Same-Sex Dynamics among Nineteenth-Century Americans: A Mormon Example Rating :
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56 of 76 people found the following review helpful.
A Pioneering Mormon
By A Customer
Excellent read, and hits the history of Mormon attitudes regarding same-sex dynamics right on the nail's head. As one who has had first hand experience with both Mormonism and same-sex dynamics, I can assure you this book covers the these topics with astounding factual evidence and is devoid of any biasing, or personal agendas. As you can see from earlier reviews by folks from the Mormon hub of the U.S., this book strikes a raw nerve with their own personal and religious agendas. As Quinn so often and eloquently states: "Physical orientation and sexual orientation are not moral issues, and majority/minority phenomena in nature do not involve natural versus unnatural categories. The exceptional in nature is still natural, whether the exception is left-handedness or the homosexual orientation of erotic desire." And, I also agree with him when he states "that every human being, even those whose values or behavior I reject, is of value to God and to me."
Oh, what a kind and non-judgemental world it would be if people would love each other unconditionally, and actually put into practice, not just in word but in deed, their religious beliefs concerning tolerance, love and understanding of each other. Until that time, we all need to accept each other for who we are and bridge the gulf of misunderstanding that often leads to intolerance and hate.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful.More relevant than ever
By Gnarly1
Recently Mormon Church general authority Boyd K. Packer, a life long homophobe, once again embarrassed his church by publicly declaring homosexuality as "unnatural." His remarks were later amended in the written record.
Although published in the 1996, Quinn's book is highly germane today, as the topic of "same sex" relationships continues in heated discussions throughout the country. Mormons strongly reject those who do not fit its stereotypical "man, woman and six kids" view of marriage and sexual relations. It's strong financial support for California's punitive Proposition 8 barring same-sex marriage is another manifestation of its hostility to those "unnatural" men and women who wish to marry a person of their choice. As Quinn painstakingly shows, such intolerance was not always so in Utah or the Mormon Church. Church authorities born prior to the turn of the 20th Century had much more "liberal" attitudes toward same-sex relationships. Anti-gay Mormonism did not take hold until the 1950s.
Quinn does exhaustive research on any topic he pursues. The footnotes after each chapter are overwhelming. A reader could take days just reading through them, let alone reading the sources upon which they are based. As a consequence, there is plenty of evidence to support the proposition that homophobia has no deep roots in Mormonism and that it does not have to be such a big part of its agenda today. However, don't expect any significant changes in Mormon attitudes until Packer and his ilk are gone.
29 of 41 people found the following review helpful.Astonishing.
By gail@spacelab.net
Best scholarship I have read in a long, long time. It is not often I can say a book actually made me see myself and my beliefs differently. As a believing Mormon I find Quinn's research into the "many silences of Mormon history" not only enlightening, but, contary to the Church's fears, inspiring. Bravo, Michael. ~Gail Richards Dedrick
Product Description
Winner of the Herbert Feis Award from the American Historical Association and named one of the best religion books of the year by Publishers Weekly, D. Michael Quinn's "Same-Sex Dynamics among Nineteenth-Century Americans" has elicited critical acclaim as well as controversy. Using Mormonism as a case study of the extent of early America's acceptance of same-sex intimacy, Quinn examines several examples of long-term relationships among Mormon same-sex couples and the environment in which they flourished before the onset of homophobia in the late 1950s.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #305462 in Books
- Published on: 1996-07-01
- Original language:English
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Hardcover
- 477 pages
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