The Biology and Spirituality of Human Sexuality: Class Index Page

The Biology and Spirituality
of Human Sexuality
Class Index Page

An Adult Sunday School Class
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Fayetteville, AR

(Revised 26 June 2005)

Class 1

Class 2

Class 3

Class 4

Class 5

Class 6

Class 7

Class 8

Class 9

Class 10

Introduction

Welcome to this adult forum for the discussion of the biology, spirituality, and theology of human sexuality. The schedule for the 10 session class is shown in the table below.

Following the table is a description of the goals for the class and the rules of conduct to be followed as we discuss some very intimate aspects of human behavior. There is no single book resource that we will use for this class. Instead, we will discuss the works of several researchers, scientific experts, ethicists, moral theologians, and religious scholars and theologians as we go along. The books and articles I have assembled is not meant to be all inclusive or exhaustive, and I can assure you that the material from the bibliography will not be used or presented in an overwhelming way. Rather the books and articles are meant to facilitate our discussion, and to provide lens for us to use when we look at our own theologies and spiritualities of sexuality. Feel free to browse among the books and other resources that are listed in the Class Bibliography.

Please feel free to e-mail me at any time if you have questions or wish to carry on a dialog with me. I look forward to hearing from you.

(The Rev.) Bill Stroop, Ph.D.

Schedule

Date	Class	Topic	Very Optional Background Reading
May 25, 2003	Class 1	Beginning the Dialog About Human Sexuality	The book edited by Beth Ann Gaede and L. William Countryman in the Bibliography.
June 1, 2003	Class 2	Sexuality and the Church: What is(are) the debate(s) about regarding sexuality?	The books by Keith Hartman, John J. McNeill, Saul M. Olyan & Martha C. Nussbaum, Dennis B.A. Berk, Part I of the book by Eugene Rogers, and Sexuality: A Divine Gift by the Members of the Task Force on Human Sexuality and Family Life, and The Gift of Sexuality: A Theological Perspective by the House of Bishops Theology Committee in the Bibliography
June 8, 2003		NO CLASS
June 15, 2003	Class 3	What does the Bible say about sexuality?	The books by Daniel Helminiak, and Part I of the book by Choon-Leong Seow in the Bibliography
June 22, 2003	Class 4	What do scripture and tradition say about homosexuality?	The books by Jeffrey S. Siker, Walter Wink, and Chapters 2 and 4 of the book by Stanley S. Grenz in the Bibliography
June 29, 2003		NO CLASS
July 6, 2003	Class 5	Homoeroticism in the ancient world and pre-modern church views of homosexuality	The books by Martti Nissinen, L. William Countryman, and John Boswell in the Bibliography
July 13, 2003	Class 6	Current scientific and medical understandings of the biology of sexuality	The books by Eric Marcus, Jeffrey S. Siker, Dave Leal, in the Bibliography
July 20, 2003	Class 7	The psychology and spirituality of sexual expression	The books by Samuel Kader, and Beverly Greene & Gregory M. Herek, in the Bibliography
July 27, 2003	Class 8a	Presentation by Integrity Arkansas: Part 1
August 3, 2003	Class 8b	Presentation by Integrity Arkansas: Part 2
August 24, 2003	Class 9	Sex as sacrament: Moving toward an ethical view of sexual expression	The books by Morton & Barbara Kelsey, Richard Cleaver, and L. William Countryman in the Bibliography
September 21, 2003	Class 10	The ethics of sexuality: Mutuality of sexual pleasure as grace and gift	The book by L. William Countryman; Chapter 6 in the book by Jones & Yarhouse; the book by Charles Hefling; the book by Christine E. Gudorf; and Part 4 of the book edited by James B. Nelson and Sandra P. Longfellow in the Bibliography

Goals of this Class

Our relationship with the divine and our relationship with each other are incredibly important to us. And those relationships are intensely personal and intimate; they do not lend themselves easily to discussion. Yet, it is only by speaking our thoughts about them and by engaging in holy listening to each other that we will fully develop our own personal understandings of these relationships. Through that understanding, we in turn see how these relationships draw us closer to each other, make cohesive community for us, and pull us closer to God.

It is a major goal of this class to simply explore issues of sexuality, ethics, psychology and spirituality in an open and respectful setting. We want to muck around these topics in order to deepen our own understanding of them so that we are better informed about them and each other's perspectives. It is not a goal to push any particular view or agenda, but rather to look carefully and prayerfully at some intimate aspects of human behavior and relationality. At times this will be challenging, frustrating, and confusing, but in the end, it should provide some meaningful clarity to these topics.

Rules of Conduct

Bearing in mind the intimate nature of any discussion about sexuality, this class will be conducted in a compassionate and caring way, where everyone is mindful of each other, and respectful of everyone's dignity and autonomy. Our discussions will undoubtedly be very intimate at times. At other times they may be confrontational. But at all times, we will honor each other and listen to each other with "holy ears." Sharing is an important element to developing understanding, trust, and perhaps a consensus. In order to share in ways that respect each other, we need to adopt an ethic that will protect ourselves and each other, and yet facilitate the dialog. Knowing what is and what is not confidential is crucial to this process. Therefore, when we wish to divulge things that are deeply personal, and that we might want to be held in confidence, we will let each other know this, by preceding such comments with a phrase like, "What I am about to say is said in confidence..." or "Please keep what I am about to reveal within the confines of this room..." Everyone else is bound to honor that statement, and to not repeat what is said in the room. In this way we can have open and lively discussion that honors and respects each other as we want to be honored and respected ourselves.

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