Venus and Virtue: Celebrating Sex and Seeking Sanctification

by Jerry L. Walls (Editor), Jeremy Neill (Editor), David J. Baggett (Editor)

Overview

Venus and Virtue are a match made in heaven. While popular culture often tends to think of Christianity as negative about sexuality and sexual pleasure, the fact is that Christians have the best of reasons to joyfully celebrate sex as a gift. Unfortunately, there is as much confusion about sex in Christian circles as there is in the culture at large. The authors of this book believe that this confusion can only be adequately addressed by drawing from the deep wells of biblical truth and traditional theology. The writers, however, are not only experts in biblical scholarship, theology, and philosophy, but also pastoral ministry, counseling, pop culture criticism, and women's issues. This book is not sexy in the typical sense of that word, but by situating sexuality within the cosmic drama of biblical revelation, the true beauty and goodness of sex most clearly emerges. And as that beauty emerges, we can begin to see why Christian morality not only makes profound sense, but also why it positively enriches the meaning of sex in ways that far outstrip the sexy secular alternative.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781498296359
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	01/30/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	308
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

David Baggett is Professor of Philosophy in the Rawlings School of Divinity at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA.

 

Jeremy Neill is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Houston Baptist University.

 

Jerry L. Walls is a Professor of Philosophy at Houston Baptist University.
Jerry L. Walls is Scholar in Residence and Professor of Philosophy at Houston Baptist University. Among his books is a trilogy on the afterlife and, more recently, a popular synthesis of the trilogy entitled Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory: Rethinking the Things that Matter Most. He is also the co-author (with Joseph R. Dongell) of Why I Am Not a Calvinist.

Table of Contents

Contributors List xi

Acknowledgments xvii

Introduction Jerry L. Walls xix

Part 1 Biblical and Theological Foundations for Human Sexuality

Chapter 1 Garden of Delights and Dilemmas: The Old Testament on Sex Lawson G. Stone 3

Chapter 2 Premarital Sex for Christians: Yes, No, or Maybe? Joseph R. Dongell 18

Chapter 3 Three in One and Two Become One: A Christian Theology of Sex A. Chadwick Thornhill 34

Chapter 4 Biological Transformation: Does Marriage Change Your Relational DNA? Jeremy Neill 49

Part 2 Christian Sexuality for Singles

Chapter 5 Why Young Christians Wince at Old-School Sexual Ethics Brett McCracken 65

Chapter 6 How to Trust God with Your Body Anna Broadway 79

Chapter 7 From Lizards to Stallions: Exercising Moral Faith David Baggett Marybeth Baggett 92

Chapter 8 What Would St. Paul Say about "Making Out"? Gerald Hiestand 106

Chapter 9 What About Sex? Habits of Heart for a Fulfilling Sexual Relationship and a Happy Marriage Mary Rice Hasson 121

Chapter 10 Continence, Character, and the Morality of Masturbation Matthew Dugandzic 140

Chapter 11 Chastity's Helping Hand? How Masturbation Can Serve Virtue Erin Dufault-Hunter 151

Part 3 Christian Sexuality for Persons with Same-Sex Attraction

Chapter 12 A Christian Response to the "Born This Way" Theology of Homosexuality Raymond Phinney 175

Chapter 13 Same-Sex Attraction and the Calling of God Ron Belgau 195

Chapter 14 The Sexual Pluralist Revolution: Reasons to Be Skeptical James S. Spiegel 211

Part 4 Pastoral Wisdom for Christian Sexuality

Chapter 15 The Place of Forgiveness in the Marriage Bed Stephanie Ellis 227

Chapter 16 Leavening the Dough of Sexual Purity … by the Spirit Jay Thomas 240

Index 253

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Jerry Walls, Jeremy Neill, and David Baggett are to be commended for bringing together such an impressive array of highly qualified authors to produce this important volume on sexual ethics. Readers of Venus and Virtue: Celebrating Sex and Seeking Sanctification will appreciate the pastoral tone as well as the serious thinking that is evident in the efforts to engage our secular and sexualized culture through the lenses of a theologically-informed worldview. One need not agree with all of the authors, who at times do not even agree among themselves, in order to find help and value in this resourceful book and its attempt to address these controversial and often contentious issues. I know that others will join me in expressing gratitude for the thoughtful contributions found in this volume, which explore the implications for a thoroughgoing Christian ethic in light of the current cultural challenges for our day.”

—David S. Dockery, President, Trinity International University

Editorial Reviews

Jerry Walls, Jeremy Neill, and David Baggett are to be commended for bringing together such an impressive array of highly qualified authors to produce this important volume on sexual ethics. Readers of Venus and Virtue: Celebrating Sex and Seeking Sanctification will appreciate the pastoral tone as well as the serious thinking that is evident in the efforts to engage our secular and sexualized culture through the lenses of a theologically-informed worldview. One need not agree with all of the authors, who at times do not even agree among themselves, in order to find help and value in this resourceful book and its attempt to address these controversial and often contentious issues. I know that others will join me in expressing gratitude for the thoughtful contributions found in this volume, which explore the implications for a thoroughgoing Christian ethic in light of the current cultural challenges for our day.”

—David S. Dockery, President, Trinity International University

From the Publisher