The thousand-petaled lotus

the long version

Growing up in a strict Southern Baptist community can be challenging for a child whose sexuality is considered a sin. In The Thousand-Petaled Lotus: Growing Up Gay in the Southern Baptist Church, Michael Fields takes readers on a hilarious and thought-provoking journey through his Nashville childhood, one filled with Southern characters, sexual awakening, anguished prayer, and an exhilarating search for truth. In the Hindu tradition, the thousand-petaled lotus is the saharara chakra at the top of the head, which blossoms at the moment of enlightenment.