is okay to be gay, we experience confusion and trauma because we will not follow in the path that our parents, teachers, and role models have laid before us" (p. 239) It's this very phenomenon that tends to alienate gay people from churches and from the life-force of the Spirit.
For gay men, in particular, Toby Johnson' book GAY SPIRITUALITY is a lifesaver. Johnson's thesis is that gays are very much "Outsiders" in American society, and because of that, gay people possess valuable knowledge and inspiration about the true nature of the Spirit. Gay people experience the world differently than others do, including being more aware of the polarities. Rather than exclusion from the world of God, religion, and spirituality, Johnson calls for all people to listen to and heed the wisdom gay people have to offer. Because human knowledge and understanding continues to grow, Johnson wants any person struggling with gay issues to know that we are in the middle of a huge transformation of human consciousness-a major paradigm shift. Because of this, there is much to learn and room for growth, all of which is likely to give anyone struggling with issues of the Spirit a fair amount of hope.
Drawing from world religions, the Hero Cycle, Jungian thought, and dozens of other sources, Johnson discusses religion, spirituality, and sexuality from a variety of angles. With his background as a teacher, theologian, ex-Roman Catholic monk, and writer, this book has much to offer any person exploring spiritual paths. Ultimately, I found myself resonating strongly while reading part of the conclusion: "Being gay is a blessing... This discovery is an important part of spiritual maturation. As we understand how blessed we are, we begin to put out good vibes. When we realize that being gay is drawing a long straw in this life, we can forgive the world. We can accept things as they are with all the pain and loss that goes with being human. And when we do that we change the world" (p. 259).
It is clear from this book's premise (and that of the companion volume, GAY PERSPECTIVE: Things Our Homosexuality Tells Us About the Nature of God and the Universe), that Johnson is offer viable and life-changing alternatives for people, both gay and straight, to understand the search for a meaningful spirituality. This is a wonderful book to assist in that search. ~Lori L. Lake, reviewer for The Independent Gay Writer and Midwest Book Review
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Summary: This book could be a godsend for gay and bi males
Review: The road called "coming out" can sometimes be a long and painful road for gay and bi men coming from a strongly intolerant background. Somehow, each one of us needs to discover the timeless and essential beauty of love between human beings. Some men take the path of unbelief, and find that it works for them. Some other men find this path impossible, or inconceivable, and Toby Johnson has written this book for them. As many readers have already said, it can be critically helpful at a crucial point in life. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: This book could be a godsend for gay and bi males
Review: The road called "coming out" can sometimes be a long and painful road for gay and bi men coming from a strongly intolerant background. Somehow, each one of us needs to discover the timeless and essential beauty of love between human beings. Some men take the path of unbelief, and find that it works for them. Some other men find this path impossible, or inconceivable, and Toby Johnson has written this book for them. As many readers have already said, it can be critically helpful at a crucial point in life. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: give me more like this one please!
Review: With religious beliefs and homosexuality tendencies being at the forefront of all my waking hours, I found this book quick, interesting and wonderfully insightful. -> Do yourself a favor and give it a read!!!
Rating:
Summary: give me more like this one please!
Review: With religious beliefs and homosexuality tendencies being at the forefront of all my waking hours, I found this book quick, interesting and wonderfully insightful. -> Do yourself a favor and give it a read!!!
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