“Lower Than the Angels” Just Released - April 2025

Just came back from Barnes and Noble, a U.S. bookseller, where I saw Diarmaid MacCulloch’s new book on the shelf. It’s called, Lower Than the Angels: A History of Sex and Christianity. Published April 15, 2025.

With MacCulloch’s expert knowledge of the entire history of Christianity (he’s written big books about the Reformation, and the “3,000 year” history of the Church), this book portends to be an insightful history of sexuality and gender issues in the Church.

I’ve read MacCulloch’s The Reformation: A History, and it was very detailed and engaging. It’s really the basis of much of my booklists and ideas for study about the Reformation.

I’m still moving slowly through my Machiavelli study, but if anyone wants to chime in here for this book, I’d be willing to read it together with you. The text of the book is just short of 500 pages.

Just read today that Diarmaid MacCulloch is gay. He says that that was the reason he didn’t rise higher than deacon in the Anglican Church. He still describes himself as “a candid friend of Christianity.” From his historical writings I would not have guessed. Still, of course, would like to read this book (Lower Than the Angels), since he’s obviously one of our best church historians. I’m wondering now, also, if he might have some judicious remarks to share about the church and sexuality in it.