For the author, her main motivation in writing the book is to enable us, as she puts it, “to live our sexualities well.” Her quest is practical rather than academic: how does one answer the question “What is sexuality?” in order to find the words that will make a real difference to the way we love, relate, pray and turn each other on? By establishing a definition for sex as our capacity to be aroused, and acknowledging that there are infinite ways of being sexual, Ind shows how the memories, fantasies, and yearnings of human beings, in all their glorious diversity, reflect the multi-dimensionality of creation itself.
By looking at how we should treat each other in the light of Jesus’ command that we love our neighbour and ourselves, she is able to connect human beings’ experience of sex with their ultimate knowledge of God. Jo Ind has written a book which will shock some, but excite and inspire many others. ‘Jo Ind has written a wonderful and enjoyable book which confronts our understanding of sex and which challenges us to reflect on our sexuality. This reflection is unique in that she brings God into the frame in a fresh, creative, even accessible manner and not in an overtly moralistic way. Anyone who reads this book will be forced to rethink how they weave their sexuality and spirituality together and how the church and its theology should impact our sexual ‘language’. Not all will agree with her, but in this book we have a personal and insightful theological reflection on one of the most important aspects of our lives-sex.’
Jo Ind will be talking about her book at the CA Birmingham meeting in October (2011):
When: Tue, 25 October 2011, 19:30 – 21:30
Where: St Monica’s Hall Edgbaston Old Church Birmingham B15 3TA
Details: Our speaker for this evening is the writer, Jo Ind, whose recent book, ‘Memories of Bliss’ has been well received and is a thoughtful and intelligent approach to sexuality.
Contact: Hilary Johnson Co-Convenor CA Birmingham Group
Email: hilary.johnson1@blueyonder.co.uk
Tel: 0121 476 0217
If you are interested in attending other events, do keep an eye on our calendar here: http://changingattitude.org.uk/events-calendar
Jo Ind’s book is remarkable in several ways. First of all she explains what she means by sexuality in terms of what turns people on genitally, expressing this graphically but not pruriently, with a special emphasis on women. She relates genital sexuality to human experience more generally, including literature and worship, and sets it a psychological and social context. She advises awareness and acceptance of one’s own sexuality, stresses the key importance of consent in sexual relations and shows how spirituality may at different times confirm and at other times challenge sexual expression. Finally, she is not afraid to illustrate her opinions with her own experience but relevantly and with restraint. An excellent springboard for imaginative and creative discussion.