“Recruiting Young Love: How Christians Talk about Homosexuality”
Mark D Jordan
University of Chicago Press, 2011, 296 Pages

At A Glance: “Recruiting Young Love” analyzes the shifting discourse within American churches regarding homosexuality, especially in relation to youth, showing how the dialogue has evolved from silence to explicit discussions, influenced by modern sexology and psychiatry.

Overview: In “Recruiting Young Love: How Christians Talk about Homosexuality,” Mark D. Jordan examines the evolution of American church discourse on homosexuality over more than fifty years, particularly in relation to adolescence. He observes that while the core message—that homosexuality is negative and teenagers are vulnerable—has remained constant, the nature of the arguments and assumptions has dramatically changed.

From the era of the first Kinsey Report in 1948, where homosexuality was condemned but rarely discussed, to sixty years later, where there’s a surge in explicit, public discourse on the topic, Jordan highlights a significant shift in church rhetoric. He notes that modern church discussions have increasingly incorporated language and concepts from sexology, psychiatry, and social reform, using these to support anti-gay initiatives and traditional gender roles.

This book provides a critical look at how religious narratives around homosexuality and youth have adapted over time, reflecting broader cultural changes.

Thoughts from Readers: