In Love and Freedom, Jorge Ferrer proposes a paradigm shift in how romantic relationships are conceptualized, a step forward in the evolution of modern relationships. In the same way that the transgender movement surmounted the gender binary, Ferrer defines how a parallel step can-and should-be taken with the relational style binary. This book offers the first systematic discussion of relationship modes beyond monogamy and polyamory, as well as introduces the notion of "relational freedom" as the capability to choose one's relational style free from biological, psychological, and sociocultural conditionings. To achieve these goals, Ferrer first discusses a number of critical categories-specifically, monopride/polyphobia, and polypride/monophobia-that mediate the contemporary "mono-poly wars," that is, the predicament of mutual competition among monogamists and polyamorists. The ideological nature of these "mono-poly wars" is demonstrated through a review of available empirical literature on the psychological health and relationship quality of monogamous and polyamorous individuals and couples. Then, after showing how monogamy and polyamory ultimately reinforce each other, Ferrer articulates three relational pathways to living in-between, through, and beyond the mono/poly binary: fluidity, hybridity, and transcendence. Moving beyond that binary opens a fuzzy, liminal, and multivocal relational space that Ferrer calls novogamy. In this groundbreaking book, readers will learn practical tools to not only transform jealousy, but also enhance their relational freedom while being aware of key issues of diversity and social justice. They will also learn novel criteria to evaluate the success of their intimate relationships, and be introduced to a transformed vision of romantic love beyond both monocentrism and emerging polynormativities.

In Love and Freedom, Jorge Ferrer proposes a paradigm shift in how romantic relationships are conceptualized, a step forward in the evolution of modern relationships. In the same way that the transgender movement surmounted the gender binary, Ferrer defines how a parallel step can-and should-be taken with the relational style binary. This book offers the first systematic discussion of relationship modes beyond monogamy and polyamory, as well as introduces the notion of "relational freedom" as the capability to choose one's relational style free from biological, psychological, and sociocultural conditionings. To achieve these goals, Ferrer first discusses a number of critical categories-specifically, monopride/polyphobia, and polypride/monophobia-that mediate the contemporary "mono-poly wars," that is, the predicament of mutual competition among monogamists and polyamorists. The ideological nature of these "mono-poly wars" is demonstrated through a review of available empirical literature on the psychological health and relationship quality of monogamous and polyamorous individuals and couples. Then, after showing how monogamy and polyamory ultimately reinforce each other, Ferrer articulates three relational pathways to living in-between, through, and beyond the mono/poly binary: fluidity, hybridity, and transcendence. Moving beyond that binary opens a fuzzy, liminal, and multivocal relational space that Ferrer calls novogamy. In this groundbreaking book, readers will learn practical tools to not only transform jealousy, but also enhance their relational freedom while being aware of key issues of diversity and social justice. They will also learn novel criteria to evaluate the success of their intimate relationships, and be introduced to a transformed vision of romantic love beyond both monocentrism and emerging polynormativities.

With contributions from spiritual scholars such as William C. Chittick, Beverly Lanzetta, R. McDermott, and Donald Rothberg, this discussion proposes a new approach for studying religion, spirituality, and mysticism: the participatory turn, which holds that individuals and communities have an integral role to play in creating distinct but equally legitimate spiritual experiences, discoveries, and realities. Responding to questions such as "Is there only one spiritual reality, or many? Are there different types of spiritual liberation? What is the role of ethics in interreligious dialogue? "and "How can different religious truths be evaluated?," this argument demonstrates the validity of every religion and spiritual tradition without resorting to simplistic relativisms or conventional reductionism. The first part of the book situates the participatory turn in the context of contemporary religious studies, while the second part shows how the approach can be applied to various global traditions, including Christianity, Hinduism, Sufism, and socially engaged Buddhism. "Con contribuciones de eruditos espirituales como William C. Chittick, Beverly Lanzetta, R. McDermott""y Donald Rothberg, esta discusion propone un nuevo enfoque para estudiar la religion, la espiritualidad y el misticismo: el giro participativo, el cual sostiene que los individuos y las comunidades desempenan un papel integro en la creacion de experiencias, realizaciones y realidades espirituales distintas pero igual de legitimas. Abordando preguntas como "Existe una sola realidad espiritual o muchas? Hay distintos tipos de liberacion espiritual? Cual es el lugar de la etica en el dialogo interreligioso? "y "Como se pueden evaluar las verdades religiosas?," este argumento demuestra la validez de cada religion y tradicion espiritual sin caer en relativismos simplistas o el reduccionismo convencional. La primera parte del libro situa el giro participativo en el contexto de los estudios religiosos actuales, mientras que la segunda parte explica como este enfoque se puede aplicar a diversas tradiciones globales, incluyendo el cristianismo, el hinduismo, el sufismo y el budismo socialmente consciente."