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Reinterpreting the Spiritual Relationships of Gay Men In REINTERPRETING THE SPIRITUAL RELATIONSHIPS OF GAY MEN IN PENTECOSTAL/CHARISMATIC CHURCHES by JOHN-EDUARD BOSMAN submitted in part fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF THEOLOGY in the subject PRACTICAL THEOLOGY – WITH SPECIALISATION IN PASTORAL THERAPY at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA SUPERVISOR: DR A F LOUW JOINT SUPERVISOR: PROF J P J THERON JUNE 2006 Student number: 341-686-0 I declare that REINTERPRETING THE SPIRITUAL RELATIONSHIPS OF GAY MEN IN PENTECOSTAL/CHARISMATIC CHURCHES is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. Signature (J Bosman) Date i ABSTRACT This study explores how gay Christian men in the pentecostal/charismatic movement reinterpret their spirituality as a reaction to the discourse about homosexuality in this movement. The spiritual experience of gay men is contextualized within the particular emphasis on individual experience found in pentecostal/charismatic spirituality. Practical theological research is conducted within a postmodern discourse set in context of a Participatory Action Research project. A narrative therapeutical approach served to identify harmful discourses and encourage the continuing deconstruction of such discourses. The extent to which power/knowledge relationships affect gay Christians’ spiritual relationships became apparent. Conflict between the church’s discourse about homosexuality and the gay Christian appears to start a process of deconstruction of fundamentalist pentecostal/charismatic hermeneutical approaches to the Bible. The research process facilitated a process of reconstruction of gay spirituality and created opportunities for spiritual and social growth. This research may inspire gay Christian voices in pentecostal/charismatic circles to become heard. Key Words: Pentecostal /Charismatic/ Spirituality/ Homosexuality /Gay Men/ Postmodern / Discourse/ Practical Theology/ Narrative analysis / Participatory Research ii CONTENTS PROLOGUE........................................................................................................................1 CHAPTER ONE : INTRODUCTION TO THE RESEARCH JOURNEY .............................. 1 1.1 Alienation, marginalisation and exclusion ............................................................ 1 1.2. The face(s) of ‘spirituality’ .................................................................................... 6 1.2.1 Exploring some meanings ascribed to spirituality ................................................ 6 1.2.2 Spirituality in pentecostal/charismatic theology.................................................... 8 1.2.3 Re-introducing spirituality into therapeutic practices.......................................... 10 1.3 Personal motivation for engaging in this research ............................................. 12 1.4 The purpose of my study ................................................................................... 14 1.5 Overview of this chapter ................................................................................... 16 1.6 Looking at chapter two....................................................................................... 16 CHAPTER TWO: EPISTEMOLOGICAL GUIDES ON THE JOURNEY - PARADIGMS OF THOUGHT............................................................................. 17 2.1 Introduction to a postmodern epistemology ....................................................... 17 2.1.1 Guides on this journey ....................................................................................... 17 2.1.1.1 Discourse ........................................................................................................... 17 2.1.1.2 Postmodern discourse on gay spirituality........................................................... 19 2.1.1.3 Social construction discourse on gay spirituality................................................ 20 2.1.1.4 Post-structuralist discourse on gay spirituality ................................................... 21 2.1.1.6 Contextual Practical Theology ........................................................................... 24 2.1.1.7 Narrative pastoral therapeutic approach............................................................ 26 2.2 An overview of this chapter................................................................................ 27 2.3 Looking at chapter three .................................................................................... 28 CHAPTER THREE: DOING RESEARCH ........................................................................ 29 3.1 Research paradigm............................................................................................ 29 3.2 Qualitative research ........................................................................................... 29 3.2.1 Positivism........................................................................................................... 30 3.2.2 Postpositivism .................................................................................................... 31 3.2.3 Critical Theory and Related Ideological Positions.............................................. 32 3.2.4 Constructivism ................................................................................................... 32 3.3 Participatory action research ............................................................................. 33 3.3.1 What is Participatory Action Research?............................................................. 33 3.3.2 The “how” of Participatory Action Research....................................................... 35 3.4 Narrative research ............................................................................................. 38 3.5 Feminist research .............................................................................................. 39 3.6 How the research process evolved.................................................................... 40 3.7 Overview of this chapter .................................................................................... 44 3.8 Looking at chapter four ...................................................................................... 44 iii CHAPTER FOUR: THEOLOGY AND HOMOSEXUALITY ............................................... 45 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 45 4.2 Psychology, morality, religion............................................................................. 46 4.3 Fundamentalism and the pentecostal/charismatic movement .......................................................................................................... 47 4.4 ‘Clobber texts’ .................................................................................................... 51 4.4.1 The pentecostal/charismatic way of interpreting texts ....................................... 61 4.5 I was born gay - essentialism and social construction ....................................... 64 4.6 Individualised spirituality .................................................................................... 69 4.7 Overview of this chapter .................................................................................... 70 4.8 Looking at chapter five....................................................................................... 71 CHAPTER FIVE : FORMING NEW RELATIONSHIPS: THE RESEARCH PROCESS .... 72 5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 72 5.2 Retracing my steps in search of participants ..................................................... 72 5.3 Introducing my co-researchers .......................................................................... 74 5.3.1 Nicky .................................................................................................................. 74 5.3.2 Paul.................................................................................................................... 76 5.3.3 Jacques.............................................................................................................. 77 5.3.4 André ................................................................................................................. 79 5.3.5 Herman .............................................................................................................. 82 5.3.6 Johan ................................................................................................................. 84 5.4 The golden thread - spirituality........................................................................... 87 5.5 New relationships formed .................................................................................. 90 5.6 Effects of using participatory action research .................................................... 91 5.6.1 Levels of active participation.............................................................................. 91 5.6.2 Responding to challenges for change beyond the personal .............................. 92 5.6.3 Questions about identification of a research concern ........................................ 93 5.6.4 Effects of involvement in the research process.................................................. 93 5.7 Overview of this chapter .................................................................................... 94 5.8 Looking at chapter six .......................................................................................
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