COUNTRYMAN: Dirt, Greed and Sex

Countryman, L William

Dirt, Greed and Sex

Sexual Ethics in the New Testament and Their Implications for Today

290 pages

Christian, Scripture, Theology, Sexual Ethics, Lesbian & Gay

DAVIES & LOUGHLIN: Sex These Days

Essays on Theology, Sexuality and Society

Sheffield Academic Press

223 pages

"What has been lost, what has been gained, in replacing sexual orthodoxy with the 'heresies' of postmodern sexualities? In the recent past-even within living memory-sex has usually been a matter of monogamous heterosexual marriage and the procreation of children. Other sexual practices were seen as deviations from the 'patriarchal' norm. Today things are different, and western liberal societies promote and celebrate a growing multiplicity of sexual, familial and procreational practices and relationships. Nine writers assess the directions in which our societies are being led."

CONTRIBUTORS:

Tina Beattie: teaches feminist theology at the University of Bristol

Jon Davies: Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies , University of Newcastle on Tyne

Norman Davies: Leverhulme Emeritus Fellow, Department of Religious Studies , University of Newcastle on Tyne

Janette Gray RSM: A Sister of Mercy currently undertaking doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge; author of Neither Escaping nor Exploiting Sex: Women's Celibacy

Gerard Loughlin: Senior Lecturer, Head of Department of Religious Studies, University of Newcastle on Tyne

Phillip Mellor: Lecturer in Religious Studies, Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Leeds.

Chris Shilling: Senior Research Fellow, Depatment of Cultural and Historical Studies, University of Portsmouth

Alan Storkey: Chair of Movement for Christian Democracy, author of Marriage and its Modern Crisis: Reparing Married Life.

Elizabeth Stuart: Senior Lecturer, University of Glamorgan; co-editor of the journal, Theology and Sexuality.

Adrian Thatcher: Professor and Director of Centre for Chrisitan Theology and Education, Uni versity College of St Mark and St John, Plymouth.

Linda Woodhead: Lecturer in Religious studies, University of Lancaster

MYERS & SCANZONI: What God Has Joined Together

The Christian Case for Gay Marriage

"Gay marriage has become the most important domestic social issue facing twenty-first-century Americans -- particularly Americans of faith. Most Christians are pro-marriage and hold traditional family values, but should they endorse extending marriage rights to gays and lesbians? If Jesus enjoined us to love our neighbors as ourselves, and the homosexual is our neighbor, does that mean we should accept and bless gay marriages? These and other, related questions are tearing many faith-based communities apart.

Across the country, states have voted, courts have debated, and churches have divided over the legitimacy of same-sex marriage. Amid the uproar one perspective is decidedly missing: that of thoughtful, pro-marriage Christians who, informed by their faith, are struggling to make sense of this issue. What God Has Joined Together? is an effort to bridge the divide between marriage-supporting and gay-supporting people of faith by showing why both sides have important things to say and showing how both sides can coexist. Drawing on scientific research as well as on the Bible, the authors explain that marriage is emotionally, physically, financially, and spiritually beneficial for everyone, not just heterosexuals.

They debunk myths about sexual orientation, assess claims of sexual reorientation, and explore what the Bible does and does not say about same-sex relationships. The book ends with a persuasive case for gay marriage and outlines how this can be a win-win solution for all."