Sex and spirit mix on new Jesus book cover

A homoerotic Christ on the cover of a new German book is sparking international debate as Christmas approaches.

The provocative cover appears on the German translation of Jesus in Love, my novel about a queer Christ.

The cover art by Berlin painter Alexander von Agoston shows a near-naked Jesus and John the Baptist rising from the water together after Christ’s baptism. The men’s genitals shine through their wet clothes. A shared halo affirms the union of body and spirit.

My book says that gay sexuality is holy to Christ and I’m a passionate promoter of queer spiritual art. However, even I thought the German image was too frankly erotic for a cover at first. Discussions with my German publisher, Edition EuQor changed my mind.

“German readers are used to seeing nudity on covers, much more than Americans,” my publisher told me. “Sure, the cover attracts attention. That’s what a cover is for.”

Gay-positive Christian images are needed now because conservatives are using religious rhetoric to justify discrimination against queer people. The cover goes all the way in showing that God loves gays. Jesus is completely comfortable in his skin. Now I’m sure that it’s the right cover for the German edition.

The German translation of Jesus in Love was released in time for Christmas by Edition EuQor, a start-up German press specializing in provocative books.

“When Jesus in Love was published in English, websites in Germany buzzed with excitement,” the publisher told me. “The idea of a bisexual Jesus seemed to fascinate Germans more than anyone else outside the English-speaking world.  Soon Edition EuQor offered to do a German translation.” 

Reactions to the Jesus in Love cover vary widely from delight to shock and disdain, even within the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community.

The original English version of Jesus in Love was published in 2006 by AndroGyne Press with a more romantic cover drawing of Jesus and John wreathed in roses. Conservative Christians attacked the novel as blasphemy because it portrays a Jesus who felt sexual attraction to men. However, it received praise from literary critics and GLBT Christian leaders.

Toby Johnson, author of Gay Spirituality, described it as “a wonderful, gay-sensitive, and delightfully ‘shocking’ reassessment of the stories of the old-time religion.”

What do YOU think of the new book cover? Please post your comments here or email them to kitt@JesusInLove.org.
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Kittredge Cherry is an author who promotes queer spiritual art at the Jesus in Love Blog and JesusInLove.org. Her most recent book is Art That Dares: Gay Jesus, Woman Christ, and More.

Comments

[John]

Wow!
What a cover, erotically inspiring, a definite sensuality. I can see how it pushes the envelope close to the edge but I feel it remains within taste.
In a culture so saturated with images of hunky men constantly reminding me of who I am not; it's hard to determine which images to let in and which to keep your head down and keep on walking.
This image conveys a tenderness possible between men while not backing away from these beautiful boys' forthright sexuality.

[Colin]

Love it! The range of reactions as people encounter the image would be fantastic to watch.

[KOOKYGAY]

It"s nothing but the usual and customary CHEAP PORN that villifies anything of spiritual value to most under the guise of what some queens think it should be! BS, it's just the desperation of the author showing through. Mapelthorpe and other "sophisticated" queens did the same thing with their art for no other reason than to insult others.

[Jeff]

What's new whether it's sensationlized news, Paris Hilton in jail, homo-erotic Christ yada, yada, yada it's all about marketing and trying to get reaction. Not impressed for i hate trying to be marketed. As a Christian gay man I find it distasteful when someone tries to make light of Christ his life and mission on and for the whole world. And sorry this is not a gay positive image meant for gays that says Christ is for them for he is comfortable in his skin.

[Pod Jumper (Ryan Nix)]

I've always known, in spite of the secular christian commentary, that gay christians are designed by God with a higher spiritual calling / blessing. If you look in America towards the Indian culture, they call us Twin Spirited and from my understanding were usually very highly regarded and sometimes priest or shaman. I haven't read this book but plan to buy it in both translations since I want the pretty cover from the German book. I think that gay sexuality in Christianity should be embraced, I also think that heterosexuality should be embraced by christians, there is a simple lack of understanding and blindness in most of christian culture.

[Andre Boulanger]

In conjunction with this book, I would also recommend the book by Theodore W Jennings Jr entitled: The Man Jesus Loved.
It is a very well done exegesis and theology of the five locations in St. John's gospel which talks of the 'disciple Jesus loved.'
Though this may not be John, as so many assume, many biblical scholars suspect that it was Lazarus. The man is never directly identified in the gospel so we will probably never know for sure. But that is not important. What is important is the fact that this man existed.

[Enlightened One]

Another example of Europe taking the lead in all matters pertaining to religion and reasonableness. Jesus was a man with a penis! He is on the cover, with a wet cloth on - what happened with his baptism? Was he miraculously dried before he got out? Did his penis disappear? The beauty of the male form is nothing but God given. American so-called evangelicals need to do the world a favour and call themselves what they really are - neo-nazis!

[Slinky]

Wow. A real Rorschach test.

I see a quaint, primative piece of art. Nothing particularly erotic. I don't see obsured uninflated penises as erotic.

But, if your whole idea of your 'personal' Jesus was somehow wrapped up in a diety that is asexual, then I suppose it would be pretty upsetting. Childish, but upsetting. How could anyone who is that full of the spirit of G*D be asexual?

That's like saying the human body is a plight full of weaknesses. When, if we are to agree with scripture, it is the creation of G*D. I don't know about anyone else, but my G*D doesn't make junk.

And H* doesn't just make you one way or another, but makes you loving to all his creations. Doesn't mean you have to have sex with everyone you love, but it beats the hell out of beating the HEll out of someone.

Just sayin'...

[Jack Oxford]

There was a principle in Christian Theology that if Jesus did not assume any part of our experience it was not redeemed. I believe that this is still operative. Human sexuality in every variety would therefore be under God's Redemptive Love. Western culture has been uncomfortable with human sexuality from before the time of Christ. The Manicheans, the Gnostics, the Platonists all left residual marks upon the religious writers of the Common Era even when their teachings were rejected by the wider Church. Our negative reactions toward the mystery of sex that God designed in us has led to self mutilations, painting loin cloths onto fine art and the love/hate relationship we have with marriage. This present tempest should be no surprise. God is still teaching us to accept ourselves as God accepts us.

[Riverwolf]

Seems a little tawdry, maybe, designed to draw attention--but I like it! As a few others have stated here, if Christ was fully human, then he understood sexual desire. Maybe he even had sex (gasp/clutch pearls!) Of course, we'll never know. Anyhow, the book sounds interesting. I'm just completing "The Passover Plot" by Hugh Schonfield, which also deconstructs everything Christians hold dear about Jesus.

[Garri Azz]

As the de facto administrator of the Security Fix blog, I've spent many an hour deleting spammy links left in the comments section -
- comments that usually lead back to the same kinds of Web sites you most commonly see advertised in junk e-mail.

[Isac]

Hey,

NOBODY CAN LIVE WITHOUT JESUS CHRIST'S GRACE.
ONE DAY YOU WILL DIE AND
THAT TIME NOBODY CAN HELP YOU.
WHERE WILL YOUR SOUL GO AFTER YOUR DEATH.
BE READY ALL THE ANTI-CHRISTS;
YOUR TIME WILL END SOON.

JESUS IS THE LORD.
HE NEVER LEAVE THE ANTI-CHRIST.
AS HE CRUSHED THE HEAD OF SATAN IN THE CROSS
SOON HE IS GOING TO DEMOLISH ALL THESE SATANS AND ANTI-CHRISTS.
BE CARE...

[CHRISTIAN]

Can you really be a Christian and think that homosexuality is okay with the Lord?! Why don't you just come out and say that you don't want to obey God's word! That just makes more sense than thinking a God who created a world, and allowed it to be populated through, get this, a MAN and a WOMAN is okay with Christians (His messengers) to proudly wear the mark of the beast. Then to say Jesus takes part in your worldliness, is just blasphemy! He clearly states the sanctity of marriage is between a man and a woman! Do you really think God approves?!

[Corinne Quinones]

I love it as well! I am really happy to see such art as this. I love all different kinds of art, and I am especially intrigued by how they went about this. For those who have a problem with it, oh well for you, go back to your hole under a rock.

[me]

What kind of image is this author trying to portray for Jesus Our Saviour. How can Jesus be in love with a MAN-John the Baptists FOR THAT MATTER (not saying that him being in love with a woman is good-because he wasn't). People you need to think, what will God say about this. You are trying to say the Jesus Christ is GAY!!!. Be careful what you say about God's Son or else you'll have to face the consequences. This is outrageous, totally BLASPHEMY!!!! Watch what you portray to the whole world before God Strikes His anger on you and destroy you to pieces. After all who can challenge OMEGA absolutely no body not even the president nor you or us mortal beings. God can just crush us like like ants. You ought to ashamed of yourself the author and people following like lost sheep following the shepherd.

[pennyjane]

wow, me! you sound terrified. maybe if you looked deeper into the christian scriptures some of your terror might be eliminated. the christian God is a loving God, a forgiving God...a God of mercy and of grace. a God who loves us so much that He sent His only begotten son to death and to hell in order that we might be spared such torture. a Son who so loved us that even as we were still living in sin He died for us.

christians don't worship God out of fear of retribution, but out of love, the same love as He has given us. the god you speak of, the terrorist, is not my God...not the God i have learned about in scripture. and yea though i walk through the valley of death i will fear no evil, for He is with me.

i wish you could know this God, a God who will be with you too, a God of comfort and compassion...a God of peace...and of hope.

peace be with you. pj

[Eli Peart]

Honestly, it's heartbreaking to hear such spiteful words used to intentionally distort the reputation of my best friend. I will never understand how a person can possibly claim to believe in JESUS - not just "GOD" and promote things - not just homosexuality - that are so clearly contradictory to *HIS* word. As in, His OWN words? Not what "uptight Christians think a Christian should be," but what GOD HIMSELF said a CHRISTian IS to be. You can debate all day long that you won't conform to what WE say, but they aren't our words, they're GOD's. I may not agree with the attack-style condemnation approach that so many Christians choose, but a sinner can't repent if they don't know they're living in sin. Likewise, you can't claim to have repented: TO FEEL SUCH REGRET FOR PAST CONDUCT AS TO CHANGE ONE'S MIND REGARDING IT, but continue living the same lifestyle and even defend it. In closing, blasphemy is nothing to snicker at as if one should be applauded for being "brave enough to oppose GOD and His *messengers*." (Mark 3:28-29) "Verily I say unto you, all sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith whosoever they shall blaspheme: BUT HE THAT SHALL BLASPHEME AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation."
P.S. John the Baptist was also Jesus' cousin, which would imply that He was not only homosexual, but incestuous.

[Eli Peart]

(520)297-9743 Call me, I'd love to pray with you.