John Blevins

John Blevins is an Associate Research Professor in the Hubert Department of Global Health at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. He works in the Interfaith Health Program, a program that endeavors to understand the ways in which religion influences the health and wellness of communities both in the United States and around the world and to encourage efforts to mobilize religion as a positive force for public health. Much of John’s works focuses on religion in relation to sexuality and on religion in relation to HIV, both in the United States and in southern and eastern Africa. Currently, much of his work focuses on HIV prevention efforts in the informal settlements of Nairobi, Kenya. John brings an interdisciplinary perspective to this work, having completed graduate studies in Christian theology and counseling psychology and having coordinated public health initiatives for over fifteen years.

(A)theologies, Sexuality/GenderDecember 12, 2013

Protest Greets the Honoring of Rev. H. Eddie Fox at Emory’s Candler School of Theology

By John Blevins

We gathered in protest because Eddie Fox has been a forceful voice admonishing the United Methodist Church to maintain its current positions on homosexuality—that “homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.” The UMC position denies non-celibate LGBT people ordination while refusing to bless their loving relationships, and forbids its clergy to officiate at same-sex weddings.

Sexuality/GenderJune 27, 2013

Should We Accept The Apology of an Ex-Gay Ministry?

By John Blevins

A gay professor mines his past to reckon with responses to the closure an apology of a premier practitioner of “reparative therapy.”

Sexuality/GenderJanuary 27, 2010

Speaking of Family: When Children of Queer Families Talk About Their Lives

By John Blevins

The New York Times has reported that almost a quarter of a million kids are being raised by gay parents. What does their testimony mean for the state of the national (and international) discussion on same-sex marriage?

Politics/LawSeptember 23, 2009

Religion, AIDS, & Africa, After Obama

By John Blevins

What is the role of religion in addressing the challenges facing contemporary African cultures? A new model suggests that religious organizations may be uniquely suited to effect change.

(A)theologies, Science & TechnologySeptember 16, 2009

We Were Powerless: Addiction, the Will, and the Evangelical Roots of the Twelve Steps

By John Blevins

For 200 years religion, medical science, and psychology have been involved in an intricate, shifting alliance in response to addiction. With recent studies calling core principles of AA into question—like the admission of powerlessness, for example—is AA still the best we’ve got for addressing addiction, or would a different theological model work better?

Politics/Law, Sexuality/GenderJune 14, 2009

Christianity and Condoms

By John Blevins

The United States has exported its contradictory and confusing HIV prevention strategy to Africa: Abstain, Be Faithful, Condoms (ABC). Herewith a modest proposal to reconcile Christianity, identity, and HIV prevention…