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from Books & Reviews
What Does Science Tell Us
About Homosexuality?
Book Review -- Homosexuality: The Use of
Scientific Research in the Church's Moral Debate,
by Stanton Jones, Ph.D. and Mark Yarhouse, Psy.D.
Reviewed by Linda A. Nicolosi
This new book by Stanton Jones, Ph.D., provost of
Wheaton College and Mark Yarhouse, Psy.D. of
Regent University makes a most important
contribution to the literature for a number of
reasons. First, the book is accessible, because
of its low price ($12.99) and relatively clear
style, which is suitable for the educated layman.
Second, the book covers the basic (and much
misunderstood) scientific issues fairly and
even-handedly. The authors summarize their
conclusions about the data in a cautious and
measured manner which any social scientist would
be hard pressed to criticize.
Jones and Yarhouse wrote the book out of concern
for a growing problem. In the theological debates
about homosexuality, "new discoveries by science"
are repeatedly cited as grounds for revising
centuries-old standards for sexual behavior. "Too
many individuals have glibly concluded," the
authors say, "that contemporary science research
makes 'old fashioned' Christian morality
obsolete."
But the traditional moral stance cannot be
dismissed so easily, they explain. Rather than
relying on simplistic sound-bite science that
attempts to "batter the church into submission to
the views of the world," theologians must be
prepared to engage in "much harder logical and
ethical thinking" about the difficult ethical
issues now confronting them.
First, theologians must understand that
psychology's contemporary view of psychological
health is not value-free, but has been fashioned
out of the profession's own vision of what
constitutes the "good life." Second, they must
realize that the simplistic science that has been
popularized by the media omits the nuances that
are essential to provide an accurate view of the
homosexual condition.
To flesh out some of those nuances, their chapter,
"What Causes Homosexuality?" carefully reviews the
many factors thought to contribute to homosexual
causation.
An exceptionally useful section delves into the
many biological theories, including the
possibility of a gay gene, adult hormonal
differences, the prenatal hormonal hypothesis, the
influence of maternal stress during pregnancy,
differences in brain structure (including LeVay's
studies of the hypothalamus), and temperamental
factors.
But even if homosexuality had been proven to be
strictly genetic, they say, this would not be
grounds per se for changing the biblical sexual
ethic. Otherwise "the pedophile who desires sex
with children, the alcoholic who desires the
pursuit of drunkenness, and the person with
Antisocial Personality Disorder who desires the
thrill of victimization and pain affliction would
all have equal case for moral approval." Clearly,
moral deliberation cannot be concluded based on a
condition's unchosenness.
Another chapter, "Is Homosexuality a
Psychopathology?" answers those social critics who
insist that science settled the question of the
normality once and for all, in 1973.
The authors also consider scientific evidence for
the changeability of homosexuality, weighing that
evidence and concluding with a guarded optimism
for motivated clients who have not become heavily
immersed in gay life. In the context of a biblical
morality, Jones and Yarhouse believe those who
fail to change their feelings and attractions are
called to behavioral change ("the costly
discipleship of chastity in singleness")--that
can, even when same-sex attractions remain, still
be freely chosen.
They close with a discussion of the orthodox
Christian vision of sexuality, which does not
focus on self-actualization as secularists
understand it, but on an ethic of obedience to
scripture, loyalty to spouse, virtue (including
the call to self-control and purity), and the
understanding that the purpose of sexuality is not
something we choose ourselves in response to our
own felt desires. Instead, its purpose is the
creation and sustaining of "one-fleshedness" in a
male-female married couple.
All in all, this short but informative book
assures that both clergy and laity will possess
accurate information with which to debate the
scientific and ethical issues.
Updated: 3 September 2008
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