Us versus Us: The Untold Story of Religion and the LGBT Community

by Andrew Marin

Publisher:

NavPress

, 2016

Overview

Would you believe that 86 percent of LGBT people—from the proud marcher at the Pride Parade to the quiet, closeted teen—spent their childhood in church? More than half of them left those religious commu-nities as adults; three out of four would be happy to come back.

For decades now we have found our-selves caught up in a culture war: us versus them. Good news: there is no them. Our culture war has been a civil war: Us versus Us. And there is a path toward meaningful peace.

Andrew Marin brings the startling findings of his largest-ever scientific survey of the religious history, practices, and beliefs of the LGBT community. Marin’s findings offer clear direction for both sides of a long cultural battle to meet in the middle, sacrificing neither conviction nor integrity as they rediscover the things they have in common and the hope found in Christ alone.

Original, groundbreaking research into the religious lives and beliefs of the LGBT community.

Praise for Us versus Us

Marin’s prayer is that this book will help all people approach the LGBT-faith conversation with more intelligence and respect. He compiled a detailed academic research study in the hope that parents, gay Christians, clergy, and religious laypeople may be motivated to start that conversation.

Through surveys, illustrations, and multiple personal testimonies, he shares his surprising findings. For example: 86 percent of LGBT people spent their childhood in church and more than half would be happy to go back. And 96 percent of the participants in the study have prayed at least once in their life that God would make them straight.

Us Versus Us has to do with how we relate to one another. It is an encouragement to work together to provide an environment in which it is normal to demonstrate love, even in disagreement.

No conversation in the church is more explosive than the sexuality debate, and no voice in this conversation is more effective than Andrew Marin’s. . . . A page-turning collision of stats and stories with the power to revolutionize the modern sexuality debate.

This bighearted, richly textured book will shatter stereotypes and help us all think better. And love better too.

Product Details

• Title : Us versus Us: The Untold Story of Religion and the LGBT Community
• Author: Marin, Andrew
• Publisher: NavPress
• Publication Date: 2016
• ISBN: 9781631466205

About Andrew Marin

Andrew Marin is the president and founder of The Marin Foundation, an organization that systemically builds bridges between the broader lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning (LGBTQ) and conservative Christian communities through scientific research and biblical and social education. He is the author of Love Is an Orientation and the ebook Our Last Option: How a New Approach to Civility Can Save the Public Square. A self-described homophobic, straight, Bible-believing, conservative Christian alpha-male, Marin's life changed radically in 2000 when, during three consecutive months, his three best friends all came out to him. Determined to find some answers to his crisis, he became what he calls "the gayest straight dude in America," and followed God's call to move to the LGBTQ Boystown neighborhood of Chicago to immerse himself in the gay and lesbian community. While living there for twelve years with his family, he began The Marin Foundation, focused on training and teaching churches around the country how to build bridges with their local gay and lesbian community in order to make a significant impact for the kingdom. He also oversees the foundation's national research study, which is the largest study of its kind ever done in the LGBTQ community regarding spirituality and religion. Marin has a BA in Applied Psychology from the University of Illinois-Chicago, an MA in Urban Studies and Social Change from Eastern University and is currently earning his PhD from St. Mary?s College at the University of St. Andrews in Constructive Theology and Ethics. He regularly lectures and facilitates trainings around the world and his speech Homophobia and Bridging from within the Evangelical Church, given on Capitol Hill the night before the inauguration of President Barack Obama, is archived in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC. Since 2010 he has been asked by the United Nations to advise their various agencies on bridging opposing worldviews, civic engagement and theological aspects of reconciliation.