God says ‘gay rights’: queering Christian theology in the Good Omens fandom
In this essay I investigate how fandom discourse comments on, adapts, and reinvents existing theology. Using a selection of Good Omens fan works and ‘meta’ online posts as a case study, I argue that they welcome instances of queer theology while moving forward issues pertaining to the LGBTQ+ liberat...
| Published in: | Culture and religion |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Taylor and Francis Group
2021
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| In: |
Culture and religion
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| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Fan-Fiction
/ Good omens (Television program)
/ LGBT
/ Queer theology
/ Idea of God
/ Love
/ Genesis
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| RelBib Classification: | CB Christian life; spirituality CD Christianity and Culture FD Contextual theology HA Bible KAJ Church history 1914-; recent history NBE Anthropology NCF Sexual ethics |
| Further subjects: | B
Queer Theology
B Good Omens B LGBTQ+ liberation B Fan Studies B Fan fiction |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | In this essay I investigate how fandom discourse comments on, adapts, and reinvents existing theology. Using a selection of Good Omens fan works and ‘meta’ online posts as a case study, I argue that they welcome instances of queer theology while moving forward issues pertaining to the LGBTQ+ liberation movement. In expanding and altering the source material, fan fiction authors retrieve Biblical myths to legitimise the inclusion of queer individuals in Christian theology – the stated intent of the LGBTQ+ liberation movement. Additionally, they often offer a revisited, inclusive depiction of God as the ‘ur-ally’, framing them/her/him as an ‘ineffable’ figure made of encompassing and all-accepting love. Moreover, Good Omens fan fiction situates the binary forces of Heaven and Hell as the antagonists to the much more nuanced and queer-coded protagonists, who embrace humanity and reject notions of hard-set dichotomies. This celebration of queerness as opposed to strict dualisms fits into the purported goals of queer theology, which has no direct interest in finding a place for queer people within the existing Christian tradition, but rather works towards the dismantling of harmful dualities. |
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| ISSN: | 1475-5629 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Culture and religion
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/14755610.2023.2177316 |