Overview

Integrating your spirituality and sexuality can be daunting - these parts of life can feel very separate, even contradictory. Activist, educator, relationship coach and co-founder of QueerTheology.com, Brian G. Murphy, is here to change that. Exploring the spiritual roots of polyamory and drawing on his own personal perspectives, Brian guides you through essential spiritual and relational notions including love, ritual, commitment and vulnerability to show how the practices of queerness, polyamory, and faith can complement and sustain each other. Whether you practice non-monogamy or simply want to broaden your understanding of love, this empowering book will break open your assumptions and encourage you to consider the expansive possibilities for (re)structuring your relationships and faith. From advice on healing from spiritual shame, reframing underlying cultural myths, dealing with loss and shame, understanding commitment and faithfulness, and creating meaningful traditions and rituals, this is the perfect companion for connecting with your true values and carving out your own path.

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9781805013631

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Reviews

Nuanced, smart, and compelling: this is a long-overdue meditation on the relationship between the sexual and the sacred. Examining the death-dealing consequences of shame; the hallowed dynamics of our various sexual and nonsexual relationships; and the ways in which the Divine is polyamorous, this is an invaluable resource for both the non-monogmous and the curious. -- Lucas F. Wilson, PhD, author of Shame Sex Attraction and Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto Missisauga

Nuanced, smart, and compelling: this is a long-overdue meditation on the relationship between the sexual and the sacred. Examining the death-dealing consequences of shame; the hallowed dynamics of our various sexual and nonsexual relationships; and the ways in which the Divine is polyamorous, this is an invaluable resource for both the non-monogmous and the curious. -- Lucas F. Wilson, PhD, author of Shame Sex Attraction and Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto Missisauga With raw honesty and soulful depth, Love Beyond Monogamy doesn't treat polyamory as a trend or a debate to win, but as a radical path of connection, growth, and truth. Whether you're solo, monogamous, or nonmonogamous, this book dares you to love wider, risk deeper, and expand not just your relationships-but your entire way of being. -- The Rev. Elle Dowd, activist and author of Baptized in Tear Gas As a pastor, I teach that love is the heartbeat of all things-that the goal of the spiritual life, and life itself, is to experience and share love. And yet, even in progressive spaces, deep biases remain against those who embody this truth through polyamory. In Love Beyond Monogamy, Brian G. Murphy offers a masterful, compassionate, and spiritually grounded exploration of how polyamory can enrich both our inner lives and our relationships. This book is an essential resource for anyone exploring polyamory or seeking to better understand and support the polyamorous people in their lives. -- Rev. Brandan Robertson, Author of Queer & Christian: Reclaiming the Bible, Our Faith, and Our Place At the Table This book is delicious. A perfect blend of personal experience, poly discourse, and the deep wisdom of many spiritual traditions we've grown up in. Love Beyond Monogamy is brimming with practical wisdom for every person in relationships. And I mean all relationships: platonic, familial, romantic, or otherwise, if you have any kind of relationship to other humans, Brian's words will be the key to experiencing a Love that truly is bigger, wider, and deeper than you ever imagined. It's a perfect introduction to understanding your non-monogamous and poly friends and family, as well as a wonderful companion to those of us who've been spiritual and slutty for a good long while. -- Kevin Miguel Garcia, Spiritual Director, Content Creator and Author of Bad Theology Kills & What Makes You Bloom Love Beyond Monogamy by Brian G. Murphy is the perfect book for queer folks who may be struggling with their religion, desire and sexuality all at once. Through a narrative of religious knowledge and deeply personal storytelling, this book makes the themes of polyamory, religion and desirability widely accessible. I particularly appreciated the way in which the stories referenced pop culture and levity to bring these oft complex themes into sharper focus. -- Andrew Gurza, Author of ""Notes From A Queer Cripple"" Love Beyond Monogamy is doing sacred work. For religious seekers looking to learn more about polyamory, polyamorous folks looking to explore religious traditions, and any others with an eye toward expanding beyond rigid frameworks of religion and romance -- this book is a true gift. -- Rabbi Lex Rofeberg, senior Jewish educator of Judaism Unbound I'm delighted to recommend Brian G. Murphy's Love Beyond Monogamy. As a psychotherapist I work with clients in both traditional and open relationships, and I have used Brian's videos as a resource teaching other therapists about the practice of polyamory. This book goes further in showing how pleasure, spirituality, and love as a ""values-aligned action"" work beautifully together. We can make our own relationships richer by exploring these ideas. -- Kristin Keefe, LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor) An essential resource for anyone who wants to better understand polyamory and how the insights of polyamorous people can enrich the lives of all people. As a monogamous person, I learned so much from this book that will deepen my spiritual practices and relationships. Murphy's insights are vital, and his storytelling will draw you in. Whether you are exploring ethical non-monogamy or love someone who is OR you just want to deepen your own relationships, this book is a powerful and much needed read. -- Shannon T.L. Kearns, author of No One Taught Me How To Be A Man: What a Trans Man’s Experience Reveals About Masculinity This is one of my favorite new sacred texts. No matter how you identify, this gem of an invitation to more intentionally live and love is packed with wisdom for anyone willing to open their hearts, minds, and spirits to new possibilities for deeper relationship, interdependent liberation, and even divine intervention. Brian's revolutionary revelations about what being 'faithful' can truly mean have transformed me for good. -- Rev. Micah Bucey, author of The Book of Tiny Prayer & Senior Minister of Judson Memorial Church Brian G. Murphy breaks the seal on a subject most non-monogamy books avoid: faith and spirituality. Seeking answers and meaning beyond just the how-tos, Murphy's writing is poetic yet relatable and warm, circling around a heartening truth -- that the polyamorous, kinky, anarchist, ace, queer, or questioning relationship weirdos of the world can find spiritual wisdom in places others fear to look. -- Dedeker Winston, Author of Multiamory: Essential Tools for Modern Relationships and The Smart Girl's Guide to Polyamory Regardless of your relational structure, Love Beyond Monogamy contains wisdom that will enhance your relationships. Brian has given us a gift in this book. -- Matthias Roberts, therapist and author of Beyond Shame and Holy Runaways Insightful and affirming, Love Beyond Monogamy weaves together modern psychology, polyamorous community wisdom, and the teachings of a wide range of faiths into an illuminating exploration of their resonance and shared values. These thought-provoking ideas are further brought to life by Bryan's candid and poignant autobiographical reflections. Packed with wisdom, inspiration, and practical tools, this book will be accessible and enlightening to readers across the spectrum of spirituality, from the devout to the secular. -- Ryan G. Witherspoon, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist An inspiring take, weaving together the lessons of queerness and polyamory and applying them to spiritual frameworks. It's a great resource for those looking to explore or better understand how to find and create spiritual practices and belief structures for those who are sometimes pushed to the margins. -- Dr. Liz Powell, author of Building Open Relationships

Author Information

Brian G. Murphy is an activist, educator, and certified relationship coach. Brian is the co-founder of QueerTheology.com, a resource hub, podcast, and online community, which explores how queerness and spirituality enrich one another, and also founded Relationshift, a relationship coaching practice helping LGBTQ+ and polyamorous people build thriving relationships on their own terms. He is co-author of Queers The Word and a sought-after speaker at colleges, churches, and conferences across the country. His work has been featured in Vice, BuzzFeed, The Huffington Post, The Advocate, Upworthy, and NBC News. Brian is based in New York City.

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