Beyond Male and Female?

Sam Ashton tracks and traces the sexed body as it moves from creation, through the fall, to redemption "now," and final consummation "not yet." Each chapter privileges biblical exegesis, drawing upon figures in church history (notably Augustine and Aquinas) as and when they illumine Scripture. With the complete divine drama in view, the book offer synthetic judgments about what remains essential for the "structure" of the sexed body as it travels through history and what may be accidental to the sexed body''s "direction" within a particular theo-dramatic act. Ashton concludes by considering ways to transition from dogmatic judgments about intersexuality to the moral-pastoral care of concrete intersex individuals, briefly thinking about the complex matter of marriage.>

This is theological description carefully and discursively pursued. The patience and attention with which differently angled suggestions are brought under review, the persistence with which coherent description is pursued will make this work a seriously useful contribution, not least to those who wish to take the moral aspects of the question further. Good description is an essential foundation for practical reflection, and no one who thinks seriously will fail to learn something important from this example of it.

Préface
A theological assessment of the sexed body as it moves from creation to consummation, to explore whether the phenomenon of intersex embodiment disrupts the traditional interpretation of 'male and female' as a sexed binary.

Auteur
Revd Dr Sam Ashton is minister of St Paul's Hadley Woods, UK.

Texte du rabat

In this incisive work, Sam Ashton provides a compelling, consistent and erudite argument for a foundational approach to the matter of sexual difference, drawing on biblical and doctrinal material and using resources in their original languages. He tracks and traces the sexed body as it moves from creation, through the fall, to redemption "now," and final consummation "not yet." In doing so, Ashton presents what is perhaps the strongest case that can be made for 'male and female He created them'. Each chapter privileges biblical exegesis, drawing upon figures in church history (notably Augustine and Aquinas) as and when they illumine Scripture. By doing so, the book considers the difficulty presented to sexual dimorphism by the phenomenon of intersex. Ashton seeks to develop an understanding that is generous, inclusive and affirming, so he works carefully through the writings of Thatcher, Song and Cornwall in a way that invites engagement and dialogue. With the complete divine drama in view, the book offers synthetic judgments about what remains essential for the "structure" of the sexed body as it travels through history and what may be accidental to the sexed body's "direction" within a particular theo-dramatic act. Ashton concludes by considering ways to transition from dogmatic judgments about intersexuality to the moral-pastoral care of concrete intersex individuals, briefly thinking about the complex matter of marriage.

Contenu
Chapter 1 Introducing Intersexuality Chapter 2 Historical-Cultural Background: The One-Sex Theory Chapter 3 Creation: Intersex in the Beginning? Chapter 4 Fall: Death's Disordering Decay Chapter 5 Redemption: Newness in Christ Chapter 6 Consummation: Intersex in Heaven? Conclusion Theological Glasses Bibliography Index