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Paperback
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Finding out that a child, spouse, relative or friend is homosexual can be an unwelcome surprise. You're hit with a complex combination of emotions--grief, shame, fear, guilt. You are flooded with questions ranging from why to what's next. You wonder what a biblical response would be. At the same time, someone you care about deeply may be awaiting your response. What should you say?Someone I Love Is Gay was created out of Bob Davies's personal and professional experience and out of Anita Worthen's struggle with her son over these issues. Also drawing on experiences of others, the authors will help you handle your feelings while responding appropriately to your loved one.
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| Unbelievably bad advice |
| Customer Rating: 1 out of 5 |
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Thinly disguised as compassionate counseling for parents, this is another in a long line of books shoveled out by religious zealots. This book uses discredited research and advocates dangerous and harmful tactics to try and force your child out of being gay. Buy any book by Wayne Besen on the subject for a thorough dismantling of these crackpot theories. Then buy Now That You Know for a truly appropriate and positive resource for learning how to respond to your son or daughter's coming out.
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| Well-rooted in scripture |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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First a response to English Major, who claims in his/her review that there is no Biblical basis for Christianity's opposition to homosexuality. The clearest teaching of the Bible is that homosexual behavior is both unnatural and damaging--Romans 1:26-27 & 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul argues that those who engage in homosexual activity (again note that it is not those who are tempted with homosexual feelings, but those who become "offenders" by indulging those feelings) will not enter the kingdom of heaven. That's a pretty strong claim. Now, there are those who will say that homosexuality as practiced today is "natural" and "wholesome;" however, if the Creator calls it unnatural, then it's unnatural, and if it might land someone in eternal punishment, that seems to be damaging. If nothing else, doing something that is outside of God's will is clearly going to be something that causes spiritual damage to a person's soul.
Now, regarding this book. I think it is a must-read for anyone struggling with the issue of homosexuality in the family. It takes a very compassionate and rational approach to the subject and provides many helpful insights on how to approach the subject with the family member in question. It understands correctly that the best thing to do is not alienate the person but rather bring him or her back to "reality" so to speak, back on the path that leads to a higher spirituality and true happiness.
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| Someone they love? Not supported by the facts |
| Customer Rating: 1 out of 5 |
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Someone they Love? I don't think so.
I am not impressed with the authors' so-called Christian objections to homosexuality. True the old testament does speak against it, but in the same place the Bible also speaks against eating shellfish.
Where are the support groups to "cure" the eaters of shellfish? or to cure those who commit the sin of Divorce?
Jesus spoke not one word about homosexuality.
But he did have something to say about Divorce: Mark:10:4-12.
My question to the authors is: as Christians who follow the teachings of Christ, shouldn't you be more concerned about the sin of Divorce than the sin of homosexuality? Jesus says "whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her"
The true reason for this book I think, is the cultural hatred and fear of homosexuality, not conern for it as a "sin". There is some evidence that those who most hate and fear homosexuals, are themselves deeply tempted by homosexuality, are themselves attracted to those of their own sex.
As Jesus also mentioned: "thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."
One chapter of this book that I did almost like was the one on childhood sexual abuse, with some reservations. They have included much of the most progressive information.
However, the implication that sexual abuse "causes" homosexuality, I disagree with. Many many straight men and women were sexually abused. Ninety percent of prostitutes and women in prison were also sexually abused. Not all are gay..
They believe that there is no legitimacy in being homosexual and will use any "facts" to support this idea even if there is no logical link.
They use the testimony of people who have joined Exodus, a support group for people who want to "stop" being gay. They don't consider any testimony of homosexuals who are happy and living stable and productive lives. Nor do they include stories of the many openly gay Christians.
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| A Lifeline of Hope |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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How do you handle it when you learn that your child, parent,brother or sister, close friend, etc.is struggling with homosexuality? This book is a lifeline of hope for families faced with the shock and grief that comes when someone they love makes such a disclosure.
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| Life-affirming |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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What a wonderful and timely book for the 21st century. The authors are to be congratulated on the clarity and strength of their vision. I can't wait for the next edition, which I believe includes help for black people who want to turn white.
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