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Title: Straight & Narrow?: Compassion & Clarity in the Homosexuality Debate by Thomas E. Schmidt ISBN: 0-8308-1858-8 Publisher: Intervarsity Press Pub. Date: June, 1995 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.58 (12 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: A good resource for both sides
Comment: This is definitely a good resource for the both sides of people. Dr. Schmidt tried to express his compassion toward homosexuals throughout his book; he has also done tremdous research on writing this book. A good job in general. However, there are few draw-backs. First of all, the statistical data used were old (see cited references in the book). As we all know, one should always question if statistical data represent a true/updated situation. That is, IF sampling had NO bias on choosing gay populations 10 or even 20 years ago when those data were collected and when only some specific populations of homosexuals were able to be targeted. Can these past descriptions be used for the life styles of homosexuals today? Secondly, Dr. Schmidt's view point most likely represents majority of church ministers these days (although there is also a slow movement on accepting gays in churches). That is to suppress your same-sex desire if you are a homosexual. Although many arguments were presented in the book, Dr. Schmidt was not able to come up with a thorougth explanation on the main passages regarding "homosexual" in the Bible (if there is). In stead, he turned to some minor passages and even " few words" to make his point. Personally, I think that it does not make his case. The Christian readers of this book should also read Dr. Robin Scroggs' book: The new testament and homosexuality, which makes a great sense on how "homosexual" was "coined" back in ancient times during tranlation of the Bible among different languages. In addition, "What the Bible really says about homosexuality" by Dr. Helminiak is also highly recommended. Finally, as for the nature-nature debate in Dr. Schmidt's book, any Christian should have known that a human being is created to have a body and a soul. To reproduce through male-female sex is not the main teaching of the Bible; it is neither the purpose of human existence. Instead, to love, to be kind with one another and to glorify God are all achieved by human soul and were constantly taught by Juses during his earthly ministry. As long as love is the foundation of a relationship and sex comes under mutual consent and commitment, we should not take heterosexual as the only form of love-relationship. In this sense, Dr. Schmidt's "fitting theory" of human reproduction system considering only a human body but no human soul was disappointing.
Rating: 4
Summary: Worth Reading
Comment: This is a very well-written book, but admittedly from a Christian point of view. So if you're not a Christian, you may not be able to relate to some of what the author is saying. Nevertheless, I felt it was worth reading, particularly for two chapters: "The Price of Love" and "The Great Nature-Nurture Debate." "The Price of Love" marshals a tremendous amount of statistics that present a striking contrast to our popular culture's generally affirming view of homosexuality. Specifically, it indicates that many homosexual men have many, many more partners than anybody else (including gay women). It also indicates that, at least as of the 1970's, most gay relationships did not last longer than a few years. In other words, there really is a different set of behavior patterns in the homosexual community. Also, the author highlights the health risks inherent in this lifestyle, particularly for men. In "The Great Nature-Nuture Debate," the author shows how homosexuals are probably not just "born that way," but there are a whole variety of factors that contribute to homosexuality -- biology, family situation, culture, experience, etc. -- and that these factors vary from person to person. His theory of social constructionism is particularly interesting and should be paid heed to -- that the way people understand themselves (in this case sexually) often comes from the culture that they're living in. These two chapters should be read by everybody.
Rating: 5
Summary: Very fair-minded and clearly reasoned.
Comment: Schmidt's great strength is a very simple one: he treats homosexuals as human beings. Not as enemies, monsters, aliens, or vermin, but as human beings - and that, given the fraught atmosphere in which these issues are so often discussed, is sheer gain. Far too often, Christians wave verses at gays as if they thought that they could make "those people" vanish. It is not going to happen. Schmidt does not forget that he is talking about real people, even while he disagrees with what Boswell and others have written. Those who wish to track his arguments to their sources, have plenty of references to wade through. All too often, straight Christians are the very last people on this planet to have any understanding of what it is like to realise one is gay - I hope this book will help to dispel that sort of attitude. Schmidt dismisses the attitude which is summed up so often in the much-abused and threadbare words, "Hate the sin, love the sinner" - it really amounts to loving people not at all, because it does not treat them as persons loved unconditionally by God. It is one of Schmidt's virtues that he sees this.
As a Catholic, I did not notice any kind of bias - it complements the slightly more clinical books of Father John Harvey well.
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Title: Homosexuality: The Use of Scientific Research in the Church's Moral Debate by Stanton L. Jones, Mark A. Yarhouse ISBN: 0830815678 Publisher: Intervarsity Press Pub. Date: December, 2000 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: A Strong Delusion by Joe Dallas ISBN: 1565074319 Publisher: Harvest House Publishers, Inc. Pub. Date: September, 1996 List Price(USD): $11.99 |
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Title: Welcoming but Not Affirming: An Evangelical Response to Homosexuality by Stanley J. Grenz ISBN: 0664257763 Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press Pub. Date: November, 1998 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth by Jeffrey Satinover ISBN: 080105625X Publisher: Baker Book House Pub. Date: January, 1996 List Price(USD): $19.99 |
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Title: Same-Sex Partnerships?: A Christian Perspective by John R. W. Stott ISBN: 0800756746 Publisher: Fleming H Revell Co Pub. Date: September, 1998 List Price(USD): $9.99 |
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