Radical Love: An Introduction to Queer Theology

Queer theology is more than LGBT people talking about God, according to Cheng, professor at Episcopal Divinity School and ordained minister in the Metropolitan Community Church. The real enterprise for queer theology is challenging binary distinctions and erasing boundaries. This erasure is made possible (indeed demanded) by the radical love espoused by Christianity. Through this love, all boundaries (gay/straight, male/female, life/death, divine/human) are dissolved. The first third of the book gallops through the history and method of queer theology. The barrage of snippets from theologians feels somewhat disjointed and overwhelming, but does provide a taste of the breadth of queer theology. Cheng then uses the framework of the Nicene and Apostles' Creeds to show how radical love can dissolve distinctions. Even liberal Christians might be alarmed at some of the explicit images Cheng connects with God and spiritual matters. Such shocks, however, play into the argument that queer theology should trouble assumptions. Cheng's work provides an accessible if somewhat rushed glimpse into how queer theology works; its main benefit is the extensive bibliography for those wanting more. (Mar.)