Homosexuality: A New Christian Ethic

By Elizabeth R. Moberly

Book Overview

In the debate about homosexuality one thing that seems clear - on a issue renowned for lack of clarity and controversy - is that two fundamentally incompatible positions continue to held tenaciously. One asserts that homosexual acts are legitimate, the other that they are not. Concentration on the legitimacy of sexual expression rather than on underlying needs has made the debate about homosexuality incapable of resolution. Homosexuality : A New Christian Ethic presents a psychoanalytic interpretation that has shifted the focus of the debate from symptoms to root causes. The crux of Elizabeth Moberly's argument is that 'the homosexual condition involves legitimate developmental needs, the fulfilment of which has been blocked by an underlying ambivalence to members of the same sex'. But while the argument is certainly controversial, it involves a much-needed restatement of the traditional Christian distinction between the homosexual condition and its expression in homosexual activity.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0227678508
• ISBN13: 9780227678503
• Release Date: April 1997
• Publisher: James Clarke Lutterworth
• Length: 56 Pages
• Weight: 0.24 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.8" x 0.2" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

A HOPEFUL book which revolutionized how I saw my struggle and helped point me toward what I was real

This was a book that was out of print for a while so it is nice to hear that now it is available once again. We used this book in my homosexual support group to help us understand more of the roots of what my struggle really was- my cry for the safe emotional connection of the same sex (in my case, my mom) needs that I missed and craved so much especially as I lost my mother in a car accident with a drunk truck driver when I was 5 years old and then later came to have memories of some inappropriate sexual contact stuff that my father had with me- it just tore up my "world" inside and I went "searching" for a woman's comfort and love. This book helped me to begin to understand what it was I was really craving and that it was not as much a sexual need as it was an emotional one and that I was meeting what God made as a very legitimate need (the comfort, love, security, and bonding from one's same sex parent) into an illegitimate need (lust and sex with women). Those were very difficult times for me and I am glad and thankful that the Lord gave me HOPE and revelation that proved to be true through books like this. It has been about over 15 years now I began really struggling in my early 20's and I want to ask you to hang in there too. There was hope for me and you know what?- God has hope that can really transform you too- I am so thankful for all that He has done in my life. This book is a good start looking into what your cry for the same gender attraction is really about and you know what?- it isn't really about sexual intercourse and lust and stuff- its about our need for someone who represents my father or my mother who will take care of me in a safe way and love me and comfort me and be there for me and connect with me. With Jesus, there is hope, and you know what?- He DOES make a way and He has never left me to handle it on my own especially as I have cried out to Him for His help- He comes running. Do it and see. Watch what Jesus does. He has a way and when we stay honest with Him (it's taken going through a lot of tears for me though I don't know what He's got for another person, but all that crying when I remembered the things that hurt really helped) and He did provide different people and He continues to provide people and I find that these non-sexual, purer relationships sure have a lot more depth to them than the sexual one that I had or any of the lust-filled flirtatious ones had. I hope this helps someone. I know I sure needed a lot of help, but Jesus is soooooooooo good, my friend. He astounds me. He touches my heart and changes all that anger and all that rage and all that pain and all that coldness that I've had and takes it onto Himself and man, He starts to transform me when I think there's no way out and I don't know of how to get myself out. Jesus replied, "What is impossible with man is possible with God." (Luke 18:27) Take care, my fellow traveler and Jesus' very best to you in your journey.

Enlightening & encouraging

Eliabeth Moberly has revolutionized my understanding of homosexuality. She brings enlightenment to the struggle of the homosexual by suggesting he/she experienced and is still experiencing a deficit of love from the same-sex parent. This is accomplished by offering possibilities of separation, both physical and mental, from the parent. While these separations occur in a child's life both conciously and unconciously, Moberly does not lay blame continuously on the parent. Emphasizing the valid need that the homosexual is experiencing, she seeks to encourage Christians to love and step into non-erotic relationship with the homosexual. It is only through these relationships that valid needs will be met. She warns that fulfillment of legitimate needs takes much time and that one should not expect spontaneous results.

IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING

I am a Christian who has formerly had a homosexual relationship after years of struggling with homosexual desires (as a Christian). The question I wrestled with and every one who has struggled with homosexuality wrestles with is "Why do I have these feelings?" Elizabeth Moberly's book answers this question. The most healing thing in this book is that she says that the homosexual drive is a legitimate drive and is one that a man or woman does not choose for him or herself, but it is a desire that stems from dysfunction in child-parent relationships. This desire to be properly loved and raised by the same sex parent is absent or lacking; consequently, this legitimate need, if it is not met, becomes sexualized in same sex attractions for some people. I can only speak for myself, but in my case, this is exactly what happened to me. (Again, I was a born-again Christian when I was struggling with homosexuality, and my parents were also evangelical Christians -clergy even). Granted, my general sin nature and exposure to living in a pro-gay culture didn't help either, but it was only when I came to understand the child-parent connection to my homosexual drive and allowed God to meet these legitimate needs for love that I have been freed from these desires. There is freedom. There is healing. Don't believe the lie that there isn't. But it isn't easy. It doesn't happen in one day. It takes time - and failure. It requires great courage and the willingness to trust God to meet your needs. It may be the hardest thing you ever do, for like any sin, if we do not depend on God, we can always fall back into the sin in the same way a former alcoholic can go back to the bottle or someone who has repented of an extra-marital affair can be tempted to engage in another. For those of you who are parents: get this book. I do not condemn my parents; instead, I have learned to forgive them and to understand their own needs and issues. We are all in this together. Finally, I trust that as I pray for a Christian spouse, God will provide. Don't give up on the God who made man and woman to be "one" Don't give up on what you know to be true. This book will help you on your journey.

compassionate, intellectual, and biblical

This book is very short, cogent, biblical, and clear. If someone wants to argue against the Bible, then they might not like this book. But for those who want to love homosexuals as themselves and not be prejudiced or mean-spirited, then this is a great book to read. Strikingly, Moberly directs homosexuals NOT to stifle their homosexual urges, and yet not to act them out sexually either. Her thesis is that homosexuality essentially is not a sexual issue, but a relational issue. I agree with her--because I know firsthand that eating disorders are not primarily about food. They're about relationships--just like homosexuality is. While homosexual acts are sinful, just telling someone gay to be celibate is an inadequate and unwise response. Anorexics don't suddently get well when someone proudly tells them to eat more. Likewise, homosexuals don't suddenly "turn hetero" or develop the ability to be celibate when someone proudly tells them to "straighten out." If followers of Christ would heed the wisdom in this book, the Church would probably become a respite for homosexuals and a community in which more people could testify together of the healing grace of God.

Q:What causes homosexuality? A:Read this book.

This book is awesome at explaining the issues behind the symptom of homosexuality. It is small, but chock-a-block full of truths about why people become homosexuals. I couldn't put it down because I kept going "Yeah, that's right! Tell me more!". Its the first book that I recommend to people who are homosexuals, but who want to change. I'd also recommend it to people who want to help people who want to change as it looks at the underlying issues, not the symptom. Homosexuality is a sin and God hates all sin, but if you're motivated and ask for God's help it is possible to change. I've seen it happen in my own life and its great! Thanks Elizabeth Moberly