Comments

1. Warren Throckmorton says:

   July 6, 2010 at 7:09 pm

   Stanton and Maier have produced a book that makes a well documented case for traditional marriage. The book is very well written with numerous references for further study and research. The book is organized around most of the contemporary questions people ask about same sex marriage and homosexuality in general. This is not only a good book concerning the rationale for traditional marriage but is infomative concerning the traditional view of homosexuality.

   Despite the clear value framework of this book, the authors do not show disrespect for gay and lesbian identified people. On the contrary, the book is clear about principles but the authors convey compassion for people.

   Many people think that are no divisions within the gay and lesbian community concerning same sex marriage. This book documents the reality that not all of those who are gay want same sex marriage legally recognized.

   The book is very well organized and despite the scholarly foundations, quite readable.

   In reading the reviews written previous to mine, I cannot believe they read the same book. The authors take great pains to document their points and use good social science research to do so.

   If you are open minded concerning this subject, you will want to get this book as an aspect of your investigation.
   Rating: 5 / 5
2. Dime Store Guru says:

   July 6, 2010 at 8:04 pm

   I usually approach this testy subject with a few disclaimers:
   
   a) Some of my best friends are gay, and I do not condemn homosexuality;
   
   b) I do not hate all people who are unlike me; and
   
   c) I do not wake up early to eat small children and pets, nor do I set fire to my neighbor’s house.

   Having noted that, I found this book by Stanton and Maier (another disclosure: I am a journalistic colleague of Maier’s) to be valuable both for gays and straights with religious affinities.

   There are several obvious clues that Amazon reviewers who trashed this book below could not be bothered to read it, and likely skimmed the descriptive info supplied on this site before launching into reductionist talking points.

   The dominant narrative in today’s discussions of homosexuality is tied to civil rights. Who, after all, doesn’t believe that all humans deserve equal dignity? And certainly, mainstream culture and religious folks like myself, Stanton and Maier must apologize for the lack of dignity extended in the past toward gays and lesbians.

   The problem is that many people manipulate this to preempt thoughtful attempts to spur legitimate discussion within our society about sexual ethics, interrelational psychology, child-rearing and other issues. Maier and Stanton have nonetheless used mainstream university studies and many gay writings themselves to erode the conventional wisdom about gay marriage and same-sex parenting. (For instance, it really does “catch” — even gay-friendly sociologists have found that children adopted by same-sex parents will have a far higher tendency to consider homosexual activity for themselves; maybe that’s perfectly fine, but that’s not what we’ve been taught to believe on account of the discounted-but-still-pervasive-and-PC “genetic” basis for homosexuality.)

   Maier and Stanton note that the civil rights aspects of the gay movement are alreading growing cloudy. Soon the civil-rights issues will give way entirely to other issues. Already, there is a battle raging within the homosexual community about whether gay marriage is a civil-rights *nightmare,* a “dangerous” effort to shoehorn gays into straight concepts of family and monogamy.

   The authors find several distinct camps within the gay community, each with radically different prescriptions for gays and for society. The most surprising of these camps are those gay academics who have demanded respect for gays while still *protecting* society’s interest in traditional nuclear family structures.

   It is fine for a gay person or a straight person to reject this book’s prescriptions for society, for the gay community and for individual gays. But these arguments merit close scrutiny and intellectual integrity, not propagandistic preemptions that are far too common on Amazon these days.

   Rating: 5 / 5
3. Anna M. B-O says:

   July 6, 2010 at 9:01 pm

   Stanton nails it! This book is a must read for anyone who cares about the attack on family that is taking place in the US today!
   Rating: 5 / 5
4. Elizabeth Farnsworth says:

   July 6, 2010 at 11:13 pm

   If Glenn Stanton were a lawyer arguing in a real live trial, he’d lose the case. Many of his arguments against same-sex marriage play right into the hands of gay-rights activists. For example, to make the case against gay marriage he lists all the ways that heterosexual marriage benefits adults and children. (Huh? Those benefits are exactly what the homosexual community is seeking for their own unions.) Stanton also argues that gay marriage is not genuinely necessary for the gay community because not all gays want it. (Huh? Does this mean that straight marriage is not genuinely necessary for the straight community because not all straights want it?) He further argues that homosexuals make up only one or two percent of the population and that gay activists (who claim it’s closer to ten percent) are inflating the numbers for their own advantage. (Huh? If the homosexual population is that small, a book against same-sex marriage is hardly worth the time. Why not write a pamphlet and save the book for a topic like poverty-a factor that correlates strongly with family breakdown?)

   To his credit, not all Stanton’s arguments are that transparent. To debunk scientific research affirming that “well-grounded, credible studies have shown that it is likely–highly likely–that homosexuality is grounded in biology,” he responds with this very persuasive statement: “The truth is that there are no replicated scientific studies that prove . . . homosexuality is determined by biological or genetic factors.” Unfortunately, few readers of “Marriage on Trial” will realize that this is exactly WHY scientists use phrases like “highly likely” and and make no proof-claims for biological cause. Ironically, even as the biological evidence mounts, scientists have the decency to be conservative about their findings. Conservative Christians, on the other hand, are indecently sure about their own position. Quite rightly, though, Stanton is alert to the possible biases of homosexual scientists. The problem is, he doesn’t acknowledge his own.

   It’s evident that Stanton had already decided that same-sex marriage was wrong before he wrote “Marriage on Trial.” That’s not a scholarly way to examine this or any complicated topic no matter how much research is done. If you care about this issue, and are seeking a fair coverage of the pros and cons of same-sex marriage, this book is not the one for you. If you oppose same-sex marriage and want to confirm your pre-existing convictions, this book still might not be the one. In fact, if you good at identifying fallacious arguments, it might even change your mind.

   Rating: 1 / 5
5. Virginia K. Wing says:

   July 7, 2010 at 1:15 am

   No matter your stance on the issue, this book is a must read! It makes a solid, thought provoking, and incredibly well researched argument for the preservation of the traditional definition of marriage. Stanton and Maier’s arguments are brilliant, yet logical and easy to follow. They examine the proposal for same-sex marriage from all angles and comprehensively evaluate the impact that this proposal will have on our society. There is no claim made that is not backed by at least one reputable study, if not more. People who argue with their facts argue with reality.

   As a young woman, I find this book very refreshing. Not only do the authors present a thoroughly compelling argument for the preservation of the traditional definition of marriage, but in doing so they unashamedly contest the dogmatic tenets of political correctness and dare to recognize the obvious- that there are distinct differences between men and women, that these differences matter, and that they should be celebrated. This book makes sense and is definitely a must read for our times.
   
   Rating: 5 / 5