'A divine attraction between your soul and mine': George Whitefield and same-sex affection in 18th-century Methodism

This article considers the blurred lines between male friendship and homoeroticism in 18th-century Methodism. It considers possible cases of transgressive male sexual acts among Methodist preachers, evaluates contemporary claims made about the sexual proclivities of leading Methodists, and considers...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: O'Brien, Glen 1959- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Sage Publ. [2017]
In: Pacifica
Year: 2017, Volume: 30, Issue: 2, Pages: 177-192
IxTheo Classification:KAH Church history 1648-1913; modern history
KDD Protestant Church
KDE Anglican Church
NCF Sexual ethics
Further subjects:B Methodism
B Masculinity
B Sexuality
B 18th Century
B METHODIST HISTORY
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
Description
Summary:This article considers the blurred lines between male friendship and homoeroticism in 18th-century Methodism. It considers possible cases of transgressive male sexual acts among Methodist preachers, evaluates contemporary claims made about the sexual proclivities of leading Methodists, and considers the social location of 18th-century Methodism as a dangerous underworld of deviant religiosity whose centres of activity were often perched on the edge of sites of social exclusion. The 'effeminacy' of George Whitefield and the lack of heterosexual passion in his life are offered as a mode of examining the homosociality that existed within the heteronormative world of 18th-century Methodism.
ISSN:1839-2598
Contains:Enthalten in: Pacifica
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1177/1030570X17736326