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More Perfect Union?: Understanding Same-Sex Marriage
In this important and timely book Alan Wilson argues that allowing gay people to marry is a moral purpose. Wilson says: 'I asked myself "what does God want for gay people?" After re-revisiting the Bible, and more importantly getting to know gay people of all types and varying backgrounds, he decided the answer was that God wants for them the same as everyone else - flourishing faith, hope and love, involvement and inclusion.
Meanwhile, from a scientific perspective, More Perfect Union? asserts that homosexuality is part of a wide range of human sexual longing and expression, not an anomaly, a sickness, not merely a lifestyle choice. The vast majority of people Wilson encountered on his journey toward being in favour of same-sex marriage were not anti-gay, were 'just trying to love their neighbour as themselves', even if, in some cases, their heads lagged behind their hearts on the issue of gay marriage.
The ultimate aim of this book is to help Christians unite head and heart in a fully positive response to gay people marrying, and to enable them to wholeheartedly rejoice in such union, in doing so shaking off the hangover of years of stereotyping, fear and discrimination about gay people.
Meanwhile, from a scientific perspective, More Perfect Union? asserts that homosexuality is part of a wide range of human sexual longing and expression, not an anomaly, a sickness, not merely a lifestyle choice. The vast majority of people Wilson encountered on his journey toward being in favour of same-sex marriage were not anti-gay, were 'just trying to love their neighbour as themselves', even if, in some cases, their heads lagged behind their hearts on the issue of gay marriage.
The ultimate aim of this book is to help Christians unite head and heart in a fully positive response to gay people marrying, and to enable them to wholeheartedly rejoice in such union, in doing so shaking off the hangover of years of stereotyping, fear and discrimination about gay people.
- GenresTheology
160 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 8, 2014
"Behind the pragmatic decisions lie bigger questions. Under what circumstances can human relationships be holy? If God saw all that He had made, and it was good, what are the implications of this for the best life has to offer now? How are people's natural instincts and affections, implanted by God, hallowed and directed aright? If marriage is the highest expression of human love, rather than a dynastic matter or breeding arrangement, how do people discern a calling to it?"
Bishop Wilson makes some good points on same-sex marriage, and how it is articulated by Church and State, especially right now in England. This book has actually prompted me to reconsider some of my political views. Whereas before, I was a hardcore libertarian on the topic of marriage - as in remove it completely from government, strip it of its legal statuses, and leave it entirely to the Church or individuals - Bishop Wilson has made me think in the other direction.
He contends that marriages are and always have been a product of the cultures in which they exist. Their structure and usage change from age to age as best suits the time and place - from Solomon with 700 wives to female same-sex marriage of the Nandi and Kissi people of Kenya. There is no one fixed definition of marriage. So then the thinking becomes "leave defining marriage to the culture in question and State" and then part 2 is that the Church decides what to bless or not to bless.
In areas where different groups in the Church disagree on same-sex marriage, he cites Romans 14. Here, Paul addressed the conflict between Christians who kept the dietary restriction laws and Christians who did not. His bigger point, Wilson says, is to act out of faith with what you believe is best.
These are not definitive answers to any of the modern debates, but he has given me much to reflect on. I recommend to anyone who seeks more perspective on marriage and society.
Bishop Wilson makes some good points on same-sex marriage, and how it is articulated by Church and State, especially right now in England. This book has actually prompted me to reconsider some of my political views. Whereas before, I was a hardcore libertarian on the topic of marriage - as in remove it completely from government, strip it of its legal statuses, and leave it entirely to the Church or individuals - Bishop Wilson has made me think in the other direction.
He contends that marriages are and always have been a product of the cultures in which they exist. Their structure and usage change from age to age as best suits the time and place - from Solomon with 700 wives to female same-sex marriage of the Nandi and Kissi people of Kenya. There is no one fixed definition of marriage. So then the thinking becomes "leave defining marriage to the culture in question and State" and then part 2 is that the Church decides what to bless or not to bless.
In areas where different groups in the Church disagree on same-sex marriage, he cites Romans 14. Here, Paul addressed the conflict between Christians who kept the dietary restriction laws and Christians who did not. His bigger point, Wilson says, is to act out of faith with what you believe is best.
These are not definitive answers to any of the modern debates, but he has given me much to reflect on. I recommend to anyone who seeks more perspective on marriage and society.
November 24, 2015
A welcome, reasonable voice from a member of the House of Bishops. +Alan approaches the subject carefully and, apart from a slight (and strange) obsession with anal sex and using some surveys that directly contradict my lived experience as an out gay man, I find the book a very good contribution to the debate. One can always wish for more from senior clerics, but in this case I feel that +Alan has written a very courageous book.
February 8, 2016
A powerful and prophetic message of justice and relevance for GLBTQ people, with a very timely warning to the church for its ungodly attitude towards equal marriage issues. I highly recommend it. In fact, everyone should read this.
April 14, 2025
Pure heresy and completely against the Word of God.
TWO MEN CANNOT BECOME ONE FLESH.
TWO WOMEN CANNOT BECOME ONE FLESH.
Sex is reserved for a husband and wife in marriage only. It is only a husband and wife that can become one flesh and be blessed in the eyes of Almighty God. Genesis 2: 24 could not be clearer.
But let’s take this book from another point of view and look at it in the light of 1 Corinthians 13:6:
Love does not delight and evil but rejoice with the truth.
All this book is seeking to do is patronise these precious souls into hell instead of loving them into heaven. The good news is the Almighty God is setting people free from same-sex attraction so that they can embrace the natural relationships for which He created them. See: freedomtomarch.com
Put another way…
The beauty of the natural v the ugliness of the unnatural.
Just an interesting thought at this juncture…
Husbands love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
Ephesians 5:25
How do two men do that? Toss a coin? Draw up a Rota?
Wife, submit your own husbands as you do to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:22.
How do two women do that? Toss a coin? Draw up a Rota?
The theology in this book is from the pit of hell and does not represent our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Ask God to reveal the truth to you because Holy Writ could NOT BE CLEARER…
TWO MEN CANNOT BECOME ONE FLESH.
TWO WOMEN CANNOT BECOME ONE FLESH.
Sex is reserved for a husband and wife in marriage only. It is only a husband and wife that can become one flesh and be blessed in the eyes of Almighty God. Genesis 2: 24 could not be clearer.
But let’s take this book from another point of view and look at it in the light of 1 Corinthians 13:6:
Love does not delight and evil but rejoice with the truth.
All this book is seeking to do is patronise these precious souls into hell instead of loving them into heaven. The good news is the Almighty God is setting people free from same-sex attraction so that they can embrace the natural relationships for which He created them. See: freedomtomarch.com
Put another way…
The beauty of the natural v the ugliness of the unnatural.
Just an interesting thought at this juncture…
Husbands love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
Ephesians 5:25
How do two men do that? Toss a coin? Draw up a Rota?
Wife, submit your own husbands as you do to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:22.
How do two women do that? Toss a coin? Draw up a Rota?
The theology in this book is from the pit of hell and does not represent our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Ask God to reveal the truth to you because Holy Writ could NOT BE CLEARER…
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews