Gender, Sexuality, and Christianity

Undergraduate / Graduate

Throughout the centuries, how have appeals to biblical literature and Christian teaching served to challenge, preserve, or subvert normative expectations for gender expression and sexuality? This course exposes students to the foundational texts and pivotal debates that continue to shape our politics and society. We will begin with how the writers of New Testament literature set trajectories for subsequent struggles over biblical interpretation and the organization of Christian communities. Students will learn how ancient medical views of the gendered body shaped this literature. We will examine how discourses around martyrs, ascetics, and saints provided avenues for late antique and medieval Christians to imagine the transgression of social norms. Moving to the pre-modern and modern periods, the class will explore the ever-changing relationship between political power and ecclesial authorities, with an eye to debates regarding marriage and procreation. We will approach texts through a historical lens while paying attention to the philosophical, theological, and ethical issues involved. Readings will be drawn from all over the globe, reflecting the multilingual, multicultural, and multivocal nature of Christianity from its origins to the present day. We will engage modern theorists to place contemporary approaches in conversation with the historical archive to better understand discourses around virginity, sexuality, and identity. No prior knowledge required.