This widely anticipated report will be welcomed by all who wish to come to a greater understanding of the issues surrounding homosexuality, bisexuality and transsexualism and the Church. It provides an in-depth account of the surrounding issues, and provides detailed analyses of key Scriptural passages.

This is an updated multidisciplinary and scholarly account of the determinants of human sexuality including sexual development, anatomy and physiology, biochemistry and endocrinology of sexual behaviour in addition to sociological and psychological aspects.

The original 1991 Statement by the House of Bishops on many aspects of sexual behaviour, including homosexuality. Commended by the General Synod for wide discussion within the Church.

Jack and Judith Balswick investigate how human sexuality originates both biologically and socially, lay groundwork for a normative Christian interpretation of sexuality, show how authentic sexuality is necessarily grounded in relationships, and explore forms of "inauthentic sexuality" such as sexual harassment, pornography and rape.

The first edition of Sexual Conduct, published in 1973, swiftly became a landmark text in the sociology of sexuality. It went on to profoundly shape the ideas of several generations of scholars and has become the foundation text of what is now known as the "social constructionist" approach to sexuality. The present edition, revised, updated, and containing new introductory and concluding materials, introduces a classic text to a new generation of students and professionals.Traditional views of human sexuality posit models of man and woman in which biological arrangements are translated into sociocultural imperatives. This is best summarized in the phrase "anatomy is destiny." Consequently, the almost exclusive concern has been with the power of biology and nature in sexual conduct as opposed to understanding the significance and impact of social life. In Sexual Conduct, Gagnon and Simon lucidly argue that sexual activities, of all kinds, may be understood as the outcome of a complex psychosocial process of development. Using the social script theory, the authors trace the ways in which sexuality is learned and fitted into particular moments in the lifecycle and in different modes of behavior.Sexual Conduct is a major attempt to consider sexuality within a non-biological, social psychological framework. It is a valuable addition to the study of human sexuality, and will be of interest to students of sociology, psychology, psychiatry, social work, and medicine.

Anthropology, Sexual Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Gender and Cultural Studies

This Companion to Some Issues in Human Sexuality has been especially prepared to enable individuals and churches to reflect on the issue of homosexuality, bisexuality and transsexualism and the Church. It provides a summary of the main theological and pastoral issues allowing for intelligent discussion, and also offers a structure for reading the main volume.