Sex, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: Wisdom for America's New Sexual Order
By Humphrey Zinyuke
I would best describe this book as a study rather than something I would read for enjoyment. It was very informative and thought-provoking for those are religious or not.
Sex is a hot topic, not just in the US but worldwide. Sex and religion, is an even hotter topic. Everyone’s wondering about it, questioning it, hating it, debating it, but what we aren’t exactly doing is just talking about it. We aren’t thinking about it, logically, or studying it from both viewpoints—that of the religious and the not-so religious.
This book breaks down the barriers that stand between sex and religion—specifically Christianity—and confronts it head-on from a somewhat neutral standpoint. While I’m sure the author has some sort of Christian foundation, this book was not written as an argument form his point of view. Zinyuke wisely tells both sides of the story from an open mind and I believe he does a fair job at representing each party with the utmost respect.
Marriage, dating, sex, and gay rights are just a few of the topics that were studied in this book. They were laid out in relatively plain text but it was easy to tell that Zinyuke did his homework. The information provided was backed up by not just his opinion but accurate information and even Biblical reference. When you’re writing a book titled, in part, Wisdom for America’s New Sexual Order, you have to know what you’re talking about. I greatly appreciated the extra research.
Zinyuke has a very sophisticated style of writing which fits the book perfectly. It feels somewhat old fashioned and makes the read feel a little quirky which helped ease the tension jumping from some of the pages. When you talk about some of the most controversial and heated issues in our society today, having that lighthearted appeal can make the material more bearable which, I think, will appeal to readers who may be intimidated by this book. Just looking at the cover, reading the title, and taking in that rainbow flag—you know this book is going to get touchy and it most certainly does.
If you are looking for something to feed your angry fire, then this is not the book. It isn’t meant to provoke hate but to inspire thought. I don’t even think it aims to change anyone’s mind, simply to raise awareness of what’s going and what has been going in our society as far as sexuality goes.
I you like political nonfiction, then you will enjoy this book. Christian readers and non-Christians will find equal enjoyment in the debates and various points of view. I would recommend this to curious readers with an open mind.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*