The Church and the Homosexual

Rating:
Summary: Beginning of my Journey
Review: At first I felt like this book was stretching what i knew as the truth of the Scripture, but as i started to open my mind and my heart i discovered what the purpose of the book was. it was to free gays and lesbians of the notion that the Bible and the church hates them. that there are other ways to intrepret the meaning behind the words. this was the first book pro-gay book i've read and it really did help me begin my journey of self discovery. i don't know if i am ready to step back into church as an openly gay christian, but one day i hope to. back by Scripture and by the love of God. the next book i hope to read is "Stranger at the Gate" by Mel White.

Rating:
Summary: Beginning of my Journey
Review: Author John McNeil is psychotherapist, and a very intelligent one at that. His personal stories reflect outrageous attitudes of the Church. He is a corageous writer, and I commend him for that.

The book's scientific discussions are interesting. Its textual discussions, however, did not strike me as very convincing (except for the discussion on arsenokoitai--although more recent literature should be reviewed if McNeil does indeed update his book again).

McNeil missed several logical points about the story of Sodom that would have made his case much stronger.

In my opinion, McNeil's Greek discussion of Romans 1 was a waste of time. More attention should have been focused on the context of idolatry.

McNeil missed the parallels between the Canaanite's transgender prostitutes and Leviticus 18:22/20:13, as well as the overwhelming evidence supporting that interpretation (but that's okay, most authors, on both sides, are unaware of all the evidence).

So although I do agree with McNeil's broad conclusion, I think another update is neccessary.

Rating:
Summary: good but needs to be updated again
Review: Author John McNeil is psychotherapist, and a very intelligent one at that. His personal stories reflect outrageous attitudes of the Church. He is a corageous writer, and I commend him for that.

The book's scientific discussions are interesting. Its textual discussions, however, did not strike me as very convincing (except for the discussion on arsenokoitai---although McNeil misses the literature linking the word to sexual slavery).

McNeil misses several logical points about the story of Sodom that, if he had used them, would have made his case much stronger.

McNeil's Greek discussion of Romans 1, I think, was a waste of time. More attention should have been focused on the context of idolatry.

McNeil misses the parallels between the Canaanite's transgender prostitutes and Leviticus 18:22/20:13.

So although I do agree with McNeil's broad conclusion, that the biblical texts do not prohibit homosexuality, I think another update is neccessary.

Rating:
Summary: Pro Gay, Pro Christain!!!
Review: I am an ordained minsiter of the Gospel, who is gay. This book is superbly written and researched. It was a great help for my acceptance process. A must have for minsiters who work with the gay community. God Bless John J. McNeill.

Rating:
Summary: Brave and challenging theology
Review: I find John McNeill's The Church and the homosexual a clear example of what I call "Brave Theology". Mc Neill does not write an unfounded claim, but establishes his arguments on grounds of a hard work of scholarship. To support his views, he appeals to bible theology, philosophy and human sciences. Thus, he forces moral theologist to take his book into account, whether they like it or not. I am firmly convinced that in the future John Mc Neill will be remembered as a pioneer who dared challenge The Church's unsuitable and unacceptable view on homosexuality.

Rating:
Summary: My minister recommended this
Review: The minister at my local southern baptist church told me about this book, when my husband of 20 years began having an identity crisis problem. I found the information in this book to be helpful in dealing with his feelings of homosexuality. We did infact split in the end but the split was much cleaner than it might have been had I not found this book. There is an arizona resource helpline that also assisted me and recommended this book, they can be reached at 1-480-987-3979 or 1-480-831-6200, at the later number ask for Vicki.