Another great book put out by Concordia Publishing House. This is a topic that is important for Christians to discuss and this book gives great insight and thoughts. A well done book!

A very Lutheran Church -Missouri Synod exploration into the various issues related to sexuality and culture.

The book features essays from Lutheran specialists discussing differences between the genders, views on polygamy, contraception and the embryo, things to consider about contraception, sex education, "self-pollution" (read: masturbation), responding to homosexuality, and transgender issues. The editor provides an introducing and concluding essay about sexuality in general.

This is a great book for a Lutheran in the Missouri Synod; I cannot imagine that many in the ELCA would appreciate it. Lutheran doctrine is taken for granted; the "self-pollution" essay is in fact attempting to argue against later attempts to redefine how Luther et al approached the issue.

For non-Lutherans of a conservative religious bent there is much that is commendable in the book. Some things are concerning; they seem extremely invested in the conception view and extremely dismissive of the implantation view of life; the discussion about "self-pollution" is rather heavy-handed (please excuse the pun); it seems a bit more culturally reactive than might be productive. I did not discern much in it that would really be considered cutting-edge in terms of new arguments or paradigm-shaking, but it would serve as a guide for or reinforcement of a conservative Christian view on issues relating to sexuality, especially for Lutherans.

Fair warning: less is here for "delight" and much more on "taboo."