Sexual identity has become an idol in both the culture at large and in the Christian
subculture. And yet concepts like "gay" or "straight" are relatively recent
developments in human history. We let ourselves be defined by socially
constructed notions of sexual identity and sexual orientation--even though these
may not be the only or best ways to think about sexuality.
Anthropologist Jenell Williams Paris offers a Christian framework for sexual
holiness that accounts for complex postmodern realities. She assesses problems
with popular cultural and Christian understandings of heterosexuality and
homosexuality alike. The End of Sexual Identity moves beyond
culture-war impasses to open up new space for conversations in diverse
communities both inside and outside the church.