Reasoning Together: A Conversation on Homosexuality, Foreword by Tony and Peggy Campolo

This book emerges from a series of public conversations on homosexuality by two Mennonite theology professors with clearly different perspectives on the issue. Reasoning Together expands on these conversations. The first section sets the context for the conversation, identifying the key issues and describing the differences among Christians on these issues. The second section contains the main constructive presentations from each writer along with each responding to the other. Here we have extensive theological and biblical reflection. In the third section, each writer asks the other two questions, triggering extensive give and take. The book concludes with a short chapter sketching areas of agreement amidst the disagreements that have been the focus of the earlier chapters and two annotated bibliographies. Contents......Page 10 Foreword......Page 12 Preface......Page 18 Part 1: Getting Oriented......Page 22 1. The 'Homosexuality' Debate: Two Streams of Biblical Interpretation by Ted Grimsrud......Page 24 2. The Fruit of the Spirit or Works of the Flesh? Come Let Us Reason Together by Mark Thiessen Nation......Page 50 Part 2: The Main Statements and Responses......Page 68 3. 'Teacher, which Commandment in the Law Is the Greatest?' On Commandments, Compassion and Fundamentalism by Mark Thiessen Nation......Page 70 Ted's Response: Where's the Sin?......Page 110 Mark's Response: Some of My Best Friends......Page 126 4. Toward a Theology of Welcome: Developing a Perspectiveon the 'Homosexuality' Issue by Ted Grimsrud......Page 132 Mark's Response: The Ideology of Inclusion......Page 170 Ted's Response: Constraining the Conversation......Page 186 Part 3: Discussing Key Issues......Page 192 5. Mark's First Question: What about Macro Theological Issues?......Page 194 6. Ted's First Question: What Is Wrong with This Picture?......Page 202 7. Ted's Second Question: Why Is Same-Sex Intimacy Intrinsically Sinful?......Page 222 8. Mark's Second Question: How Do You Understand Core Theological Themes?......Page 238 Part 4: Closing Materials......Page 248 9. Naming the Common Ground......Page 250 10. Annotated Bibliography by Ted Grimsrud......Page 256 11. Annotated Bibliography by Mark Thiessen Nation......Page 262 Notes......Page 272 Bibliography......Page 304 The Authors......Page 321