Straight and Narrow?: Compassion and Clarity in the Homosexuality Debate [Paperback]

Thomas E. Schmidt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2, 1995

Voted one of 1996 Books of the Year!

Too often, Thomas Schmidt writes, the charged battle over homosexuality generates slogans and accusations--obscuring the struggling persons at the center of the argument.

In this book Schmidt brings the discussion back into empathetic contact with the circumstances and the choices of individuals. At the same time he offers thoroughly researched and up-to-date information and assessment from an evangelical Christian perspective on all the main points of the debate. He includes chapters on what the Bible really says (and means) about homosexuality, the health effects of homosexual behavior, whether or not people are born with homosexual orientations, and the cogency of recent progay reconstructions of history such as John Boswell's.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In summarizing with admirable thoroughness the predominant evangelical Christian view of homosexuality, Schmidt eschews theology in favor of the more empirical disciplines of textual Bible studies (his own field), the social sciences, medicine, and developmental psychology. Starting from the bedrock evangelical assumption that the Bible is the ultimate authority for Christians, Schmidt first forcibly states revisionist Christian ideas about why the church should accept homosexual behavior. Then he demonstrates that revisionists misrepresent the Bible's disapprobation of homosexual acts, marshals the evidence for the physical and psychological unhealthiness of typical homosexual behavior, and critically reviews "the Great Nature-Nurture Debate" over the "cause" of homosexuality. Despite an openly didactic manner (he tells us what he's going to do, then does it in apple-pie order), Schmidt states his case with exemplary clarity, conviction, and genuine goodwill. (The only major point he fails to put persuasively is that homosexual acts are per se injurious to marriage.) It seems unlikely that his book will ever be bettered; those who want the gospel, as it were, on evangelical Christianity and homosexuality must read it. Ray Olson

About the Author

Thomas E. Schmidt (Ph.D., Cambridge University) teaches at Rogue Community College in Grants Pass, Oregon. He is former Professor of New Testament at Westmont College. He has written several books and numerous professional journal articles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: IVP Academic (June 2, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830818588
• ISBN-13: 978-0830818587
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #155,253 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 70 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Accepting Homosexuals in the Church July 15, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

Professor Schmidt clearly lays out the debate between revisionists and traditionalists on the Biblical issues surrounding homosexuality. He explains what the various arguments are in terms lay Christians can understand. While doing this he remains true to his focus of remembering that the issue is really about an individual, not about lifestyle, orientation or ideology. If you are looking for a book that "justifies" homosexuality through misinterpretation of Scripture this is not the book for you. If you are looking for a book that "justifies" your anger or resentment of homosexuals this is not the book for you. If you are a person who wants to better understand the issues surronding the Christian faith and homosexuality this is an excellent book for you. Unfortunately, the critics of Schmidt's conclusion don't tackle his agruments, they merely resort to lumping him into a category (homophobe)they immediately dismiss. Those critics should read his book again because they missed his love and compassion for them as individuals regardless of whether they are homosexual or hetrosexual.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Insight with Credible References July 3, 2008

By Timothy Eakin

Format:Paperback

This book changed my life. After reading other pro-gay theology books I looked high and low for a one stop shop book that would take what pro-gay theology said and would adequately argue the other side of it. This book is awesome at doing just that. It is an easy read with very applicable subject matter. I struggled with homosexuality and, after reading this book, prayer and a lot of work I finally found the truth for my life.

35 of 41 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth Reading June 17, 2002

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

This is a very well-written book, but admittedly from a Christian point of view. So if you're not a Christian, you may not be able to relate to some of what the author is saying. Nevertheless, I felt it was worth reading, particularly for two chapters: "The Price of Love" and "The Great Nature-Nurture Debate." "The Price of Love" marshals a tremendous amount of statistics that present a striking contrast to our popular culture's generally affirming view of homosexuality. Specifically, it indicates that many homosexual men have many, many more partners than anybody else (including gay women). It also indicates that, at least as of the 1970's, most gay relationships did not last longer than a few years. In other words, there really is a different set of behavior patterns in the homosexual community. Also, the author highlights the health risks inherent in this lifestyle, particularly for men. In "The Great Nature-Nuture Debate," the author shows how homosexuals are probably not just "born that way," but there are a whole variety of factors that contribute to homosexuality -- biology, family situation, culture, experience, etc. -- and that these factors vary from person to person. His theory of social constructionism is particularly interesting and should be paid heed to -- that the way people understand themselves (in this case sexually) often comes from the culture that they're living in. These two chapters should be read by everybody.