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jordandaisies's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this, although it was not what I expected completely. Kim-Kort uses queerness to describe the many situations in life when individuals do not fit the norm or go against the grain, which includes the modern reclamation of “queer” by the LGBTQ+ community, but is not limited to this. In that light, she also notes that Jesus was the ultimately queer: always doing the unexpected. I’m not particularly religious, but I enjoy theology and the spiritual ways we make sense of the world. Kim-Kort makes it clear that this is her experience and perspective and it was all still so relatable for me. She uses current events and pop culture often, which I loved.
mstine's review against another edition
5.0
This book was phenomenal. Imagine taking everything you were ever taught about God, humans, and all of their various permutations and combinations of relationships, tossing it into a mixing bowl, pouring in a healthy portion of queerness, mixing it up, and then pouring it back into your brain.
For me, this is what that book was like. And the cake that it bakes tastes GOOD.
I’m still digesting that cake, but so far I like the new mental models that are coalescing. I highly recommend giving Queer Jesus a try.
For me, this is what that book was like. And the cake that it bakes tastes GOOD.
I’m still digesting that cake, but so far I like the new mental models that are coalescing. I highly recommend giving Queer Jesus a try.
kal73's review against another edition
3.0
This book is challenging to review. I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir, but am a little disappointed because I was expecting more of a guide for how to go about queering one's faith. This book is Kim-Korts reflection on her own queerness with few observations on how queerness can be applied to faith in general. Those rare nuggets where she talks about the broader applications of queerness to faith are gold and worth reading the book to find; I just wish the book was presented more as the memoir it actually is (which is a good memoir). I'd still recommend the book to folks with the caveat to adjust your expectations. I look forward to reading some of her other works.
laurenexploresbooks's review against another edition
4.0
This work provides opportunity to expand what it means to be a Christian and embracing a queer spirituality. Queer spirituality is about expanding the Christian definition of who receives love and is seen as beloved by God particularly highlighting the LGBTQIA+ community. Mihee illustrates how Christians are called to a love that transcends boundaries and embrace folks in all of their vulnerability and identities. This work combines biblical stories with her own personal journey and experiences with the church.
cosmicbookworm's review against another edition
3.0
In "Outside the Lines," Mihee Kim-Kort, a Presbyterian minister who identifies as queer, explores how adopting a queer mindset can transform one's faith. Despite positive reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, along with a recommendation from a friend and a forward by Rachel Held Evans, my expectations for the book were not met.
While I appreciated the author's personal story and found some topics interesting, certain aspects didn't align with my language preferences. For example, the chapter titled "Blessed Are the Promiscuous" uses language that might be considered alarming, though the application is different from what one might expect. Kim-Kort's use of the term "queer" also extends beyond my own interpretation of the word. The book seemed somewhat repetitive at times and, in some instances, meandered off course.
I believe the marketing of the book could be reconsidered to avoid potentially alarming Christians who might be deterred by the expected content. The central theme of embracing differences resonates with me, and I agree with the importance of fostering acceptance of others.
hereisenough's review against another edition
This was.... very weird. I didn’t read half way, so Im sure I’m missing essential elements, but I’d hoped that a book about queerness would at least be written by a queer person (okay, sure, the author looks back on childhood relationships and now thinks she had some bi crushes.) Not to mention that in the “body matters” section, she begins by talking about race/skin tone. Black people aren’t queer. They aren’t weird and they aren’t “the other.” Queer doesn’t simply mean “weird” and “different.” This made me very uncomfortable and I stopped reading.
madisonboboltz's review against another edition
3.0
Hmmmm. On the one hand, this book is very accessible, and it was refreshing to read something that goes beyond apologetics. Kim-Kort is not concerned with the "is being gay a sin" debate. She instead focuses her work on celebrating the ways queerness enriches faith.
On the other hand, much of the theology she presents is way underdeveloped and even problematic. There is some really great potential, but her transitions are unclear and she tends to rely on fictional accounts of queer representation rather than rooting her arguments in the actual embodied experiences of queer individuals. Her own personal anecdotes are helpful, and her identity as a Korean-American contributes to discussions about intersectionality, yet they themselves are limited. I finished several chapters thinking there was some beautiful writing and interesting points, but it was difficult to discern the intended takeaway.
Overall, I'm eager to discover more developed on queer theology.
On the other hand, much of the theology she presents is way underdeveloped and even problematic. There is some really great potential, but her transitions are unclear and she tends to rely on fictional accounts of queer representation rather than rooting her arguments in the actual embodied experiences of queer individuals. Her own personal anecdotes are helpful, and her identity as a Korean-American contributes to discussions about intersectionality, yet they themselves are limited. I finished several chapters thinking there was some beautiful writing and interesting points, but it was difficult to discern the intended takeaway.
Overall, I'm eager to discover more developed on queer theology.
rfish0615's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.75