The hot button moral issues have divided
Christians into two combative camps. People aren’t listening anymore. And young
people are leaving the church. What can be done to bring people together?
In a House Divided, Sexuality, Morality,and Christian Cultures, I try to establish a framework for discussing divisive
issues.
What is the framework?
The framework requires respect based on understanding
why sincere Christians arrive at different conclusions about morality. There
are four major components of the framework, which are covered in Part I.
1. How facts about sex can
help us think about the issues.
2. How an understanding
of our human nature can help us develop a humble stance toward different ideas (Read more about the SCOPES model).
4. How conservatives
and progressives emphasize five to six different dimensions of morality (See Haidt 2012).
What are the topics?
The topics are linked to beliefs and values in conflict about matters related to some aspect of sexuality.
- Sex Education
- Contraception
- Premarital Sex
- Sexual Orientation
- Christian Marriage
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Gender Roles in Marriage, Church, and Culture
What have reviewers said?
"Geoffrey W. Sutton’s book, A House Divided: Sexuality, Morality, and Christian Cultures, is a great book for seminaries, for college classes, for churches that want to encourage their parishioners to understand the contemporary issues in Christianity that are related to sex, and for thoughtful individual readers interested in the various controversies around sex-related ideas. It will stretch your understanding. ...I think it will move readers toward finding a common ground, or at a minimum will help inform their own thinking about these important issues in churches and how those issues are dealt with within society. For the practitioner, it is an invaluable resource for informing one about sticky issues that Christian patients bring to counseling regularly. For this reason (and for others I’ve mentioned), I highly recommend the book."
EVERETT L. WORTHINGTON, JR., Ph.D., Commonwealth Professor Emeritus,
Department of Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University
"...Sutton takes these three themes (different ways of thinking about scripture, different criteria for deciding what is moral, and different persons within different church cultures) as a way to explain why thoughtful Christians arrive at different moral conclusions within the domain of sexuality... if we can understand each other then we can reason with each other (or at least respect each other). Perhaps a house can be a place where disagreement occurs in the context of unity. Perhaps Christian brothers and sisters can disagree without being divided."
Professor Rod Bassett,
Wesleyan College
"Dr. Sutton examines morality and sexuality with a scholarly but accessible book. It will keep your students thinking and pondering their framework and philosophy for morality and sexuality as they face complex issues in current events"
Professor
Jennifer Ripley, Regent University
Where has the book been used?
A book Study in Church Study Groups, An Undergraduate
Psychology Course on Integrating Faith and Psychology, Seminary Courses on Ethics
and Morality.
Where can the book be purchased?
Are FREE copies available for instructors & reviewers?
YES.
The publisher (wipfandstock
) provides a FREE copy to book reviewers and course instructors.
See the Exam & Reviewer choices below the picture of the book on the publisher’s website. (wipfandstock )
Are there additional resources?
Yes.
There are three additional resources.
1. Website for the
book
2. Online blogs with over 50 posts on related topics in the news
3. An inexpensive discussion guide on AMAZON
Connections
Publications
(many free downloads)
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