New book on the history of sex and Christianity published by St Cross Emeritus Fellow
Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch, St Cross College Emeritus Fellow and Emeritus Professor of the History of the Church has recently published a new book, Lower than the Angels - A History of Sex and Christianity, which has received glowing reviews from the Sunday Telegraph, Literary Review, Financial Times and Sunday Times.
The book explores how the Bible observes that God made humanity ‘for a while a little lower than the angels’, questioning whether the difference lies in human sexuality. It examines how much of the world's political division centers on sexual issues, particularly in societies with Christian backgrounds, which have witnessed dramatic shifts in attitudes toward sex and gender. From the role of women to same-sex love and gender identity, these changes have brought both liberation and fear. Lower than the Angels tells a 3,000-year history of Christians grappling with sex, gender and family, highlighting the complexity and contradictions in Christianity's views. Prof. MacCulloch invites readers to consider whether there is a single Christian theology of sex or many contending voices.
Prof. MacCulloch, is a prize-winning author, whose works include History of Christianity: the first three thousand years (2009), which won the Cundill Prize, and Thomas Cromwell: a Life (2018). He has also presented the BBC series How God Made the English (2012) and Sex and the Church (2015).
Passionate about public engagement, he served as Vice-President of The British Academy for Public Engagement, sharing his research through lectures, radio, and podcasts. He focuses on Christianity’s evolving views on gender and sexuality and engages with younger audiences at literary festivals. His contributions have earned him a knighthood in 2012 and the Dr. Leopold Lucas Prize in 2019.
Join Prof. MacCulloch for a unique free event hosted at St Paul’s Cathedral on 5 November to discuss his book in more detail. Find out more about the event here.
St Cross will also be hosting Prof. MacCulloch for an event on 3 December, keep an eye on our events webpage for more details soon.
