Customer Reviews

Coming Out as Sacrament

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I heartily commend to you Chris Glaser's newest book, "Coming Out as Sacrament." I have just finished reading it and wished this book had been written three decades ago when I began my own laborious "coming out" process. Chris affirms that "Coming Out is our unique sacrament, a rite of vulnerability that reveals the sacred in our lives--our worth, our love, our love-making, our beloved, our community, our context of meaning, and our God."

Coming out from the confines of the closet, whatever it may be, should be a freeing and transforming experience for everyone in the lesbigay and transgendered community. In his own unique and creative style, Chris brings fresh insights to an event we have all faced and one which has affected our families and our friends as well.

I am impressed by Chris' Biblical scholarship and the way this informs all of his writings. The chapters on "Coming Out in the Bible" and "God Comes Out" are exciting and extremely insightful.

A unique feature of this book are seven "Rites of the Soul" which Chris offers to us in our journey to wholeness -- affirmations of our belovedness, commitment to justice, and the "celebration of glimpses of the inbreaking of God's victory and vision of a common spiritual wealth for us all". This will be a book you will want to share with others in and out of the closet, including parents and allies. 

Chris Glaser, Coming Out as Sacrament, Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY ISBN 0-664-25748-8

Chris Glaser's finely tuned and wonderfully supportive book, "Coming Out as Sacrament" bridges the gap between homosexuality and the Church in a kind and gentle demeanor. I appreciated Glaser's straightforward (no pun intended) approach to spirtuality, and found many spots for self-reflection throughout this book.

Especially powerful for me was Glaser's recounting of Biblical stories that support "coming out". His assertion that a central theme in life is "coming out" is very true, and shown time and time again through Biblical stories, from Adam and Eve to Paul. His point that God, through the Old Testament, is virtually unknowable to us mere humans, and that he himself "comes out" through the personage of Jesus Christ is both revelationary and comforting to me.

It continouslly impressed me that as Glaser was writing this book, he himself was falling under scrunity and controversy from his congregation and religion, who were struggling with gay issues. Yet, he maintains his composure, his focus, and his desire to show that being gay and being Christian are very compatable, despite the gross misinterpretation and societal pressure plays in those roles.

Three cheers for "Coming Out as Sacrament", a must read.

Having read most of Chris Glaser's books, I want to say that any one of them is well worth a re-read. This book in particular, however, was brought back to my awareness as I prepared to participate in a workshop on Spirituality and Sexuality presented by Glaser at our church, First MCC of Atlanta, this past weekend.

My own perception is that one of the greatest problems in our culture is the rampant dishonesty which colors our entire world-view, but most specifically aspects of sexuality and sexual orientation. I believe most profoundly that the only way to sanity and wholeness in any individual's life is the integration of personality that includes all of who they are. In our interactions with other humans, we will not have any true love or authenticity until we do in fact bring our personal reality to the encounter.

Glaser's book thoroughly investigates the process of becoming whole and wholesome from the perspective of God's Coming-Out to humankind, culminating, of course, in the reality of Jesus. It is powerful, inspiring, and combined with the other insights that Glaser has shared in his other writing, something I will continue to revisit as the opportunities arise.

"Coming Out as Sacrament" is Chris Glaser's inspiring, thorough explanation of why coming out is not just allowed in the Bible, but encouraged. Glaser examines Biblical stories to see how time and time again, Biblical people come out of situations that enslave them and into the light. Glaser than proves that God himself comes out continually in the Bible, gradually but decisively revealing himself to his people, especially in the figure of Jesus. This is a work of supremely sound theology and is a fresh, but ground reworking of scripture. Glaser is ocasionally trivial and petty, especially when he talks about current gay politics in the church, and his style is a bit flowery and academic. In addition, the "Rites for the Soul" section in the back of the book is downright silly. But these are extremely tiny flaws compared to the enormous service this book provides to gay and lesbian people and to the greater religious community.