Gunnoe, M.L. (2003). Two models of Christian marriage: Scripture, social science, and the question of hierarchy vs. partnership. In S.W. VanderStoep (Ed.) Science of the Soul: Christian Perspectives on Psychological Research. Lanham, MD: University Press of America.
This essay compares two models of Christian marriage. The Maintenance model rests on the premise that God has ordained and requires Christians to maintain a hierarchy in which the husband is the head of the home. The Restoration model is an extension of the Reformational worldview. This model understands hierarchy to be a consequence of the fall and charges Christians to restore the equality of husbands and wives that was instituted in creation. The first half of this essay is theological in nature and discusses the Scripture passages emphasized by adherents of each model; the second half reviews three bodies of relevant social-scientific literature (dominant vs. egalitarian marriages, gender differences as a justification for hierarchy, and the mental health and behavior implications of proscribing strict gender roles). The author asserts that the empirical research lends much greater support for the Restoration model than the Maintenance model, and concludes with some brief personal comments about her own wrestling with this difficult theological debate.
Looy, H. (in press). Response to Majorie Gunnoes "Two models of Christian marriage:
Scripture, social science, and the question of hierarchy vs. partnership." In S.W.
VanderStoep (Ed.) Science of the Soul: Christian Perspectives on Psychological
Research (pp. 336-340). University Press of America.
This brief response affirms the arguments made by Gunnoe in support of a Restoration model of marriage, and comments on the importance of taking a global perspective on these issues. These Christian models of marriage tend to primarily address issues of gender equality and inequality. While these are important, in light of a global and historical perspective, the author raises the question of the definition of marriage. Are there grounds for elevating the current North American view of marriage as an exclusive, eternal, faithful, committed monogamous relationship between a woman and a man above other views and practices? Is the North American view a Biblical ideal? These questions are raised as an invitation to Christians to engage in a thoughtful, scripturally, historically, globally, and scientifically informed discussion of marriage.
Looy, H. (in press). Gender and sexuality: Constancy and change. In S.W. VanderStoep (Ed.)
Science of the Soul: Christian Perspectives on Psychological Research (pp. 307-
340). University Press of America.
This essay explores ways in which Christians might explain or understand variations in gender and human sexuality. Two major approaches are described and evaluated. Essentialist approaches argue for universal and enduring male and female "natures" that result from biological processes and/or divine design. Constructionist approaches argue that variations in gender and sexuality reflect both the flexibility of human identities and behaviors and the varieties of cultural contexts and experiences. The essay includes a description of the processes of sexual differentiation, and summarizes research on gender differences and sexual orientation. The relationships between gender and sexuality are also addressed. The author shows how essentialism and constructionism are used to interpret these observations. The author argues that both gender and sexuality are too complex to be adequately accounted for by reductionistic or polarized explanations. She proposes a set of principles, based on scripture and on science, that could provide a foundation or framework for Christians to explore and respond to issues related to gender, sexuality, and human relatedness.
Gunnoe, M.L. (in press). Response to Heather Looys "Gender and sexuality: Constancy and
change." In S.W. VanderStoep (Ed.) Science of the Soul: Christian Perspectives on
Psychological Research (pp. 336-340). University Press of America.
A presentation of different interpretations of the "big 6" Scripture passages concerning homosexuality constitute the bulk of this essay. The author also affirms Looys assertion that attempting to understand gender as either essential or constructed is too simplistic and charges the broader Christian community with intellectual sloppiness regarding gender. (Many conservative Christians justify hierarchical male-female relationships by appealing to inherent difference, but portray homosexual desire as something willfully chosen and easily cast off. In contrast, more liberal Christians tend to emphasize the social construction of gender roles, but portray homosexual behavior as biologically determined and beyond a persons control.) Readers interested in a comprehensive treatment of scientific and theological issues informing Christians responses to homosexuality are encouraged to consider this essay in conjunction with Looys chapter. The essay also works well as a brief stand-alone overview of Scripture passages concerning homosexuality.
Looy, H. (2002). Male and female God created them: The challenge of intersexuality. Journal
of Psychology and Christianity, 21(1), 10-20.
Intersexuals are persons with an ambiguity in biological sex. Such conditions are a source of shame and secrecy, and medical protocols dictate that intersexuals should be normalized as soon as possible. Intersexuals experience physical and psychological pain from the surgery, hormone therapy, counseling, and deception which are part of the standard medical approach, as well a shame and isolation from family, community, and peers. They are beginning to speak out and ask for support and acceptance, while they challenge our current understandings of gender and sexuality. This article discusses the nature of intersex conditions, the strengths and limitations of the biological determinist, essentialist, social constructionist and medical approaches to intersexuality, and challenges Christians to reevaluate current understandings of gender, to articulate theological responses to intersexuality, and to embrace, support, and encourage intersexuals out of an ethic of love.
Looy, H. (2001). Sex differences: Evolved, constructed and designed. Journal of Psychology
and Theology, 29(4), 301-313.
Evolutionary psychology (EP) is reviewed as one currently popular theoretical framework to explain and predict psychological and behavioral differences between women and men. This approach has considerable promise, but there are numerous logical, theoretical, and methodological problems yet to be resolved. Social constructionism (SC) is briefly reviewed as an alternative approach that more adequately accounts for gender and sexual diversity; however it minimizes human embodiment. Both approaches deny a supernatural or spiritual dimension in creation; EP often explicitly assumes philosophical naturalisma belief in a material universe in which evolutionary processes are random and purposeless. This assumption limits its ability to account for several aspects of the experience and the expression of human sexuality. The intelligent design (ID) approach is considered here as a possible complement to EP and SC. The key difference is foundational; ID assumes and infers the necessity of a supernatural, purposeful element. This assumption provides a broader interpretive framework and some potentially novel predictions about human sexuality. All three approaches have something to contribute to our understanding of human sexuality, and I conclude that a cautious, critical mutual engagement may enable us to transcend the dichotomies and limitations of each theoretical framework.
Looy, H. (1997). Taking our assumptions out of the closet: Psychobiological research on
homosexuality and its implications for Christian dialogue. Christian Scholars Review,
26, 496-513.
Psychobiological research on sexual orientation is both based on, and interpreted through the lenses of, a number of generally unexamined philosophical and theoretical assumptions. The author examines five such assumptions and demonstrates how they influence the interpretation and applications of this research. Both researchers and interpreters of the research are challenged to think differently about these assumptions, and to transform the study of sexual orientation by taking seriously both the interdisciplinary nature of the issue and the embodied and relational dimensions of human nature.
Looy, H. (1995). Born gay? A critical review of biological research on homosexuality. Journal
of Psychology and Christianity, 14(3), 197-214.
The literature on the biological bases of sexual orientation is critically reviewed. Four major categories of research are addressed: activational hormone effects, organizational hormone effects during development, brain structure and function, and genetics. While there is evidence that biological factors are associated with sexual orientation, definitional and methodological issues make it difficult to clearly interpret the data. Research tends to overemphasize across-species similarities, reduce human nature to biological determinants, and individualize human sexuality. Future work should consider what the implications of being embodied and relational beings are for our understanding of what is normal and normative in human sexuality.