Public Theology and Violent Rhetoric Examined in a Queer Womanist Critical Ethnography

Public theology is an emerging constructive tool. In its inception, public theology was largely contextualized as the ''public church.'' However, this thoughtful and empathetic book situates our publics everywhere . Smallwood contends that those who have been harmed by violent rhetoric from speech actors who would ''other'' them retain the capacity to have and hold a theology. This different entry point allows for people of faith, those who are and those who are not associated with a particular communion of faith or denominational affiliation to claim public space for theologizing. Here, public theology is about the capacity of those who are ''othered'' to affirmatively express their faith and to critically engage with those who would deny and denigrate their ontology. ''Enduring hardship as a good soldier'' does not mean exposing oneself to verbal abuse week after week. Many LGBTQIA+ persons are assaulted, degraded, humiliated, and derogated from the pulpits and podiums of places of worship. This abuse caused many to turn away from their faith. Those who withstood protracted verbal abuse turned it inward and began to hate themselves. Through ethnography, Smallwood tackles these tough truths and engages with LGBTQIA+ persons. This book critically examines both the harm done to them and the help that is to come from a paradigmatic shift in care. Smallwood emphasises how spiritual self-assessment, ritual, and indigenous spiritual practices offer a way to wholeness and healing. Drawing from Yoruba epistemology, this work offers a framework for rebirth, renewal, and reclamation.>

Préface
An ethnographic work by a queer woman of color using womanist methodology to critically examine the violet rhetoric of black church public theology in the treatment of LGBTQIA+ persons.

Auteur
Teresa L. Smallwood is The James Franklin Kelly and Hope Eyster Kelly Associate Professor of Public Theology at the United Lutheran Seminary, USA

Texte du rabat

"This book shares the insight of LGBTQIA+ persons surveyed and interviewed to describe how they have experienced the violent rhetoric of black church public theology as a means toward developing a philosophical paradigmatic shift that generates spiritual renewal for all, particularly those in the LGBTQIA+ community and those who provide them pastoral and teaching leadership"--

Contenu
Preface Introduction Chapter 1 The Least of These Chapter 2 The Bully Pulpit: Untying the Ties that Bind Chapter 3 Whiteface and the "Face of the Other" Chapter 4 Wounded Healers Wound People Epilogue Appendix A: Death Documents for Lilly Ruth Mitchell Appendix B: Survey Questions Appendix C: Transcription of the Sermon by Pastor Andersen Index