Rating: 
Summary: This book is poison
Review: This book and its shortcomings are best understood in light of the theology of fear that animates it. According to Dallas's world view, the Bible (as interpreted by 20th Century fundamentalists) sets forth the immutable law of God, and as such is the sole authority on all matters, particularly matters of sexual morality. This law of God is unyielding, and careless of human experience in the realms of sociology, anthropology or psychology. Mr. Dallas has formulated a series of arguments designed to answer many of the most commonly-advanced arguments in support of gay-positive Christians. But all the arguments never address the deeper, lived truth of being a gay man who happens to love God beyond all else. He dismisses without much examination the most compelling evidence in support of gay Christians: that despite all their prayers--or else in answer to them--gays and lesbians find themselves both loving God and one another; loving God in and through one another. Nor does he address the parts of scripture that refute his theology. He opens by contending that 'gay' and 'Christian' do not go together, implying that gays and lesbians cannot be true Christians. Later, he acknowledges that gays and lesbians may indeed experience the grace and love of God, profess the divinity of Jesus and accept the authority of scripture, may be born again and 'saved.' All this without admitting the inescapable implication that gays and lesbians can indeed be true Christians. What he says is that none of this means that God 'approves' of their lifestyle. But if we are Christians, what are we to make of the promise of Jeremiah 31:33 et seq: ". . .I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts . . . No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, "Know the LORD," for they shall all know me . . . for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more." How are we to understand Jesus's promise that he would send a Spirit of Truth to guide us? A Strong Delusion starts by building arguments about why the issue is important; why it is crucial for true Christians to oppose gay and lesbian Christians who try to live out both their spirituality and sexuality. All of these arguments decry perceived social catastrophes which would follow if gay and lesbian Christians were allowed to live unchallenged. No mention is made of any danger to the souls or spiritual health of the people involved. This portion of the book is probably the weakest, both for its lack of intellectual honesty and its rank manipulation of fears of pedophilia, social moral decay, and the death of the 'traditional family.' Thus, he claims that permitting homosexuality will lead to the sexual exploitation of children, sexual confusion among youth, and the destruction of the institution of marriage. While he admits that none of the homosexuals he has had contact with ever indicated a sexual interest in children, he fears that once we begin to deviate from the boy/girl, chaste-before-marriage, monogamous-for-life model, there will be no end to the distortions which will follow, including pedophilia. In a word, the connection between homosexuality and pedophilia is a complete fabrication. Regarding the alleged sexual confusion of youth, Dallas attacks the efforts of Project 10 and other gay youth support programs, but never makes any constructive suggestions. Instead, he dwells on the likelihood that, having been exploited by older gays and lesbians as teens, these kids will have AIDS before 25. We are left to conclude that they won't matter much after that. He sees no need for the church to give pastoral support such youth, e.g., to help them discover life-affirming (or at least not life threatening) ways-and contexts--in which to express their sexuality. The supposed threat to marriage is based on a parody of the alleged "gay Christian" view that wherever there is love there is family. If 'love' defines family, says Dallas, then any form of love relationship would eventually be able to lay claim to the church's blessing, including polygamous ("bisexual trios") or adult/child relationships. All of these are the inevitable result of "tampering with the God-given model" of marriage. This ignores the fact that the Bible actually does sanction polygamy, and nowhere prohibits the marrying of children, which was a common practice among the Hebrews. (So much for a God- given model.) Second, this ignores the fact that to reach the current general condemnation of these practices, the Church relied not upon scriptural texts, but upon changing values, discernment and the wisdom accumulated from experience. It is after all a relatively modern idea that a sound marriage is based on committed love and the rational consent of the parties involved, and not the simple transfer between men of property rights in a woman. The worst problem with Dallas's approach is that it precludes any objective examination of the spiritual content of a same-gender union. It is pointless to look for the presence of the 'fruit of the spirit' (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, Galatians 5:22-23), since the presence of these qualities does not connote God's approval. (On the other hand, 'consistency with scripture' is not listed among the fruit of the spirit!) The refusal to examine the spirituality of same gender attraction precludes any sort of constructive pastoral response to the needs of sexually active gays and lesbians. Dallas has nothing constructive to say to such people, and insists that it is sinful for any right-thinking Christian to encourage a gay couple to try to approach their relationship in a Christian way, e.g., to cultivate the fruits of the spirit in their relationship. Any such encouragement or guidance would only be confirming them in their sin. For Dallas, the only correct pastoral response to the needs of gays and lesbians is lovingly and gently but emphatically to "just say no."
Rating:
Summary: A Strong Delusion....
Review: .... especially for the poor right wing fundamentalists who will fork over $9.59 of their hard earned money believing that think this book gives them some kind of "deep" insight into the issue of homosexuality and the Bible. Wrong. Like every other fundamentalist book on the subject, it's deeply misguided.
Save your money.. tithe it instead... maybe to a local AIDS hospice (which would be THE Christian thing to do). Joe Dallas is not only clueless, he's delusional. IMHO, he was closer to the Living God in the MCC than he is now.
Rating: 
Summary: Ex-gay Minister Turns and Debunks "Gay Christian" Theology
Review: The author, formerly homosexual and now happily married with children, lends powerful doses of credibility and authority to the issue -- both through his own story of torment, temptation and ultimate salvation, and through his considerable scriptural research. Combining that with a keen media awareness and his inside experience in a major "gay" church, he lists and then convincingly demolishes all the common arguments by which some Christians excuse homosexual behaviors as unsinful and even God-given. He reveals holes in Mel White's and other liberal theological interpretations that are big enough to fly a 747 through, by using his own exegeses of original-language text and those of other Biblical scholars, whose references are duly cited. In a clear, well-organized and persuasive writing style, the author: === Strips away the facade of popular slogans, catchy rhetoric and selective Biblical interpretations used by "gay Christian" activists; === Strongly emphasizes the innate nature of same-sex attraction -- it is not a choice, any more than an innate predisposition to any other condition; === Encourages compassion and love toward for those with same-sex attraction; === Properly denounces hateful acts and thoughts as unworthy of Jesus' loving legacy; === Offers hope, advice, spiritual resources and encouragement for those who are struggling with their religious identities and same sex attractions, and for parents, family and friends of those in that position. A lot of hatred and resentment exists for no good reason on *both* sides of this issue; and those on *both* extremes who carry that hatred will never read this book in full. However, anyone who cares about this issue with an open mind -- no matter their orientation or opinion -- should read it word for word, start to finish. Even those deeply entrenched in the "gay Christian" ideology should read this, in the name of tolerance and respect for others' ideas. One may even come away with a healthy measure of skepticism about the beliefs he or she has developed.
Rating:
Summary: CANDID, LOVING REPORT FROM AN EX-INSIDER
Review: A STRONG DELUSION BY JOE DALLAS. THIS BOOK, WRITTEN BY AN EX-GAY MAN, WILL NOT BE COMFORTABLE READING FOR MANY PEOPLE. GAYS WILL BE UPSET BECAUSE IT TAKES THEIR ARGUMENTS APART FROM THE INSIDE AND SHOWS THE FALLACIES. RABID ANTI-GAYS WILL NOT LIKE IT BECAUSE EVEN WHILE CONDEMNING HOMOSEXUAL SEX, THE BOOK MAINTAINS A CONSISTENT LOVE AND SYMPATHY TOWARDS THE GAYS THEMSELVES. SOME OF US IN THE MIDDLE WILL BE UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE WE ARE ASKED TO RELATE SYMPATHETICALLY TO GAY PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN OUR CHURCHES. WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT GAYS CAN BE CHRISTIAN, EVEN WHILE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR HOMOSEXUAL FEELINGS AND LIFESTYLE. MANY GAYS HAVE SOUGHT REFUGE IN THE GAY CHURCHES BECAUSE THEY HAD NOWHERE ELSE TO GO. IF CHRIST'S CHURCH CAN WELCOME ANYONE, IT MUST BE ABLE TO WELCOME EVERYONE. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT EVERYONE'S BEHAVIOR IS ACCEPTABLE, BUT THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES ARE MOST DEFINITELY WELCOME. WE MUST BE ABLE TO SEPARATE HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOR FROM THE HOMOSEXUAL PERSON. A LOVING, WELCOMING COMMUNITY OF FAITH WAS NECESSARY FOR GETTING JOE DALLAS ON THE ROAD AWAY FROM HOMOSEXUALITY. IF MORE CHURCHES WOULD OFFER SUCH A LOVING, WELCOMING COMMUNITY, MORE GAYS MIGHT CHOOSE THAT ROAD. ALAN@PROAXIS.COM
Rating:
Summary: Excellent reading for pursuit of truth
Review: An excellent book that clearly shows the deceptive theology of liberal theologians. What a powerful testimony written by a former practicing homosexual and former pastor of a "gay" church. Required reading for all Christians, especially those within denominations where the topic of homosexual relations and "gay marriage" is a divisive issue up for debate. This book exposes the many myths and arguments by pro-homosexual lifestyle activists and gives hope to those struggling with homosexual tempations. Written with true compassion and love, in intelligent yet simple explanations. Great Reading and Information.
Rating:
Summary: Very valuable work on a sometimes tough topic
Review: As a man who worked for 10 years as an ICU RN, many times caring for AIDS patients, and who now works as a biblical scholar and theologian, I highly recommend this book. The issue of homosexuality and Bible interpretation is often a tough one with people dividing into polarized camps. People often quarrel about the meaning of ancient Greek or Hebrew words and fail to see that people today are suffering and dying. This book offers an insider's view of the "gay" church movement and the gay advocate positions. This book also offers clear teaching about the different views each side has and why one may be drawn toward either end. I believe that this book will offer hope and healing toward people who have sometimes been shunned or castigated. Yes this work takes the Bible seriously and accurately, but that means that everyone is in one camp. We are all sinners saved by God's grace, through Jesus. This book is well worth the money, if you are brave enough and open minded enough and ready to see reality.
Rating:
Summary: Very valuable work on a sometimes tough topic
Review: As a man who worked for 10 years as an ICU RN, many times caring for AIDS patients, and who now works as a biblical scholar and theologian, I highly recommend this book. The issue of homosexuality and Bible interpretation is often a tough one with people dividing into polarized camps. People often quarrel about the meaning of ancient Greek or Hebrew words and fail to see that people today are suffering and dying. This book offers an insider's view of the "gay" church movement and the gay advocate positions. This book also offers clear teaching about the different views each side has and why one may be drawn toward either end. I believe that this book will offer hope and healing toward people who have sometimes been shunned or castigated. Yes this work takes the Bible seriously and accurately, but that means that everyone is in one camp. We are all sinners saved by God's grace, through Jesus. This book is well worth the money, if you are brave enough and open minded enough and ready to see reality.
Rating:
Summary: Reality Check for "Gay Christians"
Review: As a sibling of a homosexual who claims to be a Christian, I know first-hand how the issue of the legitimacy of homosexuality for Christians divides families, friends and churches. I have purchased and read nearly 100 books on all sides of the issue and I am also a diligent student of the Bible itself, so I feel competent to state my opinion of this book and its message. First, I am glad Dallas wrote this book, which needed to be written. At one point I wanted to write a book on this very topic, but Dallas is probably the best person for this job.
Dallas rightly points to the correspondence between denigration of the authority of the Bible and the rise of "gay Christianity"; however, it needs to be stressed that the former is the primary cause of the latter. If 19th and 20th century Bible-believing Christians had not largely retreated into a cultural ghetto, essentially abandoning the public square to Bible-denying Liberal "Christianity," "gay Christianity" and its other allies in the assault on orthodoxy would never have gotten off the ground. The roots of the problem are inextricably intertwined with hermeneutics, and Higher Criticism's assault on Biblical authority goes back to the 19th century. Higher Criticism and Liberalism have long been absolutely refuted but that doesn't stop men from clinging to those false beliefs. The same can be said for so-called "gay Christianity"; the writings of Dallas, Bahnsen, Wold, Satinover, Saia, Bergner, Davies and many others - and of course both the Hebrew and Greek scriptures - make it abundandly clear that the issue is completely settled: "gay Christian" is an oxymoron. That won't keep some people from clinging to their delusions in any case.
One of the ironies of homosexual theology is that they can't make up their mind about whether the Bible approves or disapproves of homosexuality. On the one hand, we have people like Daniel A. Helmeniak and John J. McNeill, who assert the church has traditionally misread the Bible and that it's really all right after all (the legerdemain and contortions needed to reach that conclusion deserve to be on stage at Las Vegas). On the other hand, we have people like Gary David Comstock ("Unrepentant, Self-Affirming, Practicing: Lesbian/Bisexual/Gay People Within Organized Religion" and "Gay Theology without Apology"), who openly admit that the Bible does indeed condemn homosexuality in no uncertain terms, and therefore the Bible needs to be jettisoned completely. At least Comstock has a shred of integrity in recognizing the undeniable.
Over and against both "gay Christian" camps, Dallas presents a surprisingly mature does of biblical reality. I say "surprisingly" because I wasn't expecting much from anyone connected with the MCC, but obviously Dallas' own struggles have sent him back to the Bible and given him true wisdom. He rightly goes to the root of this issue: the authority of the Bible over the life of the believer.
The only way a homosexual can profess to be a Christian while also embracing his or her homosexuality is to deny the authority of biblical revelation, and to make primary the so-called "revelation" in their own minds and hearts. Whose word is authoritative, God's, or man's? That is what it comes down to.
Are we to accept as valid a person's subjective definition of "love" as some warm and fuzzy feeling in our breast (or a swelling in the pants), or do we believe Jesus when He says, "If you love Me, keep My commandments . . . He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."
Jesus said, "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple . . . If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." If a homosexual wishes to follow Christ, he or she must be so committed to Christ that they are willing to make that self-denial. Anyone who cannot or will not do that is not a Christian, but merely self-deceived.
Dallas has done a good service through this book. So-called "gay Christians" may protest about it being "poison" animated by "theology of fear" and "careless of human experience in the realms of sociology, anthropology or psychology,"or they may make bizarre, baseless assertions that the Bible approves of polygamy, child marriage, or other aberrations, or they may insist there is no link between homosexuality and pedophilia. (In truth the most basic underlying cause is the same: hostility to God). However, everything the so-called "gay Christians" say is smoke and mirrors. They are without a leg to stand on. This book points to the only solution: self-denial in embracing Jesus Christ. This is true for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation. Homosexuals are no exception.
Rating:
Summary: This book is NOT poison.
Review: Before I read this book, I had many questions concerning homosexuality. As a Christian, I know that many others of my faith have been bigoted and hateful towards homosexuality, and I knew that this was not the proper attitude to have. I first looked at this book in my church library, and was very curious, and when I finally bought it, I was overwhelmed at the vast amount of clear, concise, and compassionate information Mr. Dallas has given us concerning homosexuality, its supposed links towards genetice, biblical explanations, and the proper attitudes of love to have toward homosexuals. I have read the negative reviews of this book, and now, after reading it myself, I know that they have no idea what they are talking about. If you are looking for a book that offers clear ANSWERS to questions, and the best responses to misconceptions about homosexuality, in a non-bigoted, non-condemning, and very compassionate tone, from a former homosexual who knows what he's talking about, this is the absolute perfect book for you. Ignore the rebuttals; make the decision for yourself, and read it. I guarantee that you won't be sorry.
Rating:
Summary: This book is NOT poison.
Review: Before I read this book, I had many questions concerning homosexuality. As a Christian, I know that many others of my faith have been bigoted and hateful towards homosexuality, and I knew that this was not the proper attitude to have. I first looked at this book in my church library, and was very curious, and when I finally bought it, I was overwhelmed at the vast amount of clear, concise, and compassionate information Mr. Dallas has given us concerning homosexuality, its supposed links towards genetice, biblical explanations, and the proper attitudes of love to have toward homosexuals. I have read the negative reviews of this book, and now, after reading it myself, I know that they have no idea what they are talking about. If you are looking for a book that offers clear ANSWERS to questions, and the best responses to misconceptions about homosexuality, in a non-bigoted, non-condemning, and very compassionate tone, from a former homosexual who knows what he's talking about, this is the absolute perfect book for you. Ignore the rebuttals; make the decision for yourself, and read it. I guarantee that you won't be sorry.
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