Sex and Heaven

Catholics in Bed and at Prayer

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by John Portmann

Palgrave

Due/Published October 2005, 256 pages, paper

ISBN 1403969639

New in paper (F05)

John Portmann examines what it takes to get into heaven, and why religions--Roman Catholicism in particular--place so much emphasis on sex and sexual orientation as a measure of a soul, making "correct sex" the key for achieving salvation above all other virtues. Even as the Vatican has acquiesced on the morality of slavery, and in 1964 officially admitted Jews into heaven, homosexuals--even those who may be otherwise model Catholics--are still disqualified from entering heaven's gates. Portmann analyzes how the way we worship is not as important to the world's religions as the way we make love.

Contents

Introduction: Sex Crimes Against God
On Earth As It Is in Heaven
Heaven's Junior Varsity
The Sex We Don't Have
Better a Straight Jew than a Gay Catholic?
Sacred Public Relations
Religious Conversion as Political Protest
Fertility Cults and Country Clubs
Heaven's Dominion