I was given the opportunity to review "Sex + Faith: Talking With Your Child From Birth to Adolescence." Initially I was excited to dive into this book. My children are still on the younger side (eldest is almost 8 years old), and our family is good about having healthy, open dialogue regarding sexual topics because we don't want such a gift from God to appear shameful. However, I won't hesitate to admit that I am intimidated by the more indepth conversations that I know are coming...hence the reason I want to garner as much knowledge and experience on the parenting side of this issue as I can!! "Sex + Faith" appeared to be a great resource in helping me prepare for that.
That said, within the first several chapters of the book I became a bit leary of what I was reading. The book is written in two parts, the first being relating faith to the difference aspects of sexuality throughout life, and the second relates appropriately to and provides information for different age groups (0-5, 6-10, 11-13, 14-18). However, I kept coming across phrases and references that made the book feel quite "worldy" or liberal, I guess you could say. Take for example how the author repeatedly refers to the other person in a sexual relationship as "a partner," leaving that role open to interpretation. I believe that sex is a sacred gift meant to be shared between one man and one woman inside of marriage, but the author seems to think very differently, bringing (in acceptance), for example, gay/lesbian relationships and premarital sex into the picture. While I understand that those are issues that are very real and very widely accepted in our society today, and that they are topics I will have to cover with my children at times throughout their lives, it is not something I find to be a necessary component of what I want my children to know about sex (unless it's as an example of what God did NOT intend it for). In other words, despite the title and description, this book did not feel Biblically alligned to me.
I did finish the book solely for the purpose of the review, and I will say that there is some decently helpful information included when you remove the Biblical references. (because a Biblical base is extremely important to me, that's not something I'd normally suggest- but I would rather read something with NO Biblical reference than incorrect or inaccurate reference) For example, I appreciated the different approaches to responding to certain questions/situations posed by elementary aged children, like them needing privacy, noticing other children of the opposite sex, etc.
Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book because I feel that would be hypocritical of me to do so. However, I am sure that it would be helpful to readers out there who do have a more liberal belief or no religious beliefs at all, and may provide a healthier perspective on sex than is so often provded these days.
**I received a free digital copy of this book to review, courtesy of Westminister John Knox Press via NetGalley. My opinions are all my own...I may be a people pleaser, but I'm also a control freak, and prefer to use my blogspace for making my thoughts known, not stealing the ideas of others. ;)
**This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
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