Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
The Undoing of Sex: The Proper Enjoyment of Divine Command. / Hemming, L. P.
In: Studies in Christian Ethics, Vol. 23, No. 1, 01.02.2010, p. 59-72.Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The Undoing of Sex: The Proper Enjoyment of Divine Command
AU - Hemming, L. P.
PY - 2010/2/1
Y1 - 2010/2/1
N2 - This paper examines the way in which divine law and divine command have in cases been commandeered for the purposes of demonstrating fidelity to religious orthodoxy. It takes the example of one theologian’s investigation into the tradition and asks whether, in the very name of producing an orthodox theology of sexual difference, the debate does not end up being cast in contemporary, sexualised terms. It then takes the example of how contemporary understandings of sexual difference can be read back into ancient texts by examining a reading of Parmenides, and by comparison with Aristotle’s reading of sexual difference shows how that reading can be questioned. It concludes with an examination of a reading of a text of St. Augustine to show (1) how the traditions of celibacy and marriage have not been commensurate in the Christian tradition and (2) what goes wrong when they are asserted to be commensurate.
AB - This paper examines the way in which divine law and divine command have in cases been commandeered for the purposes of demonstrating fidelity to religious orthodoxy. It takes the example of one theologian’s investigation into the tradition and asks whether, in the very name of producing an orthodox theology of sexual difference, the debate does not end up being cast in contemporary, sexualised terms. It then takes the example of how contemporary understandings of sexual difference can be read back into ancient texts by examining a reading of Parmenides, and by comparison with Aristotle’s reading of sexual difference shows how that reading can be questioned. It concludes with an examination of a reading of a text of St. Augustine to show (1) how the traditions of celibacy and marriage have not been commensurate in the Christian tradition and (2) what goes wrong when they are asserted to be commensurate.
KW - Augustine
KW - celibacy
KW - command
KW - law
KW - marriage
KW - Parmenides
KW - sexual difference
U2 - 10.1177/0953946809353004
DO - 10.1177/0953946809353004
M3 - Journal article
VL - 23
SP - 59
EP - 72
JO - Studies in Christian Ethics
JF - Studies in Christian Ethics
SN - 0953-9468
IS - 1
ER -