Reviewed Book: Dawn, Marva J. Sexual Character: Beyond Technique to Intimacy. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993

Ludwig, Susan

English

Wilfrid Laurier University

ConsensusVolume 21Issue 1 Women and Men in Theological Education:Exploring the Present, Creating the FutureArticle 265-1-1995Sexual Character: Beyond Technique to IntimacySusan LudwigFollow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensusThis Book Reviews is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by anauthorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.Recommended CitationLudwig, Susan (1995) "Sexual Character: Beyond Technique to Intimacy," Consensus: Vol. 21 : Iss. 1 , Article 26.Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol21/iss1/26Book Reviews 157on preaching. While he does call us to re-shape our practice, more demon-strations of what this looks like in actual sermons would help.Mike RatteeEmmanuel Bible CollegeSexual Character: Beyond Technique to IntimacyMarva J. DawnGrand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company,1993172 pp. $12.99 U.S.This is a dangerous book. It is dangerous because there is such a dearthof resource material about sexuality as it pertains to Christianity at a timewhen many Christians are struggling to integrate their faith and their sexualexperience. It highlights all of the old beliefs about sexuality in languagethat appears to be understanding, tolerant and somehow new.At first glance this book might appear to be helpful. It espouses a morecomprehensive understanding of sexuality than that of the popular media.Some of the author’s theories appear to be in keeping with current beliefsabout sexuality. Who among us would disagree that sex and sexuality aretwo different modalities—that the first is a part of the other, and the latteris far more encompassing than the scope of the first?If we examine the issues, however, we will see that this work is seriouslyflawed. First, Dawn talks about friendship. What she discusses, however,is what the church does with those of its members who by choice or bychance are not in a couple relationship. She says nothing remarkable aboutfriendship and its role in a sexual ethic but discusses friendship only asopposed to a marriage relationship.Second, the author discusses homosexuality. This is a brief chapter withfrequent references to things “unnatural”. While the author saj^s that shedoes not “join with those who affirm the biblical picture in ways that arehostile to persons of homosexual orientation”, her text and conclusions areheterosexist. Her conclusion is that “we. . . must spend time with (homo-sexual individuals) gently to encourage their choice of God’s will for theirsexuality, to stand by them and forgive their rebellion. . . to resist with themthe cultural notion that we are not complete without genital fulfilment”.Divorce is addressed from the perspective of the spouse who is leftby an adulterous or alcoholic partner. While she berates the church whotaught us that divorce was the “worst sin on the face of the globe”, she alsoadmonishes congregations to try to “support couples contemplating secondmarriages in maintaining friendships” rather than subjecting the childrenof the original marriages to the ultimate difficulties of blending marriages.158 ConsensusThere is one small part of the chapter on Teenagers, Dating and Sexthat has some merit. In it the author describes a part of her lecturesto teens in which she graphs a progression of physical intimacy beginningat introductions and ending in sexual intercourse. After describing theprogression in detail, she invites teens to decide for themselves where to“draw the line”. Of course, she makes it clear that premarital (that isnonmarital) intercourse is off limits. She offers no other injunction aboutthe limits. That, she says, is between the Holy Spirit and the individual.While this is good standard sexuality education, it is not unique to thisauthor. Similar models can be seen in secular sexuality education material.In short, there was little about this book to justify reading it. It triesto appear to offer a new and enlightened view of Christian Sexuality. Whatit serves to do is to underscore the belief that Christian Sexuality is one ofthe greatest oxymorons in the English Language.Susan LudwigSexuality Education ConsultantNewmarket, OntarioCritical Caring: a Feminist Model for Pastoral Psy-chologyValerie DeMarinisLouisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1993159 pp. $22.00The author writes a very careful introduction in which all the ground-rules for the book are contained. Whenever this happens in a book it isa challenge to the reader to see if all the expectations of the author areindeed fulfilled in the writing.The author writes for four reasons. 1. “It is important to articulatethose struggles and challenges as a natural but never easily experienced partof the work we do.” 2. “To offer a working model of Critical Caring forpastoral psychotherapy. This model is not meant as a solution to anythingbut rather an invitation to those in pastoral psychology and related fieldsof concern to do their own investigation and articulation of what pastoralpsychology is and does.” 3. “The time is appropriate for those working inor related to the field to communicate new ideas, theories, methodologies,and questions.” and 4. “I want to share the life stories and clinical journeysof persons who have been faced with situations that challenged their abilityto care at the deepest levels and who found creative and courageous ways touse their diversified expressions of belief and trust to find realistic strategiesfor hope and movement.”The author is concerned for understanding and defines terms whichwill be used in her writing. She wants particularly that the terms “reli-gion”, “symbol”, and “feminist” be clearly understood. It is in light of

Sexual Character: Beyond Technique to Intimacy

Scholars Commons

Consensus
Volume 21
Issue 1 Women and Men in Theological Education:
Exploring the Present, Creating the Future
Article 26
5-1-1995
Sexual Character: Beyond Technique to Intimacy
Susan Ludwig
Follow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus
This Book Reviews is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by an
authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.
Recommended Citation
Ludwig, Susan (1995) "Sexual Character: Beyond Technique to Intimacy," Consensus: Vol. 21 : Iss. 1 , Article 26.
Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol21/iss1/26
Book Reviews 157
on preaching. While he does call us to re-shape our practice, more demon-
strations of what this looks like in actual sermons would help.
Mike Rattee
Emmanuel Bible College
Sexual Character: Beyond Technique to Intimacy
Marva J. Dawn
Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company,
1993
172 pp. $12.99 U.S.
This is a dangerous book. It is dangerous because there is such a dearth
of resource material about sexuality as it pertains to Christianity at a time
when many Christians are struggling to integrate their faith and their sexual
experience. It highlights all of the old beliefs about sexuality in language
that appears to be understanding, tolerant and somehow new.
At first glance this book might appear to be helpful. It espouses a more
comprehensive understanding of sexuality than that of the popular media.
Some of the author’s theories appear to be in keeping with current beliefs
about sexuality. Who among us would disagree that sex and sexuality are
two different modalities—that the first is a part of the other, and the latter
is far more encompassing than the scope of the first?
If we examine the issues, however, we will see that this work is seriously
flawed. First, Dawn talks about friendship. What she discusses, however,
is what the church does with those of its members who by choice or by
chance are not in a couple relationship. She says nothing remarkable about
friendship and its role in a sexual ethic but discusses friendship only as
opposed to a marriage relationship.
Second, the author discusses homosexuality. This is a brief chapter with
frequent references to things “unnatural”. While the author saj^s that she
does not “join with those who affirm the biblical picture in ways that are
hostile to persons of homosexual orientation”, her text and conclusions are
heterosexist. Her conclusion is that “we. . . must spend time with (homo-
sexual individuals) gently to encourage their choice of God’s will for their
sexuality, to stand by them and forgive their rebellion. . . to resist with them
the cultural notion that we are not complete without genital fulfilment”.
Divorce is addressed from the perspective of the spouse who is left
by an adulterous or alcoholic partner. While she berates the church who
taught us that divorce was the “worst sin on the face of the globe”, she also
admonishes congregations to try to “support couples contemplating second
marriages in maintaining friendships” rather than subjecting the children
of the original marriages to the ultimate difficulties of blending marriages.
158 Consensus
There is one small part of the chapter on Teenagers, Dating and Sex
that has some merit. In it the author describes a part of her lectures
to teens in which she graphs a progression of physical intimacy beginning
at introductions and ending in sexual intercourse. After describing the
progression in detail, she invites teens to decide for themselves where to
“draw the line”. Of course, she makes it clear that premarital (that is
nonmarital) intercourse is off limits. She offers no other injunction about
the limits. That, she says, is between the Holy Spirit and the individual.
While this is good standard sexuality education, it is not unique to this
author. Similar models can be seen in secular sexuality education material.
In short, there was little about this book to justify reading it. It tries
to appear to offer a new and enlightened view of Christian Sexuality. What
it serves to do is to underscore the belief that Christian Sexuality is one of
the greatest oxymorons in the English Language.
Susan Ludwig
Sexuality Education Consultant
Newmarket, Ontario
Critical Caring: a Feminist Model for Pastoral Psy-
chology
Valerie DeMarinis
Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1993
159 pp. $22.00
The author writes a very careful introduction in which all the ground-
rules for the book are contained. Whenever this happens in a book it is
a challenge to the reader to see if all the expectations of the author are
indeed fulfilled in the writing.
The author writes for four reasons. 1. “It is important to articulate
those struggles and challenges as a natural but never easily experienced part
of the work we do.” 2. “To offer a working model of Critical Caring for
pastoral psychotherapy. This model is not meant as a solution to anything
but rather an invitation to those in pastoral psychology and related fields
of concern to do their own investigation and articulation of what pastoral
psychology is and does.” 3. “The time is appropriate for those working in
or related to the field to communicate new ideas, theories, methodologies,
and questions.” and 4. “I want to share the life stories and clinical journeys
of persons who have been faced with situations that challenged their ability
to care at the deepest levels and who found creative and courageous ways to
use their diversified expressions of belief and trust to find realistic strategies
for hope and movement.”
The author is concerned for understanding and defines terms which
will be used in her writing. She wants particularly that the terms “reli-
gion”, “symbol”, and “feminist” be clearly understood. It is in light of


https://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1716&amp;context=consensus

Sexual Character: Beyond Technique to Intimacy

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Wilfrid Laurier University

Scholars Commons