Behold the Men

Dr Robert Beckford is a scholar-activist whose work has significantly influenced the intersection of theology, 'race' and culture in Black religions of the Black Atlantic. Outside of academia, he has produced over thirty television and radio documentaries, being awarded a BAFTA for one, and has also worked as a music producer, including the socio-political, contemporary gospel album, 'The Jamaican Bible Remix'. Robert holds professorial roles in the UK and the Netherlands and is the director-elect for a new urban public theology project in South London, where he will co-produce theology with diverse communities. Rachel Starr is Director of Studies at the Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education in Birmingham, where she teaches biblical studies and feminist contextual theologies.

Rarely (if ever) are we invited to think specifically about men's bodies and identities in the course of doing theology, despite men having such a dominant hold on theology throughout history. This book, with its many exceptional contributions, sets us off on this essential journey, at a time when so much is at stake in relation to sex, gender, power, faith and justice. This is crucial reading for men, and for all of us who hope for the redeeming of masculinity from its many toxic distortions.

• 1 naked bodies (introduction) 11.1 Missing bodies 11.2 Behold the Men – uhuru wise (2022) 51.3 Male, men and masculinities 71.4 Using this book 91.5 For reflection, conversation and action 101.6 Bibliography 102 earthed bodies (becoming men) 122.1 Introduction 122.2 #BlackWomenMatter: Theological anthropology and toxic masculinity – Robert Beckford 202.3 For reflection, conversation and action 282.4 Bibliography 283 displaced bodies (mission) 323.1 Introduction 323.2 Mission and Men – Carver Anderson in conversation with Robert Beckford 413.3 For reflection, conversation and action 473.4 Bibliography 484 broken bodies (resisting sin) 504.1 Introduction 504.2 Dead Man Stalking – braveslave 564.3 Incel and the Goddess – uhuru wise 574.4 Resisting sin: Seeing masculinities and violence through the cross – Will Rose-Moore 584.5 For reflection, conversation and action 654.6 Bibliography 655 bodies of Christ I (the man Jesus) 695.1 Introduction 695.2 Contextualizing Christ – Chris Greenough 735.3 The temptations of masculinity: a rude Buddhist Christian theology of toxic seductions – Bee Scherer 815.4 For reflection, conversation and action 935.5 Bibliography 936 healing bodies (seeking salvation) 976.1 Introduction 976.2 Models of salvation and masculinities – Carlton Turner, in conversation with Rachel Starr 1006.3 Dinosaurs will roar and Eagles must soar – braveslave 1116.4 For reflection, conversation and action 1136.5 Bibliography 117 bodies of Christ II (church) 1157.1 Introduction 1157.2 Penetration, prescription, appropriation: A risk assessment for (white, straight) male ecclesiologists – Al Barrett 1237.3 Weakness and strength: living within the paradox – Donald Eadie 1317.4 For reflection, conversation and action 1377.5 Bibliography 1378 resistant bodies (pastoral care) 1408.1 Introduction 1408.2 Conversations on Dalit masculinities – Raj Bharat Patta 1468.3 Transformative solidarity across people of diverse genders – Karl Rutlidge 1508.4 For reflection, conversation and action 1558.5 Bibliography 1559 receptive bodies (liturgy) 1589.1 Introduction 1589.2 Worship: composting male epistemologies and other knowings – Simon Sutcliffe 1649.3 For reflection, conversation and action 1739.4 Bibliography 173