In this excellent examination of sexuality from an evangelical Christian perspective, McMinn (Growing Strong Daughters
), a sociology professor at Wheaton College, provides a refreshing perspective on sexuality in general and on the specific uses and misuses of sex in, as she describes it, a "broken world." Covering topics such as rites of passage for men and women, adolescent sexual awakening, singleness, marital sex, "birthing babies" and cultural attitudes toward sexuality, each chapter includes a half dozen or so genuinely thoughtful questions for reflection and discussion. McMinn's fresh insights and clear and readable style make the book accessible on a popular level. Parents of pre-teens and teens should find it a practical tool for helping their children make wise decisions about sex, while engaged couples should find her discussion of true intimacy, and our unrealistic expectation of achieving it in this life, to be helpful in navigating their way through marriage. At the same time, her thorough research makes the book appropriate for academic use. While never straying from biblical principles, the author explores emotionally charged issues like unwanted pregnancy and masturbation with grace and compassion; her discussion of homosexuality should be required reading in ministry programs at evangelical seminaries. (Jan. 30)
