Judith and Jack Balswick have given us the gift of their combined years of academic and clinical practice, as well as their experience teaching, with regard to one of the most difficult subjects Christians face: human sexuality.
What makes the subject difficult is not the objective anatomy and physiology; it's the two-thousand years of cultural conditioning and unease with sexuality in general that make most Christians uncomfortable. The authors strive to integrate current medical, psychological, and sociological research with Christian teachings and ethics, and I think they succeed. Research summaries and findings are timely and broad in scope, and the authors provide an excellent, extensive bibloigraphy.
The authors address every "hot topic" sensitively, but head-on. From premarital sex to homosexuality to sexual abuse, they offer rational and scientifically-valid propositions, and then examine these in the light of how the very basic Christian teachings and values will affect the reader's perceptions and actions. They don't tell the reader, "You should believe and act like this" -- rather, they offer a continuum of possible responses, and offer the reader guidance in following his own conscience and faith.
It is not (as I had feared with another of the authors' books) simply a faux-conservative diatribe, full of "thou shalt not"s, but a theologically-sound, pastorally-sensitive resource for clergy and laity, families and clinicians.
Highly recommended for all Christian readers.
