Reviews

The Book of Queer Prophets: 24 Writers on Sexuality and Religion by Ruth Hunt

emmadobson_2812's review against another edition

5.0

This book is wonderful! A superb collection of moving, insightful and inspiring essays on the relationship between faith and sexuality. Such a broad range of experiences, articulated in unique and beautiful ways.

kirstyjuliette's review against another edition

1.0

Worst quality audiobook I’ve ever heard. Made it difficult to listen to the essays, but also I found a lot of them quite dull and self indulgent. Hoping it would change my mind somewhat about religion’s intersectionality with lgbt+-ness but I still think it’s heinous.

heyheyhell's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective

4.0

the_casual_reader's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

2.75

Probably a solid 3.0 
(However 2.75, since most essays blurred together into one because of the experience of sameness and lack of variety, audio-format might play a role)

multilingual_s's review against another edition

emotional informative sad slow-paced

4.5

A beautiful but difficult read. I really enjoyed the many different perspectives, even though trans voices were underrepresented (and there were no non binary, ace or intersex perspectives, as far as i can tell). It's mostly really sad that religious communities have been so unwelcoming and causing so much suffering, and it's fascinating to see that religion can still be a source of strength and joy for many of the contributors. But generally the book left me feeling as if there were some blind spots, an itch that was left unscratched, maybe because none of the stories resonated with me completely. 

miliemoon's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

One these essentials reads, particularly when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community, there must be books that people should read.

Short stories, true stories, have the extraordinary power of humanising a group of people alienated by society. We need to reach within ourselves and see how religions are feeding into this fear and hate of "the other".

There is no "other". We are all the same: loving, feeling, crying, growing, learning. 

Must read! Absolutely must read!

I am tired of hearing a ridiculous amount of stupid things about the queer community. Education must happen! This a perfect book for secondary schools, inviting teens and teachers to learn and embrace new knowledge to ensure this community feels safer, loved, seen, heard, respected like everyone should be. 

pageglue's review against another edition

A prophet is someone who foresees the future, but this is a book of memoirs in essay format and each writer is talking about their past experiences. I relate to a lot of them, which is only bringing back a lot of bad memories. Despite the fact that these writers seem to be in a better place than they used to be, I’m not finding any solace in their writings - things were bad and they still are - nor am I seeing any hope for the future here. I even skipped ahead to try and find an essay I’d be interested in, but after skimming through a dozen or so more they’re all talking about their past traumas, which I don’t need right now.

queenc's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

4.75

zionsadv's review against another edition

3.0

This was a cute read. Some of the sections were more interesting and impactful than others. But it really focused on Christianity and the church. I was expecting more on LGBT+ relationships to spirituality. But it ended up being more about LGBT+ relationships to the church, which is fine, but in parts it felt like I had gone back to the early 2000’s and was watching some morning show tv debate on “can gay people be Christian”. It doesn’t feel like a book that came out in 2020.
I would love to read a book like this from more diverse perspectives (other religions and religious backgrounds). Or a book about LGBT+ spirituality would be better.

Equally, there were some gems in this book that I really appreciated reading.

hillersg7's review against another edition

4.0

This is a powerful and often inspiring read. Hearing the stories of these LGBTQIA+ people I feel both hopeful and challenged. There is joy that many of the writers have discovered or allowed themselves to be the truest of themselves. There is still the struggle of prejudice and discomfort from individuals and religious institutions when faced with difference and otherness. Faith is sometimes seen as a barrier and may become part of the liberation of people to become their truest selves. And there is still far to go on the journey of real welcome and inclusion.