Saturday, November 26, 2011

FREE and downloadable book: "What we wish we had known"

I just posted the link to a very informative yet brief book that can quickly address many points of the gay “issue” from several perspectives: 
* Scientific
 * Social
* Family Life
* Theological
To Download the FREE and Complete version of the book overview described below, copy the following link into your browser: 
For English version, go to http://pcmk.org/blue_book.pdf
For Spanish version, go to: http://pcmk.org/bluebookSpanish.pdf

Some words from the preface to this FREE downloadable book: 
"...Experience has taught us that not everyone is interested in the same aspects of this issue, so a “Question and Response” format is used. Most of us were concerned initially with the survival of our families. Some wanted to know more about the scientific perspective or social issues; others wanted to know exactly what the Bible said. Some of us did not quite understand why a gay person would “come out” or what sexual orientation is.

The Question and Response format allows readers to refer quickly and directly to those questions that most interest them The subject matter is divided into sections including scientific, social, family life and theological perspectives. 

These questions cover areas that we wish we had understood before our loved ones disclosed their identity. Like any organized society, families with information, openness and love can heal and be transformed. We hope that our experience and search will be useful to others and will open dialogue, reduce fear and estrangement among families and help in the healing of broken relationships.

The common perception that gay people are marginal, identifiable and rare is untrue. Our loved ones lead productive and happy lives. They work, live, love, pay taxes, have friendships, interests, contribute to the world and are honored by their families. Their lives are just as special and just as ordinary as ours.

Many of us grew up with the idea that homosexuals are a visible enemy from whom we must protect ourselves and our families. The reality is that most gay people are invisible because the world is unsafe for them and they are among the people we most love and respect.

The Presbyterian Church
Mt. Kisco, New York..."


Consider the index of topics covered, then click on the link in my recommend books list:
Scientific Perspectives
1. What is sexual orientation? Page 9
2. What causes homosexuality? Page 10
3. What type of person has a homosexual orientation? Page 11
4. Is sexual orientation a choice? Page 11
5. Is homosexuality a mental illness or emotional problem? Page 12
6. Can homosexuality be cured? Page 13
7. What attempts have been used in the past to change orientation? Page 14
8. How many gay people are there? Page 15
9. Does the number of gay people matter? Page 16
10. Are humans the only animals that engage in same-sex behavior? Page 17
11. Why are there different sexual orientations? Page 18
12. What does ‘transgender’ mean? Page 19
13. Are transgender people gay? Page 21
Social Perspectives
14. What is the ‘gay lifestyle’? Page 22
15. Are gay and lesbian people more likely than heterosexuals to molest children? Pg 22
16. What is the ‘closet’? What is meant by ‘coming out’? Page 23
17. Since heterosexuals don’t discuss their sexuality, why do gay people need to discuss
theirs? Page 24
18. Why do some gay people come out? Page 25
19. Why do some gay people prefer not to come out? Page 27
20. Where do gay people most likely work? Page 27
21. Do gay people usually come out at work? How might my business and
professional relationships be affected if I assume employees and co-workers are
heterosexual? Page 28
22. When the subject of homosexuality comes up, we usually focus on our feelings about gay
people. What are gay people feeling? Why are some gay people angry or depressed?
Page 29
23. Why is homophobia sometimes called ‘the last socially acceptable prejudice’? Pg 31
24. Why are the words ‘faggot ’and ‘dyke’ offensive and what do they mean? Page 32
25. What is the relationship between antigay rhetoric and attitudes and antigay violence?
Page 33
26. If it were understood that one’s sexual orientation is not a choice, would that
significantly reduce prejudice against gay people? Page 35
27. Why should Americans grant civil rights protections on the basis of behavior? Pg 36
28. What are ‘special rights’? Page 37
29. What was the landmark 2003 Supreme Course case, Lawrence v. Texas?
Why was it important? Page 38
30. How did the Supreme Court rule in the Lawrence case? Page 39
31. What is the legal status of civil marriage for gay couples in America? Page 40
32. What other rights do gay Americans lack? Page 43
33. What is meant by heterosexuals ‘coming out’? What can I do? Page 47
Family Life Perspectives:
34. What is life like for gay youth? Page 49
35. Do gay teenagers always deal directly with their orientation? Page 51
36. Do families know if their children are gay? Page 52
37. What happens to families initially when loved ones come out? Page 53
38. What happens when well-meaning parents initially reject their children? Page 53
39. Can these initial wounds be healed? Page 55
40. What does it mean when a married person announces that he or she is gay?
Isn’t that a type of change in orientation? Page 56
41. What does sexual orientation have to do with Christian education and Christian family
life? What about family values? Page 57
42. What are the public perceptions of gay and straight people which gay individuals and
their families find offensive and/or ironic? Page 58
43. How can we interact with transgender people and their families in a sensitive way?
Page 60
Theological Perspectives:
44. Are religious people antigay? Page 62
45. How does new information about sexual orientation affect church policy? Page 63
46. How do gay people and their families usually feel about the church? Page 64
47. In what ways have societies used different interpretations of the Bible to ‘prove’ a point?
Page 65
48. What did Jesus say about homosexuality? Page 66
49. Does the Bible condemn homosexuality? Page 67
50. If Jesus never mentioned it, what does the rest of the Bible say about homosexuality?
Page 68
51. What do we know of references to same-sex activity in the Bible? Page 69
52. Were Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed because of homosexuality? Page 70
53. What is the Holiness Code? Page 71
54. What are the teachings of Paul regarding homosexuality? Page 72
55. When reading the Bible, how does one use historical perspective? (More thoughts to
ponder: the Holiness Code and the teachings of Jesus) Page 73
56. How might families feel when their full acceptance of gay loved ones conflicts with an
exclusionary church policy? Page 75
Welcoming and Affirming Religious Groups: Page 77
Affirming Resources Within the Secular World: Page 78

3 comments:

  1. Hi I just saw your video and i think you are a incrediple man. Your words make my life a better life and I can releted with some many things that you say.

    From a brazilian guy that is a happier man because he found someone that thinks like him.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your very kind and motivational comment -- People like YOU are the reason I made this blog. Feel free to write me directly if you care to: at zpower2b@gmail.com

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  2. TO DOWNLOAD THE SPANISH VERSION OF THIS SAME BOOK, GO TO: http://pcmk.org/bluebookSpanish.pdf

    ReplyDelete