Homosexuality - The Straight Agenda

Homosexuality: The Straight Agenda
Edited by Brian Edwards
Series Editor: Andrew Anderson
Day One Publications (in association with the FIEC). 263 pages. £8.99
ISBN 0 902548 81 6

In spite of its somewhat misleading title, this well researched and well edited volume has much to commend it to a wide audience. Each of the main 11 chapters is written by a different author, all of whom have given much careful thought to the topic assigned to them.
Inevitably there is some overlap in the themes touched upon by the authors, but this adds to the overall coherence of a book that successfully covers a great deal of ground, including a contribution to the 'nature or nurture' debate about the origins of homosexuality and reaching those caught in a homosexual lifestyle. All the chapters are worth reading. This reviewer particularly enjoyed reading Kenneth Brownell's succinct and masterly overview of the history of the churches' attitude to homosexuality since 155 AD to the present day and Brian Edwards' vigorous critique of Michael Vasey's controversial book Strangers and Friends.
Homosexuality: the straight agenda looks at homosexuality from conservative theological and pastoral perspectives with the clear aim of helping Christians to take a compassionate and biblical stance in a debate that requires both.
The final three chapters consider, often very movingly, what the homosexual struggle means for men seeking to make sense of their own personal situations in the light of Bible teaching. It is a pity that only the male experience of homosexuality is described. This imbalance is, however, recognised by the editor who hopes that in future it will be addressed by organisations at work in this field. The two appendices include a selection of book reviews, albeit somewhat limited in coverage, given the range of materials available from good Christian bookshops.
There is also a summary of the work of Christian organisations seeking to help those personally affected by homosexuality. This makes the book a valuable information resource and not just to be left on the shelf.!
This is a well written, thought-provoking, readable book, which at £8.99 is a good buy.

© Evangelicals Now - June 1998
Please consider supporting this ministry by subscribing.

• Request Free Sample

Main Articles

• The shape of things to come?
  The effects of the post-modern age on evangelicalism and possible evangelical futures
• Footsteps on the sea
  The true test of whether life has been sorted out is in times of suffering
• They think it's all over
  Thoughts on the matter of Christians and sport
• 50 books to change your life
  World Book Day and 50 books which The Independent recommends
• Front line fashion crime
  An interview with the musician Patrick Jean-Paul-Denis
• Tattoo you?

Other articles

• Transforming the world? - The social impact of British Evangelicalism
• Anastasia
• The Searcher of Hearts - No charge - an extract from the book The Searcher of Hearts which consists of notes by John Newton for lectures on Romans 8.26-34
• Genesis for Today - showing the relevance of the creation/evolution debate to today's society
• Dictionary of the Later New Testament and its Developments
• A Fistful of Heroes
• The Addiction of a Busy Life
• The Searcher of Hearts - a new discovery of writings on Romans 8
• Homosexuality and Young People
• Homosexuality - The Straight Agenda
• Revival Phenomena
• The King of the Cannibals - The Story of John G Paton (Missionary to the New Hebrides)
• The Healing Promise