Overview

The Bible can help us have better conversations about sex For many of us, formation around sexuality was often marked by a lack of information and honest dialogue. The teaching we did receive was confusing at times, especially since secular and religious ideas about sexuality often seem at odds. These concerns can be especially acute for parents seeking to share healthy, faithful ideas about sexuality with their children. We know that abstinence-only sex education doesn't stop risky behavior among teens and that purity culture leaves harmful legacies. Messages from outside the church walls seem to offer the simplest and safest way out of the conundrum--yet we also want our faith to sit right with our counsel on many issues, including sex. If we don't endorse purity culture yet we still believe faith holds a role in sexuality, what might the Bible and Christian theology actually have to say to us today? Though the Bible is often quite vague on the whos, whens, wheres, and whats of sexuality, it does offer a beautiful image of the why: to know and share the love of God. In Intimate Conversations, scholar Susannah Larry considers how the Great Commandment to love God, neighbor, and self shapes our understanding of this part of our lives. As she explores what ideas to pass on to her children, she discovers a whole-bodied vision for Christian sexuality that is empowering, faithful, and life-giving. Rather than a rulebook or an encyclopedia, the Bible tells us a story of God's desire for justice, reconciliation, and joy for all people. Grounded in Scripture and celebrating the goodness of human sexuality, Intimate Conversations will help adults reclaim the Bible as a resource for telling a joyful and holistic story about sexuality.

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9781513816289

Table of Contents

Reviews

""Intimate Conversations reminds me of the sermon preached at my wedding, on (among other texts) a reading from Madeleine L'Engle: ""Unclench your fists; hold out your hands, take mine. Let us hold each other. Thus is God's glory manifest."" Which is to say, Larry has written a candid, careful, and critically important work of biblical scholarship and experientially grounded theological reflection that feels like a deep and life-giving breath, an assurance of God's presence and action, that will do so much good in the current moment and, surely, for years to come."" ----Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan, pastor and author of Good Christian Sex: Why Chastity Isn't the Only Option and Other Things the Bible Says About Sex ""In a historically male-dominated field, it is truly refreshing to read a woman's honest and thoughtful engagement with Scripture on a topic as important as sex rooted in her own studies, translations, and embodied experience. This is an accessible introduction to sexual ethics within a Bible-centered Christian faith, particularly helpful as a starting point for any woman who is clawing her way back to life from the depths of purity culture. Sex is something that we as faithful Christians should be talking about in candid and meaningful ways if we are to heal from the spiritual violence imposed on our bodies and in our relationships. Thank you, Susannah Larry, for showing us your heart and giving us a piece of your mind!"" ----Rev. Alba Onofrio, public theologian and activist ""Larry shines as a biblical scholar who invites us to revisit the biblical stories--whether cautionary tales or luminary examples--we are accustomed to hearing with new questions surrounding the very human experience of sexuality. She weaves her own life, story, and positionality into the discussion of each scriptural theme, from her work as a chaplain to her experience of harm. Honestly navigating the landscape of labels and affiliations that pervade the Christian world, particularly purity culture, Larry is a relatable and reflective narrator who inspires readers to engage their authentic, sexual selves through faith, Scripture, and spirituality. I especially appreciate her open welcome to dialogue not just with her, but with the biblical text and our inherited traditions of interpretation. The central message is the invitation to center Jesus and his heart as we honestly navigate 'hot button' topics like modesty, abuse, boundaries, shame, and healing."" ----Rebecca Mui, researcher in Anabaptist and anarcho-pacifist political theology ""Larry's book is an accessible introduction to biblical texts for Christians seeking a life-giving approach to human sexuality. In addition to the many biblical examples she engages, both her use of personal experience and her use of the Great Commandment as the measuring stick for sexual ethics further enrich the book. It is important to remember, as she does, that the few times Jesus spoke about sexuality, he preferred to talk with rather than about people, and for their well-being rather than judgement."" ----Kimberly Penner, scholar, teacher, and congregational minister ""With honesty, courage, and deep biblical wisdom, Susannah Larry has given the church a much-needed gift. Intimate Conversations dismantles the shame of purity culture and invites us into a fuller, freer, and holier vision of sexuality--one rooted in justice, equality, and the love of God. This is the kind of work our churches and our children desperately need. Vulnerable, prophetic, and profoundly pastoral, this book will help Christians heal and reimagine what it means to be embodied and beloved."" ----Andrew J. Bauman, author of Safe Church: How to Guard against Sexism and Abuse in Christian Communities and founder of the Christian Counseling Center: For Sexual Health & Trauma

Author Information

Susannah Larry, PhD, is a chaplain, advocate, and writer who seeks to embody the way of Jesus in the beautiful and broken world that he loves. The author of Forgiveness after Trauma and Leaving Silence, Larry has a passion for bringing biblical theology together with contemporary experience. While she loves preaching, writing, and helping others make meaning in their own stories, the center of her world is her family. Her family resides in Mishawaka, Indiana.

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