Customer Reviews

Same-Sex Marriage: Pro and Con: A Reader

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A great collection of arguments both for and against Same-sex marriage. Although the author admits his bias (pro) and includes many of his own arguments and essays, the book is really rather evenly done. I suspect that most people will not be swayed either way because there is plenty of reinforcement for both sides. This is a book I would like to have in my library.

The book is indeed well-balanced, and comprehensive (considering the dearth of information and research on this subject and its relatively recent rise to a prominent place in public discussion). Highly recommended for anyone seeking greater understanding of this issue.

It is best used as a resource, rather than read straight through. The arguments presented often get bogged down in wordy legal and political jargon. Not that there isn't a place for such books; I just wish it were more accessible for the average person, so I could give a copy to my grandparents to read, for example.

Sullivan has put together a definitive compilation of pro-and-con-arguments over the issue of same-sex marriage--one which demands reading by both sides in the debate. It should not, however, simply and blindly be used to bolster one's own position on the issue. Use this reader to learn why the opposition feels the way they feel and believes what they believe. Understanding the intensity of and reasoning behind these positions will doubtless improve the intellectual quality of the debate on both sides (a point our friend from the Heritage Foundation [below] and his ilk miss entirely).

"Same-Sex Marriage:Pro&Con" is an excellent summation of the gay marriage debate. Before the once-controversial Vermont civil unions, before Gavin Newsom had same-sex couples tie the knot in San Francisco,Andrew Sullivan begins by chronicling with the Hawaiian Supreme Court case. He has the original documents from the Defense of Marriage Act debate (an act that Pres. Bill Clinton reluctantly signed)

"Pro&Con" shows both sides fairly. Conservatives are given plenty of space to voice their views,as do liberals. What an advantage is the original documents. It's had to be considerably updated,since San Francisco as well as the Supreme Court case that led Justice Antonin Scalia to claim that legalizing sodomy would lead to gay marriage (as if straight people don't do it?)

"Pro&Con" helps one explore the gay marriage debate in depth. One can see both sides now.

I can't recommend Andrew Sullivan's "Same-Sex Marriage: Pro and Con" highly enough.

It's an anthology, and the pieces excerpted do exactly what the title says: they provide a reader into pro and con positions in the same sex marriage debate. Sullivan is very fair. He really does present a variety of points of view.

The reader is so thorough, after you've read it, you may realize that it would be hard to say anything new on the topic.

In addition to being useful, I found the book fascinating. It's intriguing to read of how marriage between persons of the same gender was conceived long ago in China, or in Medieval Europe. I do use the book in classes I teach, but I also enjoyed reading it.

This book is a fantastic resource and I would recommmend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about the topic.

Andrew Sullivan, editor
Same-Sex Marriage:
Pro and Con: A Reader

(New York: Vintage/Random House, 1997) 373 pages
(ISBN: 0-679-77637-0; paperback)
(Library of Congress call number: HQ76.25.F677 1997)

A large collection of previously-published short articles,
presenting all possible arguments concerning same-sex marriage.
The major themes: historical background--precedents for same-sex marriage;
religious debates; court rulings; political perspectives--right & left;
Defense of Marriage Act; affect on children;
slippery slope leading to other changes in marriage law;
why should gays want something that is not working for straights?
A comprehensive collection--but without any break-thru ideas.
This book will stand as a good record
of thinking about same-sex marriage up to 1997.

If you would like to consider other books on same-sex marriage,
search the Internet for the following bibliography:
"SAME-SEX MARRIAGE--FIRST BOOKS".

Interesting, independent, but with some repeated arguments from text to text. Very useful to help thinking about same sex marriage.

This book was a last-minute reference for a term paper, so I was under time constraints. It arrived promptly and was in excellent condition.

""" Lies
by Thomas Peters
13 hours ago RSS
It's Debate 101 that you should understand your opponent's argument before you attempt to refute it.

Andrew Sullivan, a well-known gay activist and columnist was invited to Georgetown University last night by Catholics For Equality to conduct a "Catholic Family Conversation on LGBT Issues" with Maggie Gallagher of the National Organization for Marriage.

The problem is, despite his claiming to have tried his best to be a good Catholic and understand the Church's teachings, right down to understanding the meaning of the term "transubstantiation", Andrew actually doesn't know the first thing about his Catholic faith, or about the arguments of the Church for its positions on homosexuality and same-sex marriage.

Catholic moderator E. J. Dionne of the Washington Post was a hapless referee, using words like "exegetical" and tossing in quotations from St. Paul while admitting that he now dissents from the Church's teaching on homosexuality and same-sex marriage.

When facing the level of ignorance, malice and internal incoherence displayed by Andrew, it's truly useless to attempt to engage him in a debate, because a debate requires logic.

The low-point of the evening (or high-point, if you were waiting for one outrageous statement to be topped by another) was when Andrew claimed, in response to a question I posed, that Jesus didn't care much about families, that Jesus abandoned his own family, in fact, and that homosexual persons care more about marriage and family than Jesus did.

Seriously.

Allow me to rattle through a few more of the things Andrew said (I'm paraphrasing from memory but the video recording, should it ever be released, will corroborate my claims):

The Church believes homosexuals are intrinsically disordered. In 1986, Ratzinger wrote a document which implied that if gays stand up for themselves they deserve violence. The reason for the Church's anti-gay activity is because a disproportionate number of bishops and priests are closeted gays. The only time I have experienced hostility hatred and discrimination is from celibate priests who think their power is dependent upon stigmatizing gays. Life without being able to have a romantic relationship with the one you love isn't worth living. I was an alter [SIC !!!!!] boy, and there must have been something unattractive about me because I was never molested {to audience laughter and applause}. Cardinal Ratzinger covered up for a priest who he knew was a child rapist and sent that priest to go rape other children. The Church's mistreatment of gays is the greatest scandal and threat to the Church in its entire history. I came out as gay because of my Catholic faith. I don't believe in infallibility. Jesus was unconcerned about the family and marriage, in fact incredibly hostile to the family, he abandoned his own family, and asked every disciple to dump his wife and children.

... it's not hard to see how it's difficult to have a "Catholic" debate with someone who holds to these views and says these things. For the record, not a single one of Andrew's claims about the Church or figures in the Church is true.

The audience, who were overwhelmingly gay and/or supporters of gay-marriage (though there was a respectable showing of those who support the Church's teaching) were little better informed. One woman stood up and said, "Because my parents weren't married when I was born the Church says I'm an illegitimate person."

Again, this is an example of someone who is angry with a caricature of the Church.

I'm searching for access to video from the event so people can see with their own eyes what happened. I believe it is eye-opening for anyone who has not seen how the debate over homosexuality and same-sex marriage is being conducted these days.

I believe it's imperative that faithful Catholics continue to offer up prayers and prepare themselves for the inevitable questions they will encounter about these issues.

And pray for Andrew Sullivan, who has clearly benefitted so little from his failed attempts to understand the teachings of Christ as conveyed and explained by the Church."""