Customer Reviews

Forbidden Fruit: Sex & Religion in the Lives of American Teenagers

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Forbidden Fruit asks questions about the connection between religion and sex among American teenagers, and the answers Regnerus finds are neither simple nor straightforward. In fact, the author concludes that simple and straightforward answers to questions about sex (like, avoid sex before you're married) have largely fallen flat among American teens, Christians included. There's new material on emerging sexual norms, masturbation, homosexuality, virginity loss, post-virginity sexual decision-making, etc. For these reasons, I think the book could be considered as a standard in the study of adolescent sexual behavior, independent of its illustrative emphasis on religion.

Forbidden Fruit is broad in its analyses of nationally representative survey data and rich in its conversations with real people. The writing is clear, crisp, and engaging, and should appeal to parents and educators alike. It's also fun to read but avoids a frivolous or overly playful tenor. There are many refreshing turns of phrase in the presentation of arguments that make this book enjoyable. In sum, the author talks about serious matters in a disarming way, one that is respectful to religious traditions, and doesn't lend itself to easy politicization or demonizing. The stories about evangelical youth (who seem sexually "traditional" in word more than in deed) and the emergence of a "conservative" middle class sexual morality that has little to do with religion are fascinating. I think the author is right: most religious groups in America don't know how to address adolescent sexuality; in turn they hold out no compelling vision for their teens in how to be both devout and sexual. In sum, it's an outstanding contribution.

I took Dr. Regnerus's class in the introduction to religion (a sociology course) when I read this book. I was shocked to learn about how ignorant and unintelligent these teenagers are, especially when you realize just how little they know actually about their religion. Interestingly enough, it inspired me to learn more about my religion.

As "obvious" as a previous reviewer may have thought the book was, I think they are terribly mistaken. Sure, we know some teens have sex and are religious, or have sex and are not religious, etc. but Regnerus does a great job of trying to understand why they chose what they chose. As an engineering major, it was important to me that it is also well-written and easy to follow.

Regnerus makes a huge contribution in this book to our understanding of religion and sex in the lives of American youth. Forbidden Fruit is built on solid social science research and is highly informative and challenging. I recommend it to anyone who has, works with, or cares about teenagers.

This book breathes facts and points and clarifications, but it is among the most dull books I have read on this topic and in some parts some of the detail could have been omitted.

I disagree with others who think this will be an enormously useful book to parents and educators. While there are points that can no doubt be applied to talking with children about sexuality Regnerus does not provide any insight into what could be done better. He lacks detail on why children who place God's word above their parent's word are less likely to have early sex. He lacks information on why LDS children are so much less conformed to the rest of teenagers in this area. So although you maybe able to make some conclusions or inferences, they won't rest on much factual basis from this book.