The bibliography here is ordered under:
Contemporary: Collections of articles, book-length studies, pastoral
There are also separate bibliographies with specialist studies in such areas as: cohabitation, divorce & remarriage, homosexuality, transsexuality,
As always the two standard ethics dictionaries – New Dictionary of Christian Ethics (SCM) and especially New Dictionary of Christian Ethics and Pastoral Theology (IVP) - are the best short introductions to key issues. They often provide helpful summaries of discussions by major authors whose more detailed work is cited in the full reading list.
In IVP see especially the chapter on Sexuality (pp71-78) by Gilbert Meilaender and the articles on:
- Marriage (pp565-8) by Jim Olthuis
- Divorce by Gordon Wenham (pp315-7)
- Remarriage by David Atkinson (pp729-30)
- Homosexuality by David Field (pp450-4)
- Singleness (pp790-3) by Vera Sinton.
In SCM, there are particularly
- Helen Oppenheimer on Marriage (pp366-8) and on Divorce (pp160-2)
- Lisa Sowle Cahill on Sexual Ethics (pp579-83)
- James Nelson (an important liberal voice) on Homosexuality (pp271-4);
- John Noonan (author of the book on the subject) on Contraception (pp124-6)
The ethics reader edited by Boulton et al. From Christ to the World has a section of major writings and a case study on sexual ethics which are worth looking at (pp319-64)
A recent volume in the Blackwell Readings in Modern Theology series – Theology and Sexuality: Classic and Contemporary Readings (edited by Eugene F. Rogers, Jr) – has some helpful pieces although appears slanted towards 'revisionist' as opposed to 'traditionalist' writings in contemporary debates.
Key Church of England documents and decisions in the last 40 years relating to the subject are here
Collins, Raymond F. Sexual Ethics & The New Testament: Behaviour & Belief
Work of leading Roman Catholic New Testament scholar
Countryman, William. Dirt, Greed & Sex: Sexual Ethics in
the New Testament and Their Implications For Today
Leading liberal/revisionist reading of NT texts by US Episcopalian scholar.
Hays, Richard B. The Moral Vision of the New Testament.
Best book on NT ethics; chapters on divorce and on homosexuality at end applying his method.
Rosner, Brian. Paul, Scripture & Ethics. A Study of 1 Corinthians 5-7.
Heavy-going [published doctoral thesis] but excellent on these important chapters and their OT background.
Watson, Francis. Agape, Eros, Gender: Towards a Pauline Sexual Ethic.
An interesting reading of key Pauline texts (eg 1 Cor 11; Rom 7) which relates them to contemporary secular thinkers on sexuality such as Freud.
Studies of Historical Christian Discussions
Brown, Peter. The Body and Society.
Classic study of attitudes to the body, sexuality and marriage in the early church.
Clark, Elizabeth (ed). St Augustine on Marriage and Sexuality.
Selection of key texts with brief commentary on the thinker who shaped Western Christian attitudes to sex and marriage. Augustine's On the Good of Marriage (de bono conjugali) is well worth reading as so influential for Western thought on marriage.
Noonan, John. Contraception
Don't be deceived by the title or put off by the size – although focused on
contraception this offers a fascinating study of the development of Christian thinking about the purpose of sexual intercourse from Scripture through the Fathers and medieval period to modern writers.
Ramsey, Paul. 'Human Sexuality in the History of Redemption' in Babcock, William S. (ed), The Ethics of Augustine, pp115-45.
Most
helpful discussion of Augustine's understanding of marriage and sex tracing it through creation, fall and redemption.
Witte, John. From Sacrament to Contract: Marriage, Religion and Law in the Western Tradition.
Detailed but
fascinating study of European law and Christian thinking on marriage tracing it through sacrament (Catholic), social estate (Lutheran), covenant (Calvinist), commonwealth (Anglican) & contract (modern/Enlightenment).
Official Roman Catholic Teaching
Catechism of Catholic Church
Best short introduction to official teaching on any issue – see here on sacrament of marriage (Part 2, Section 2, Article 7) and sixth commandment (Part 3, Section 2, Article 6).
Pope Pius XI, Casti Cannubii
Encyclical from 1930 giving official teaching on Christian marriage.
Pope Paul VI, Humanae Vitae
(In)famous 1968 papal encyclical reaffirming teaching against contraception. An alternative translation and several articles discussing the encyclical have been produced by Janet Smith.
For best accouts based on official teaching see Ronald Lawler & William May volumes below and for a more liberal view see Michael Lawler.
Contemporary Sexual Ethics & Theology of Marriage
Shorter Chapters/Edited Volumes of Articles/Booklets
Banner, Michael. Christian Ethics & Contemporary Moral Problems
Collection of important articles by
leading UK Christian ethicist whose last three pieces are on family & sexual ethics including discussion of recent church statements (252-68) and an outline of his own approach shaped by Augustine and Barth (269-309).
Davies, Jon (Ed.). Sex These Days: Essays on Theology, Sexuality and Society.
Collection of essays on various issues, mainly from a more "liberal" stance.
Kelly, Kevin T. New Directions in Sexual Ethics: Moral Theology and the Challenge of Aids.
Collection of essays by more liberal Roman Catholic priest.
Leal, Dave. On Marriage as Vocation.
Grove Booklet – title says it all, though also helpful on goods of marriage.
O'Donovan, Oliver. "Marriage and the Family" in Kaye (ed), Obeying Christ in a Changing World Vol 3, pp94-11.
Produced
for NEAC in 1977 this paper though dated is still an excellent introduction to the area from evangelical Anglican perspective.
Ramsey, Paul. One Flesh: A Christian View of Sex Within, Outside and Before Marriage.
Another classic Grove booklet
[originally a journal article] by leading 20th century ethicists; not always easy; uses existential categories; defends trad Christian views on sex and marriage.
Stott, John. Issues Facing Christians Today.
Classic evangelical text, recently reissued; wide range of issues discussed including chapters on areas of sexual ethics such as divorce & remarriage and homosexuality.
Thatcher, Adrian (ed). Celebrating Christian Marriage
A wide-ranging selection of articles by good selection of authors.
Turner, Philip (ed). Men & Women: Sexual Ethics in Turbulent Times
Excellent collection of very pertinent and sharp
articles covering a number of areas.
Williams, Rowan. "Is there a Christian sexual ethic ?" in Open to Judgement, pp161-7. US edition called Ray of Darkness
A short and thought-provoking piece from the current Archbishop of Canterbury calling for a sacramental approach to thinking about Christian sexual ethics.
Williams, Rowan. The Body's Grace.
Lecture whose full text is on web at link above and reproduced in Rogers reader on sexuality listed above with
glowing commendation.
Ash, Christopher. Marriage: Sex in the Service of God.
A wide-ranging and readable study rooted in Scripture from a traditional evangelical perspective.
Barth, Karl. Church Dogmatics
There are several relevant discussions in this great 20th century theologian but especially see CD III.4 Section 54 on 'Freedom in Fellowship' for discussion of man and woman and parent and children.
Cahill, Lisa Sowle. Sex, Gender, and Christian Ethics
Recent and important study by Catholic ethicist interacting especially with
feminist thought.
Chryssavgis, John. Love, Sexuality & The Sacrament of Marriage
Two essays by the author then selected excerpts from his Orthodox tradition.
Demant, V.A. An Exposition of Christian Sex Ethics
A short series of lectures by former Oxford Moral and Pastoral Theology Professor. Rather dated (1963) but some good material.
Evdokimov, Paul. The Sacrament of Love: The Nuptial Mystery in the Light of the Orthodox Tradition
'Best work available in English on the Orthodox view of marriage' (Bishop Kallistos Ware) which offers insights from
liturgy and by relating marriage to ascetic and monastic tradition.
Grenz, Stanley J. Sexual Ethics: An Evangelical Perspective.
Professor at Regent's College,
Vancouver; biblical and evangelical approach to all main questions; recently reissued.
Jewett, Paul K. Who We Are: Our Dignity as Human.
Major "neo-evangelical" (ie sympathetic to Karl
Barth) approach covering male-female and most areas of sexual ethics, including long excursus on homosexuality.
Lawler, Michael. Marriage & The Catholic Church: Disputed Questions
Series of studies covering various issues (sacrament, bond, divorce, cohabitation) drawing on historical and contemporary resources.
Lawler, Ronald. Catholic Sexual Ethics: A Summary, Explanation and Defense.
Best and most accessible account and explanation of orthodox (ie conservative) Roman Catholic teaching, covering all main areas (though note
focus is on sex and not on marriage, divorce etc).
Lewis, C.S. The Four Loves.
Classic and as always readable exposition of different forms of love – affection, friendship, eros & agape.
May, William E. Marriage, The Rock on which the Family is Built.
A short introduction to traditional Catholic teaching, with chapters on the web.
McCarthy, David Matzko. Sex and Love in the Home: A Theology of the Household.
Recent study of marriage and wider issues of love and family which sets discussion in
wider social, economic and political context.
Meyendorff, John. Marriage: An Orthodox Perspective
Helpful outline of Eastern Orthodox approaches to questions of marriage and divorce.
Oppenheimer, Helen. Marriage.
Major study by author who has often served on Church of England studies since the 1960s.
Rogers, Eugene. Sexuality and the Christian Body.
Important recent scholarly study; builds on Orthodox
views of marriage; particular focus on defending same sex partnerships as marriage but of much wider significance.
Shivandan, Mary. Crossing the Threshold of Love
A study of current Pope's anthropology, its implication
for understandings of marriage and particularly methods of birth control.
Thatcher, Adrian. Liberating Sex: A Christian Sexual Theology.
Extensive account of a contemporary sexual ethic from "liberal"/"liberationist" theologian.
Thatcher, Adrian. Marriage after Modernity: Christian Marriage in Postmodern Times.
Important study on marriage esp its treatment of children and of cohabitation and betrothal from same author as above; more interaction
with Scripture and tradition than earlier work.
Thielicke, Helmut. Ethics of Sex/Theological Ethics Vol 3.
Famous Lutheran evangelical ethicist who was first (this was early 1960s) to seriously addresses many issues which grew in importance (eg homosexuality and
AID)
Thurian, Max. Marriage and Celibacy.
Thoughtful brief discussion of subject from Protestant celibate monk in Taize community.
Vardy, Peter. The Puzzle of Sex.
Like his "Puzzle of Ethics" a popular introduction which argues for a
"liberal" stance on most issuesbut interacting throughout with Scripture and tradition.
West, Christopher. Theology of the Body Explained: A Commentary on John Paul II's Gospel of the Body
Detailed but readable exposition of the Pope's teaching in this area. The author has resources on his website.
More Pastoral/Psychological & 'popular' discussions
Dawn, Marva. Sexual Character: Beyond Technique to Intimacy.
Insightful study from US evangelical
approaching sexual ethics through the need for Christians to develop distinctive character traits.
Dominian, Jack. Let's Make Love: The Meaning of Sexual Intercourse.
Most recent study from respected Roman Catholic psychiatrist and author of many studies on marriage and marriage breakdown.
Gill, Margaret. Free to Love: Sexuality and Pastoral Care
Author is Christian psychosexual counsellor; mainly pastoral; some important insights; recently revised (esp on gay issue)..
Olthuis, James. I Pledge You My Troth: A Christian View of Marriage, Family, Friendship.
Much more pastoral, practical than ethical but very insightful on meaning of marriage.
Pollock, Nigel. The Relationships Revolution.
Helpful, popular treatment on issues to do with love, sex, friendship etc today – may help with your "short talks"
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