Oh, God! Oh, God! Oh, God!: Young Adults Speak Out About Sexuality & Christian Spirituality

Finally, an edgy book on the Christian tradition and dating, sex, the single life, and other related topics that takes a different path from standard evangelical Christian courtship and anti-dating manuals. The essays in this edited volume are short, personal, practical, and brimming with ideas and advice about how to tackle any number of significant topics during the young adult years, from hookup culture to surviving sexual abuse. As with any anthology, some chapters are stronger than others, with “The Silver Ring and the Ring of Fire,” “Growing Up Gay,” and “The Perfect Chase” emerging as standouts. Readers may find one glaring disappointment, however; the title promises “young adults” speaking out, but several authors sound far along into their adult lives—if not in years, then in the way they look back at their youth as far gone or in the issues they choose to discuss, such as infertility and in vitro. Aside from this, not only are these essays highly readable, but each provides additional bibliographical resources and perhaps, best of all, excellent questions for further discussion and reflection at the end of each chapter, useful to any teacher or youth group leader. (Feb.)