Mollenkott, Virginia Ramey. Sensuous Spirituality: Out From Fundamentalism. Revised and Expanded Edition. Cleveland: Pilgrim Press, 2008. 256 pages. $25.00. ISBN: 9780829818055.

Influenced by John Milton‘s creation of the word sensuous [to avoid associations with the word sensual], Virginia Ramey Mollenkott considers the LGBT community’s place within Christian theology.

First, she examines her own spiritual life journey, that of being “forced out of the fundamentalist community” due to her “female secondariness, [her] transgender qualities, and [her] sexual orientation.”

Next, Mollenkott thoroughly explores the impact of heteropatriarchal power on history, culture, and Christianity, and examines how bridges can be built between those of differing theological views.

Sensuous Spirituality would best serve patrons in academic libraries specializing in religion and theology, gender studies, and feminism.

Reviewed by Dave Combe
E. P. Foster Library
Ventura, CA