Marriage, Sex, and Procreation: Contemporary Revisions to Augustine's

In this review of Marriage, Sex, and Procreation, Steven Schafer offers a thoughtful hermeneutical intervention for readers concerned with how classical theological frameworks engage contemporary debates about same-sex relationships. The book is best for pastors, theology students, and thoughtful lay readers who want to move beyond polemics and consider how Augustine's narrative can be read in light of modern revisionist positions. Schafer's central achievement is to redirect attention from culture-war standoffs to the deeper doctrinal questions that shape ecclesial responses.

Key Features

• Hermeneutical focus: The book reframes contemporary debates by insisting on careful interpretation of Augustine and the church's grand narrative, which helps readers avoid polarized rhetoric.
• Dialogical approach: Schafer places four contemporary revisionists in conversation with historical theology, enabling concrete comparison rather than caricature.
• Doctrinal emphasis: Attention to underlying doctrinal concerns clarifies why disagreements persist and what theological commitments are at stake.
• Timely relevance: The work directly engages the present denominational impasse, making it useful for those involved in church decision-making and teaching.
• Accessible scholarship: While scholarly in scope, the text remains readable for non-specialists wanting a principled framework.

Who It's For

The book is aimed primarily at pastors, seminary students, and theologians seeking a reasoned resource for discussing sexual ethics and marriage within a historic Christian framework. It will also serve lay leaders who need a careful, church-historical perspective to inform parish conversations about inclusion and marriage doctrine.

This is not a pastoral handbook of policy or a step-by-step guide for pastoral care; readers seeking practical counseling techniques or a rote denominational playbook should look elsewhere. Those wanting purely devotional material or a polemical tract will likewise find the methodical hermeneutical argumentation less immediately satisfying.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Engages both historical theology and contemporary voices, offering a constructive way to compare positions.
• Clarifies doctrinal commitments behind public debates, which helps reduce unhelpful polarization.
• Readable for educated lay readers while maintaining scholarly rigor, making it useful in study groups.

Cons

• The book is not a practical pastoral manual, so those seeking counseling steps may be disappointed.
• Readers hoping for a definitive resolution of the debate may find the emphasis on underlying questions leaves some practical conclusions open-ended.

Specifications

Title	Marriage, Sex, and Procreation: Contemporary Revisions to Augustine's Theology of Marriage
Author	Steven Schafer
Series	Princeton Theological Monograph
Subject	Theology, marriage ethics, hermeneutics
Focus	Contemporary revisionist dialogue with Augustine
Intended audience	Pastors, seminary students, theologians, engaged lay readers

Our Verdict

Marriage, Sex, and Procreation is a careful, timely work that will repay readers who want to move beyond polarized debate toward doctrinal clarity. Its strength lies in bringing Augustine into constructive dialogue with contemporary revisionists, making it a valuable resource for church leaders and students who need a principled framework rather than quick answers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book take a definitive position on same-sex marriage?
Answer. The book emphasizes hermeneutical and doctrinal analysis rather than issuing a simple policy verdict, so it clarifies the issues that inform positions more than providing one-line conclusions.

Who will benefit most from reading it?
Answer. Pastors, theology students, and engaged lay leaders wrestling with denominational debates will find the book most useful for framing discussion.

Is the book accessible to non-specialists?
Answer. Yes; while scholarly in method, the prose is intended to be readable for educated lay readers involved in church conversations.