Rating: 
Summary: Sound exegesis on a sensitive issue
Review: Dr. Helminiak uses sound exegesis and a good command of Biblical Greek and Hebrew to address the issue of homosexuality in the Scriptures in a solid and refreshing way. If it seems at times that he is picking on few passages, it is because the issue is not widely addressed in Scripture, nor does Scripture begin to have the approach found in today's church, be it fundamental, Catholic, or evangelical. He uses all tools at his disposal to examine and understand each passage, and calls for a sound understanding in light of fact, not emotional interpretation of English translation. This book is an excellent treatment of this issue for the scholar or lay person.
Rating:
Summary: Sound exegesis on a sensitive issue
Review: Dr. Helminiak uses sound exegesis and a good command of Biblical Greek and Hebrew to address the issue of homosexuality in the Scriptures in a solid and refreshing way. If it seems at times that he is picking on few passages, it is because the issue is not widely addressed in Scripture, nor does Scripture begin to have the approach found in today's church, be it fundamental, Catholic, or evangelical. He uses all tools at his disposal to examine and understand each passage, and calls for a sound understanding in light of fact, not emotional interpretation of English translation. This book is an excellent treatment of this issue for the scholar or lay person.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Theology for a Difficult Subject
Review: For anyone who is a student of theology, this is an important work. It is readable and yet still faithful to effective theological methodology. Homosexuality is one of those issues which polarizes entire groups and communities of Christians. In this book the author demonstrates that the answers aren't as clear-cut as many fundamentalists would have us believe.
Rating:
Summary: Should be required reading for every Christian
Review: Great book, easy for the non-expert to follow. Takes every reference to homosexuality in the Bible, discusses them one by one.Turns out that New Testiment opposition to homosexuality depends entirely on the translation of the Greek word arsenokoitai, a word that apparently was never used by a non-Christian writer. Thank you Dr. Helminiak.
Rating:
Summary: An informative little book, but not the whole story
Review: Helminiak takes a straightforward scriptural approach by tackling the main witnesses (Genesis, Leviticus, Romans, 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy) in turn. Rejecting the literal view of Scripture he argues for the historical-critical approach, mainly with a detailed analysis for the meaning of words and their wider application elsewhere in the Bible. Additional contextual elements are brought in - for example ritual purity in the Old Testament - where necessary. However this is not a book about the OT and NT background to sexuality and ethics. Nor is it a book about the modern debate around Christianity and homosexuality, although it provides detailed background information on the scriptural elements that some have sought to use in justifying their condemnation of homosexuality. The style is straightforward and easy to read, with Helminiak mainly presenting his own views, with the occasional short reference to other (usually contrary) viewpoints. This book is not a literature review, or balanced "state of play" of the academic, or popular, debate. To keep the text clear, he avoids footnotes and references but has a helpful short annotated bibliography of the main modern texts on the subject. He stresses the need to see the scriptural usage in context, and manages - usually, but not always, convincingly - to portray both the OT and the NT as considering homosexuality (more accurately male-male genital acts) as socially unacceptable (in its context) and not a sin before God. His overall conclusion is that the Bible really has very little to say about homogenital acts and nothing about homosexuality as we would consider it today. In this he follows others, such as Scroggs. The strengths of this book are that it is short, readable and has a clear focus (on Scripture). As such it is a very good starting point when investigating homosexuality in the Bible. It helpfully makes clear that the Bible concentrates on the actions, not orientation, of males, and has little to say about lesbianism (although Helminiak does discuss this). Its weaknesses are that it pays insufficient attention to contrary views and as such the careful student will have to research elsewhere. Similarly, he does not discuss the issues of Christianity and homosexuality that go beyond Scripture although, to be fair, he never sets out to tackle such a wide remit. Overall a valuable and informative look at one of the key elements in the debate surrounding homosexuality, the Bible and the modern church. From a liberal perspective a very good place to start, but not an alternative to reading widely.
Rating:
Summary: An informative little book, but not the whole story
Review: Helminiak takes a straightforward scriptural approach by tackling the main witnesses (Genesis, Leviticus, Romans, 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy) in turn. Rejecting the literal view of Scripture he argues for the historical-critical approach, mainly with a detailed analysis for the meaning of words and their wider application elsewhere in the Bible. Additional contextual elements are brought in - for example ritual purity in the Old Testament - where necessary. However this is not a book about the OT and NT background to sexuality and ethics. Nor is it a book about the modern debate around Christianity and homosexuality, although it provides detailed background information on the scriptural elements that some have sought to use in justifying their condemnation of homosexuality. The style is straightforward and easy to read, with Helminiak mainly presenting his own views, with the occasional short reference to other (usually contrary) viewpoints. This book is not a literature review, or balanced "state of play" of the academic, or popular, debate. To keep the text clear, he avoids footnotes and references but has a helpful short annotated bibliography of the main modern texts on the subject. He stresses the need to see the scriptural usage in context, and manages - usually, but not always, convincingly - to portray both the OT and the NT as considering homosexuality (more accurately male-male genital acts) as socially unacceptable (in its context) and not a sin before God. His overall conclusion is that the Bible really has very little to say about homogenital acts and nothing about homosexuality as we would consider it today. In this he follows others, such as Scroggs. The strengths of this book are that it is short, readable and has a clear focus (on Scripture). As such it is a very good starting point when investigating homosexuality in the Bible. It helpfully makes clear that the Bible concentrates on the actions, not orientation, of males, and has little to say about lesbianism (although Helminiak does discuss this). Its weaknesses are that it pays insufficient attention to contrary views and as such the careful student will have to research elsewhere. Similarly, he does not discuss the issues of Christianity and homosexuality that go beyond Scripture although, to be fair, he never sets out to tackle such a wide remit. Overall a valuable and informative look at one of the key elements in the debate surrounding homosexuality, the Bible and the modern church. From a liberal perspective a very good place to start, but not an alternative to reading widely.
Rating:
Summary: Being Honest About the Bible
Review: Helminiak's most important contribution to Biblical scholarship is not a new or creative viewpoint, but a readable summary of what we already know. And for me, the major revelation in Helminiak's book is not that homosexuality is okay, but that the Bible gives us what we need to understand this issue. A Christian only has to read Romans to learn that unrighteousness and uncleanness are two different things. The New Testament makes it clear that unrighteousness is inherently wrong, while uncleanness is not. And Paul clearly identifies homosexuality as uncleanness (Romans 1:26-27). We cannot honestly conclude from scripture, then, that homosexuality is wrong. This is only a small part of the Biblical evidence Helminiak presents, and all the evidence leads to the same conclusion. With this information available, why do well-meaning Christians still argue that the Bible says homosexuality is wrong? I suggest that there are at least four reasons. First, the Bible has been mistranslated, and second, we read what we've been taught into scripture. Third, many Christians don't understand important Biblical concepts, such as uncleanness. And finally, people cling to their opinions so zealously that they even end up reinterpreting God's Word to avoid changing their own minds. As Helminiak suggests, Christians should get clear as to why they believe what they do, and stop imposing their own views on scripture. It's time to be honest about what the Bible says.
Rating: 
Summary: Homosexuality is still a sin
Review: homosexuality is a sin...you know it, I know it, we all know it...we all need to turn from sin...none of us is righteous...There is only one who is good...that is God...don't waste your time with reading this nonsense...you want to talk with God? seek him in prayer...Jesus is Real...test him and see!
Rating:
Summary: Good Theology for a Difficult Topic
Review: Homosexuality is one of those topics that tears apart individuals and communities when discussed without sensitivity and insight. This little volume goes a long way in demonstrating that, theologically speaking, the topic is not as clear-cut as many fundamentalists would have us believe. If you are a Christian struggling with this issue in your own life, or if you know those who are struggling, this book will be an invaluable aid to you. Daniel Helminiak's writing is easy to follow and his theology is right on target. The introduction by Bishop John Shelby Spong is also helpful (Spong himself has written a helpful volume entitled *Living In Sin?*, also available through Amazon).
Rating:
Summary: A Very Interesting Look at How the Bible is Read
Review: I bought this mostly out of curiosity since Christianity seems to be the main source of the objection of homosexuality in our society. Not only did this book get me thinking on the issue of homosexuality and religion, but it has also prompted me to seek out other books on the Bible itself. Before reading this, whether or not to take the Bible in a literal fashion has never been a question in my mind. By this, I'm not referring to whether or not the story of Adam and Eve is a parable or a truth. One of the issues brought forth in this book is the problems that arise when translating words literally as opposed to what the people who spoke Hebrew and Greek meant by them. Every language uses words differently. As many hundreds of years has passed since much of this text was originally written, in translating and reading them literally, we might very well be misunderstanding the meanings of the passages, if only mildly. While one can look at this book as simply a study on whether or not homosexuality is broached in the Bible and, if it is, to what end, it's really more than that. It also provides a lot of information on what passages came from where, basic Biblical times history, and what the issues of those times were. It allows one to read the Bible with an understanding of the context of the times it was written in, which can only help to understand what it's saying.
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