I read portions of this in manuscript, but have been working away at the final version since it came out. And it is, of course, fantastic. Now one ofI read portions of this in manuscript, but have been working away at the final version since it came out. And it is, of course, fantastic. Now one of you will say to me that I am rating it this way because it was written by my daughter. But the fact that Bekah wrote this does not make me rate it this way. It would be fantastic (and greatly needed) regardless.
This book will be a great encouragement to women who want to think, live, and adorn biblically. I recommend it particularly to girls in high school and college -- a great time to get your thinking straight on these issues....more
This was a very fine book. For various reasons, I went into it with my guard up, but was very impressed with Vernick's balance, good sense, biblical iThis was a very fine book. For various reasons, I went into it with my guard up, but was very impressed with Vernick's balance, good sense, biblical instincts, and wisdom. I have written before to the "trapped wife." This book is the book that every such woman should have....more
One of the most wholesome books I have read in a long time.
I had the privilege a few weeks ago of speaking together with Anthony Esolen at the IllinoiOne of the most wholesome books I have read in a long time.
I had the privilege a few weeks ago of speaking together with Anthony Esolen at the Illinois Family Institute. His talk was fantastic — he has the kind of subtlety that is vigorous, lively, understandable, and brave. He is not like that scribesnpharisees seminar prof doing nuance to beat the band, watching his own hand as it languidly gestures toward the mahogany wainscot, the wainscot that, incidentally, was bought and paid for by some evangelical donor a hundred and fifty years ago. No — to lurch wildly to a different metaphor — his subtlety is the kind that a fencing master shows just before your foil flies across the room, and you find yourself rubbing your wrist.Defending Marriage
While I was there in Chicago, I picked up this book of his, Defending Marriage, one that I did not have, and am pleased to mention it to you all as my next book of the month. It is simply magnificent. This robust defense of marriage as marriage is, I think, the best thing to pick up if you want to defend marriage against its barbarian critics, or simply if you want to stirred up to love and good works in your own marriage. Fantastico. Arresting. Superb. Smashing. Did I mention that I like it?
On the subject of marriage, not only has secularism kidnapped us all, duck-taped our hands and feet, and thrown us into the trunk of their car, as we are going down the road it slowly dawns on us that we are in the trunk of a clown car escaping from the circus.
The subtitle is “Twelve Arguments for Sanity.” Each chapter tackles a different argument — on why we must not give the sexual revolution the force of irrevocable law, why we must not grant that sexual gratification is a personal matter only, why we should not give godlike powers to the state, and so on.
This book is instructive, helpful, and invigorating. It is moving. It is everything a book on marriage needs to be — political, cultural, spiritual, and personal. In fact, I can’t believe you don’t have it yet....more
Listened to this book on audio. Very careful, very thoughtful, DeYoung does a masterful job walking through the Bible's teaching on the subject of homListened to this book on audio. Very careful, very thoughtful, DeYoung does a masterful job walking through the Bible's teaching on the subject of homosexuality. Really well done. If I had to muster a complaint, it would be that he is sometimes too courteous to his opponents, and gives them the benefit of the doubt (with regard to motivations) where perhaps a good deal less ought to be given, but he doesn't flinch anywhere in outlining what the actual teaching of the Bible is. There are many believers who are dealing with the ramifications of same sex behavior in their families and extended circles and this book would be an indispensable place for them to get oriented. Wonderful introduction to this subject....more
This is a book that needs to be carefully read by every pastor and Christian leader. We live in a time that cries out for careful definitions for justThis is a book that needs to be carefully read by every pastor and Christian leader. We live in a time that cries out for careful definitions for just about everything, and this book supplies us with a careful definition of marriage.
It does so in the realm of common grace. In other words, the arguments here are philosophical, historical, and sociological, not exegetical. But what they argue is fully consistent with Scripture, and I believe the book helpfully addresses some areas that exegetical arguments frequently do not.
In other words, the "traditional" view of marriage should not be understood as a practice of marriage on autopilot, with no one quite knowing what they were doing or why. The issues before us now have been thoroughly dealt with over the course of centuries, and the modern novelties simply have not done their homework. Fortunately for them, homework is not necessary if the approach you are taking is that of raw judicial tyranny.
For example, the ancient Greeks had the same basic understanding of marriage as modern traditionalists do, while at the same time celebrating homo-eroticism. This means that while they did not have a scriptural understanding of sexual morality, they did define marriage correctly -- and that definition cannot simply be dismissed (in secular terms) as "homophobic." In a similar way, how can it be "homophobic" to say that two men cannot consummate a marriage by means of (say) fellatio, when the tradition has always consistently held that a heterosexual couple cannot consummate a marriage that way either?
This is a very helpful book. Even in those places where I might find myself differing with something, I found the reasoning here to be careful, judicious, and on point.
"Rigorously pursued, the logic of rejecting the conjugal conception of marriage thus leads, by way of formlessness, toward pointlessness" (p. 21)....more
Didn't agree with the particular emphasis he placed on giving to charity over against family, but the principles were good and the book contained a loDidn't agree with the particular emphasis he placed on giving to charity over against family, but the principles were good and the book contained a lot of valuable info....more
This is a superb book, given the premises. Published by Ignatius, this book by Robert Reilly provides a wealth of information on the current "full couThis is a superb book, given the premises. Published by Ignatius, this book by Robert Reilly provides a wealth of information on the current "full court press" that the homosexual activists are running. I would have preferred more Scripture, and less Aristotle, but Reilly does a great job in showing that reality really isn't optional. The book really lives up to the subtitle -- "How Rationalizing Homosexual Behavior is Changing Everything." For those involved in the culture wars -- and this issue is at the very center of those wars -- this book is a must read....more
I read an earlier form of this way back in the day (the earlier version was called Sexual Suicide). I may also have read the reissued book sometime asI read an earlier form of this way back in the day (the earlier version was called Sexual Suicide). I may also have read the reissued book sometime as well, or at least I thought I had. I just now read it again for a book I am writing, and was struck by what a fertile book it is. What a good book....more
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