Rainbow Reviews

BOOK BLURB:
In this companion volume to his critically acclaimed, Lambda Literary Award - winning Gay Spirituality, Toby Johnson further explicates his visionary stance that gay people's nature as outsiders gives them a uniquely powerful perspective on the nature of God and religion. By living outside gender norms, gay people are more open to seeing across boundaries of gender and gain access to a less dualistic outlook on the nature of life. Once again, Johnson approaches this potentially controversial subject matter with erudition, empathy and visionary speculation and gives meaning to gay consciousness beyond superficial issues of sexual behavior.

BOOK REVIEW:
From the introduction to Gay Perspective: "The lesbian and gay rights movement is popularly portrayed as an extremist faction of the Sexual Revolution. It is that, of course, but it's also far more than just that. The recognition of homosexuality as a psychological phenomenon, the rise of openly gay cultures, and the emergence of a distinctive gay consciousness in the last hundred years prompt fresh questions about the purpose of human life, the function of sex in consciousness, the role of authority in society, the meaning of religion and mythology, and even the nature of God.

We have to ask whether an even larger truth about life and God emerges from the personal experience of us actual homosexuals because of our uniquely gay perspective."

In this very interesting volume based in his gay spirituality and sexuality, Toby Johnson explores the unique view on religion and society of a gay person, and expresses a vision of the world that can only be inspired by living a thoughtful life free of the duality of traditional heterosexuality. A religious scholar, and one whose pilgrimage has taken him from Catholic monastic life to San Francisco in the mind-expanding 70s to a multi-decade relationship in central Texas, Johnson is uniquely qualified to speak of the uniquely dimensional relationship with God that is possible from the gay perspective. He says, "The first thing our experience of our homosexuality tells us is that we have a role to play in the unfolding of the universe. We're here for a reason, because everything is here for a reason." Being homosexual, and therefore free of the distractions of duality, you are able to see the connection between the seemingly contradictory mythos of traditional religions to the "inclusive reality that necessarily transcends them all." Heavily influenced by Joseph Campbell, Johnson sees being homosexual as a positive personality trait with opportunities and obligations to overall humanity His new religious insight involves being conscious of consciousness itself. He uses the term 'gay spirituality' to mean a higher, overall perspective on religion and on the universe, transcending traditional understandings.

I was not sure what to expect when I read this book, and I was pleasantly surprised and intrigued. Toby Johnson's gay perspective is his unique view of the universe. He offers the reader a glimpse into the interior life of a deeply spiritual person and an invitation to consider the nature of God in a different way. Refreshingly, he doesn't tell you what to think, but only that you should be thoughtful. I encourage you to expand your horizons by reading this book.

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