Sacred Unions, Sacred Passions - Engaging the Mystery of Friendship Between Men and Women by Dan Brennan (Faith Dance Publishing, 2010) I have to admit my first reaction when I saw the subject of this book is "Why is it even necessary?". At the same time I am aware that there is, in some parts of Christianity, immense tension on the subject of sex and the relationship between the genders. It always seems to me that the underlying assumption for this branch of the family is that human beings go through life balanced on a knife's edge of nearly uncontrollable lust. At the slightest provocation there will be ripping of bodices and sweaty entangled bodies scattered all over the floors. You may note that I find that school of thought rather ridiculous.
Dan Brennan does approach just those kinds of concerns (without my rather jaded point of view)with compassion and care. He walks the reader through a clear understanding of various points of view and the origins/basis of them. He also gives us a clear foundation based on Scripture of where he believes we should rest as a people of faith.
This is a book about marriage and friendships, it deals with the issues of sex calmly and reasonably, and he refuses to deal with the idea of a loving, non-sexual relationship as something dangerous or alien to Christian thinking. While it seems clear to me that it is aimed primarily at the concerns of certain parts of the evangelical branch of the faith family I think it provides a wonderful rationale for all Christian understanding of friendship between genders. The argument is that the church is less when we limit the interaction between all of God's children.
Also that the other approach to sex, friendship and gender is essentially one that traps everyone in an immature place of development.
Might make a great book for newlyweds or soon to be weds to consider as well as young people.
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