LGBT Activism and Reflexive Religion: A Case Study from Finland in the Light of Social Movements Theory

In this article we focus on lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender/-sexual (LGBT) activism that is grounded in some form of religious identification. Using the approach of the study of social movements highlights the features that enable such a movement to operate and proliferate in the heterogene...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Authors: Nynäs, Peter 1969- (Author) ; Lassander, Mika 1967- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Carfax Publ. [2015]
In: Journal of contemporary religion
Year: 2015, Volume: 30, Issue: 3, Pages: 453-471
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Finland / LGBT / Social movement
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
Description
Summary:In this article we focus on lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender/-sexual (LGBT) activism that is grounded in some form of religious identification. Using the approach of the study of social movements highlights the features that enable such a movement to operate and proliferate in the heterogeneous, fluid, and distinctly non-institutional context of the contemporary religious or spiritual field and also to effect changes in the ranks of a traditional religious institution. Religious LGBT activism is a process-oriented and network-shaped movement that attributes positive value to and takes advantage of—and gains resilience from—an internal diversity in contrast to being institutionally organised and programmatically or dogmatically defined. We suggest that the current public exposure and treatment of the issues around religion and sexuality should be seen as negations of old and legitimation of new religious identities—not only of sexual identities. Rather than mobilisation through collective identity, religious LGBT activism emerges as part of an active process of value production wherein reflexivity and diversity are central features fostered by both individual and collective negotiations of subjective and emotionally challenging and motivating experiences.
ISSN:1469-9419
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of contemporary religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/13537903.2015.1081348