Book Review: The End of Sexual Identity

The most popular post on this blog, that isn’t about Angels or the Cross of Jesus Christ, is about sexuality. Interestingly, though, its not one of my defenses of marriage, or an apologetic regarding Christianity and Homosexuality, but a guest post by a friend on the subject of “Changing Orientation”. What my friend said in that post is very powerful - and is echoed in the subtitle of the book I found myself reviewing today, “The End of Sexual Identity: Why Sex is Too Important to Define Who We Are”. This book comes from IVP in the States, and is by Jenell Williams Parris, a professor of Anthropology. Whilst not being perfect, it is a fantastic introduction, from a Christian perspective, into the multi-faceted world of sexual identity, in our postmodern culture.

Jenell writes as an Anthropologist, a woman, a wife, a mother, an Evangelical Christian, and a Professor. Interestingly - and this reflects the nuances that this book is so helpful in identifying - she does not see herself as a ‘heterosexual’, which is perhaps a surprising identifier in the light of what I have just written. Much of the utility in this book is found in its firm but gracious challenge to all sides of the debate: sex is too important to define who we are. This pits Jenell against both the progressives and the conservatives, as she contends that they fall into equal and opposite errors. The fundamental point made in this book, then, is that sexual identity (made up of desires, orientations, actions and more) is a complex issue that we should tread lightly in. Bringing snippets of theology, biblical studies, anthropology and personal anecdote (such as particularly amusing recounting of a conversation with one of her sons) Jenell gently guides the reader through the different parts of our somewhat sexually saturated cultural landscape.

Some of you will read this review, from different perspectives, and want to know what she thinks about this or that an issue. Jenell, as far as I can make out, maintains relatively orthodox views on things like homosexuality and pre-marital sex. She doesn’t make the error of someone like Adrian Thatcher, who, in “Making Sense of Sex” seemed to react so strongly against homophobia to embrace a very liberal view of sex. Early on she recounts a conversation where her young conservative views put off a lesbian friend for life - and in some part this book is her response many years later. I would say that this book offers a wake up call in many areas - do we as Christians really support singles and celibates in our congregations? - as well as a call to read the bible properly, but without her imposing an agenda on the text. I am grateful to see someone trying (and seemingly succeeding) to remain faithful to what God says, whilst also taking into account the needs of the world that God has made and called us to.

Overall, then, this relatively short book is an excellent introduction to the complicated issue of sexual identity - and its related fields, like gender identity, intersex, LGBTQ issues etc. I’m grateful for the tone throughout, and whilst there were a few things I disagreed with, or seemed to lean towards the academy rather than the Word of God, I would recommend this book to people. I think it is definitely useful for pastors and leaders of churches in our culture, but would also be of use to students of the humanities, social sciences and other topics where this sort of thing is discussed. Most of all, though, I think this should be read by bloggers! It is a helpful book to clarify what words actually mean, what culture has said to us, and how to engage gracefully on this important and emotional set of issues.

UPDATE 29/11/13 - A great new website launched today, looking at this complex issue through the perspective of individuals, theological thought, and book reviews. Endorsed by some great folks and well designed, check out Living Out!