Gay Conversations with God: Straight Talk on Fanatics, Fags and the God Who Loves Us All [Hardcover]

James Alexander Langteaux (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2012

Representing a first in gay and Christian publishing, this provocative book presents a complete reversal of thought and action, contending that God loves homosexuals without attempting to refute scripture references. The study confronts its subject with a quirky sense of humor in the spirit of the “bedtime story,” providing a rare, evangelical Christian volume addressed directly to the gay community. Unorthodox in its presentation, this guide speaks the language of those who may feel abandoned, condemned, and damned while avoiding reinterpretations of scriptural passages, making the gospel accessible to a younger, free-spirited generation. Spearheading a volatile topic with candor and grace, it reframes the never-ending question, Is homosexuality a sin? and instead asks the gay community for a cease-fire—to forgive, love, and help put a stop to a cultural war being waged in the world.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Findhorn Press (April 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844095827
• ISBN-13: 978-1844095827
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #418,198 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #79 in Books > Gay & Lesbian > Nonfiction > Civil Rights

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A brave, engaging, and disarming book that page by page insults our sensibilities and peels away the reader’s safe, comfortable, and secure personal perceptions, attitudes, and limits…. It is an uncomfortable but spiritually rewarding journey with great and demanding insights. And trust me, you will laugh out loud."  —Lisa D., booking agent, producer, and director

"This book is the record of an epic search by the soul, told as a journey of discovery into the darkness of doubt and damnation. Through his words, Langteaux shows the reader that it is our faith that maintains us on this journey of shocks, doubts, questions, revelations, joy, and light. And it is this very light that leads the reader into Christ's freeing truth and the profound depth of his love for all his creation."  —Larry P., writer and activist

"James, I read your first two books, and as a gay man and an agnostic, I honestly thought you were . . . a hypocrite. After reading Gay Conversations with God, I can honestly say, for the first time in my life, that I now believe that there is a God—and perhaps, he may even love me."  —Paul G., multimedia artist

"James, after reading Gay Conversations with God, I went out today with a smile and so much joy! I knew that God loves me and that made all the difference . . . . In my closet where I was hiding from myself was guilt and shame and the belief that I was unlovable . . . your story is one of sacred tenderness and acceptance . . . at times, as I was reading, I knew I was in truth, listening to the voice of God . . . how real and honest the words are . . . you have such a poetic gift as a writer . . . simple and deep and embracing and real!"  —Toni G., Poet

From the Author

This is a crazy book.  It has taken me 8 long years to finally come to a place where I truly believe this raw and honest message of God's incredible, undeniable, unconditional love for ALL of his kids. More specifically - for me.
 
I also had to figure out how I would survive after being banished from the Christian television world, once this book made it too print.  If it ever did, make it to print. (An A.D.D. Moment: Working in Christian TV has always been God's little joke on me.  When I was 18 I told him I would NEVER work in any Christian endeavor, especially not TV.  Now, after spending most of my life doing just that, I'm telling God I will NEVER win the lottery.)   
 
After my agent received about 30 rejections from all the major publishers, I was pretty much convinced that this little book would be safely tucked up on my shelf and I could continue traveling the planet interviewing people with amazing stories. 
But it turned out that God had other plans and a bold little publisher on the Northern Coast of Scotland came from out of nowhere and decided to take a very big risk in a very bad economy to put these incendiary words into print.  I remain forever grateful to Thierry and the folks at Findhorn Press.  And I am trusting that if God can pull this kind of thing out of a hat, he can also figure out a way for me to continue to eat!
 
This book is not shocking for sheer shock sake. I knew I had to speak the language of those who have been beaten and bloodied beyond belief by God's so called right hand men. Drastic times call for drastic measures and this book pulls no punches. Imagine Billy Graham meets Dr. Seuss with just a dollop of porn and you pretty much have this book.  
 
GCWG was originally titled: God Hates Fags - and other bedtime Bible stories.  However, some people smarter and more influential convinced me to change the name.  But thankfully, the power and lyrical cadence of the message remains the same.  I still really love the old title. But if I can reach one more reader with a saner cover, it will have been worth it in the end.  And knowing it was once a collection of bedtime bible stories will make the Dr. Seuss quality make a whole lot more sense.
Oh, one last note.  This book is a little like insulin.  If you are a diabetic, it will save you, if you aren't it will kill you. Take only as directed - Reader Beware!)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Findhorn Press (April 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844095827
• ISBN-13: 978-1844095827
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #418,198 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #79 in Books > Gay & Lesbian > Nonfiction > Civil Rights

More About the Author

James Alexander Langteaux is a TV producer/host and author of the groundbreaking (and sometimes shocking) new book - Gay Conversations with God - straight talk on fanatics, fags and the God who loves us all. (Findhorn Press) His other titles include: God.com - extreme intimacy with an interactive God and God.net - the journey beyond belief. (Multnomah/Random House).

James has lived and traveled all over the world--from the sweeping lava flows of New Zealand to the slums of India--in search of people and their incredible stories. He is passionate about creating unique and innovative expressions of music, poetry, graphic novels, videos and television shows that have not only brought inspiration but have won awards internationally.

James has lived life on a dare to believe - that the God of the Universe does speak, if only we take the time to listen. He has risked everything to follow that voice - and at times he has risked everything to run from it. But the adventure has been in Technicolor to say the least. From living on the rooftop of an old Pabst Blue Ribbon Brewery to running an underground speakeasy and music venue serving fresh music and free dinner to Los Angeles every week- there is definitely no time to watch TV, and very little time to sleep.

Recently James has opened PlanBreathe in Charlotte, NC - a unique healing oasis featuring the life changing modality of transformational breath work as well as yoga, massage and various healing workshops and events. But the road beckons and James has picked up a shiny little Airstream to tour the country with his 100 pound pit bull Diesel to spread more good news.

Of all the incredible twists and turns in his journey - James finds the most fulfillment in connecting with God's beautiful kids all over the world to let them know in some form or fashion- with conviction, fire and passion - that they have a purpose and a destiny and they are exquisitely loved.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It's finally been said March 27, 2012

By Ryan

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

James Alexander Langteaux proved he was a wordsmith with his first two books, 'God.com' and 'God.net,' but with 'Gay Conversations with God,' he proves that he has the balls to say the one thing that so many gay Christians have been waiting for someone to tell them - "God loves you." The thing that makes this book so undeniably powerful is that when he says "God loves you," he doesn't say it in a caring yet somehow condescending way. He doesn't say it with the caveat of "...but God hates who you are." When he says "God loves you," he means it in the most personal, all-consuming, profound and interpersonal way possible.
His delivery isn't politically correct, his subject matter is still taboo and his take-it-or-leave-it attitude is outrageous, but when dealing with a group of people who have been marginalized, cast aside and outright hated within the Christian communities from which they come, the pointed feels poignant and the tone feels loving.
This book comes from the heart of a man that has been there and a man that doesn't pretend that he has all the answers today. What he does have is an out-stretched hand to anyone who has loved God, loved someone of the same sex and tried with all their might to figure out how those two things go together.
Read this book if you're gay and grew up in the church. Read this book if you're gay and want to figure out if you can possibly love Jesus. Read this book if you're a Christian parent that's not afraid to try to understand your gay kid. There's a chance it just might change your life.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Mainlining Grace... April 1, 2012

By Timothy Kurek

Format:Hardcover

I don't think I have ever read a book on Christian spirituality, much less lgbtq related spirituality, that has given me the sensation that I am mainlining grace.

I read this book in two sittings. The first was at Powell's in Portland, OR, where people repeatedly watched me tearing up as I read. And the second was in my room where my cat suffered through the repeated spectacle of my blubbering.

There are parts of this book that will make the average reader cringe with discomfort, but I would like to tell them "welcome to the other side." The beauty of this book is in the discomfort. It is the discomfort of hearing a man's raw and uncensored story of faith, spirituality and sexuality, but much more uncomfortable it is the story of how much of what we have been taught about God is actually untrue. It seems that mainstream religion really doesn't want us to understand how accessible God really is, but James Langteaux, with his beautiful prose and A.D.D. moments, brings God's accessibility to the forefront.

Forgiveness is uncomfortable. Mercy is uncomfortable. Love is uncomfortable. But thanks to James, these things have become so much more real to me. I hope you buy this book and hope you read it through in one or two sittings. I hope you feel as though you are mainlining grace and I hope you feel a renewal of yourself and your faith on each and every page.

(I also highly suggest God.com and God.net for those who haven't read James's writing before.)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Gay Conversations with God March 29, 2012

By Larry Shattuck

Format:Hardcover

When I purchased Gay Conversations with God it was intended for my newly ordained Episcopal priest and Studio 54 partner of long ago.

This didn't seen to be my thing as I happen to be an Agnostic with a Spiritual bent, but after reading Langteaux's book my epiphany was not so much about the book, even thought it took nearly a box of tissues to get me through it and a considerable number of belly laughs, it was really about the author.

I truly could not believe that someone in this screwed up beautiful world in which we gay people have provided the beauty and have had to navigate it to survive had actually done their homework and had written and published a book that contained so much of how I feel and have actually talked to some of my friends, family and many people in passing about God.

The only thing is, well I'm sure not the only thing, but Langteaux's hands-on-experience with the "lady with the purple hair" God how I laughed, I can't believe that was in your book!

Anyway... Gay Conversations with God has totally taken the concept to a whole new magnitude. The author's exceptional gift for writing with humor, presentation and clarification is the epiphany for me.

This book rates far more than 5 stars. It should be mandatory reading for the entire Straight community. It has the ability to bring all hate to a halt.

Larry Shattuck, New York City

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the Jesus I believe in! April 3, 2012

By Straight Christian Woman (from the midwest, no less)

Format:Hardcover

Brilliant, touching, eye-opening, hilarious, heartbreaking, and so much more. As a straight Christian female, the "gay" conversation is typically one I avoided... because I could. I certainly did not buy into the "God hates fags" philosophy, but I wasn't sure -or concerned for that matter- what the actual truth might be. I'm fortunate that a through a personal circumstance God was no longer going to allow my objectivity of the matter. (more like ignorance) I finished this book on an airplane last night, and sat bewildered in my seat for the next hour just stunned at how God works. He used this precious author's words to speak straight to my straight heart. This book challenges mainstream "Christianity," and illustrates how Jesus reigns over religion, love over rules, and grace over wrath. I plan to purchase and distribute several more copies of this book. Another I recommend is Tim Keller's the Prodigal God.The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith