Customer Reviews

A Plea for Purity: Sex, Marriage, and God

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Marriage starts with a fire, at least ours did eight years ago. Wherever there's a good thing though, the bad want's to take over. In subtle ways, the fire cools. It was at this point that a friend (unknowing of our inner situation) suggested A Plea for Purity. He was angry at its anti-gay stance. I took it, in the hopes of finding fuel for arguments with him (I enjoy heated arguments, especially on such topics). What happened though was that the book hit home. The more I read, the more I saw my own sitation. It was depressing and firmly and steadfastly uplifting at the same time. I saw where I was in my relationship, but also the door to where I could and should be. I'm not really a religious person (haven't gone to church for years) but here was solid rock. It changed my life. As for the gay-sympathetic friend of mine, he was wrong. The book is not anti-gay, its anti-gay lifestyle. What I mean is, again, it shows them the way out. It condemns the lifestyle but at the same time points out WHY its not a good way to live and what to do about the problem. Tim Major, United Kingdon

The message of this book flows from the most odurate interpretations of the Bible and all the worst aspects of the dogma of intollerance preached by the radical Christian right wing. I never even finished the book because I was so repulsed by it.

The original edition of this book has gone out of print, but only to make way for an expanded version. Find the latest edition of A Plea for Purity under ISBN 0874869609. My wife and I have turned to the author several times for advice in our own marriage, so I recommend him highly. This book is very thought provoking, and confronts the western myth of romance and dating as the route to "living happily ever after". The Foreword by Mother Teresa were some of the last words ever published from her.

Spread largely by word-of-mouth, the tremendous sales on this excellent book from a relatively unknown author and publisher are drawing the attention of all the big-time publishers. How many books do you know of that contain such deep, yet salty advice and insight on such a difficult subject matter that appeals to people across the religious spectrum? Here we have Chritoph Arnold, writing from an Anabaptist perspective, producing a book that is hightly acclaimed by Catholics, Methodists, Mennonites and Evangelicals. Truly a book with a message for our time

This is the best book I've read on the subject of sex. Arnold writes the truth exactly as you'd find it in the Gospel. However he is not judgemental, but compassionate. Besides the message, this book is written in excellent style. When you start to read, it grabs you and absorbs your interest. The writing is simple, direct, and speaks straight to your heart. I highly recommend it

Having lived with the Bruderhoffers (including author Arnold) for twenty years I find the contrast between the values advocated in this book and the methods employed by the Bruderhof in dealing with ex-members and critics intriguing. My sensitivity to the unique language and syntax of Bruderhoffers informs me that with almost complete certainty the preceeding reviews were submitted by Bruderhof insiders.