ABOUT THIS BOOK

• What is the meaning of man—the male?

• What is the meaning of woman—the female?

• What is the meaning of Man the male—female?

• Is God masculine, feminine or masculine-feminine or none of these?

• In what manner does creation determine the relationship of man and woman, and how does Christ's salvation alter or transform  man-woman relationships?

These are some of the questions raised by the writer of this book, Man, Woman & Sexuality. They are not the only matters raised. Printed some years ago this book has been partially revised and new insights added. The author has had plenty of experience, not only in the subject he treats, but in practical everyday counselling of men and woman- especially those whose marriages are breaking up. Whilst the book is far from being a manual on sexuality, marriage and family life, it can certainly prove useful in those areas.

This small book is not intended to be a detailed coverage of the nature and being of man. Theological commonsense tells us that we can only understand man when we first understand God, for man is made in his image. We cannot start at man and then discover the nature of God. To know-at least in theological statement-is a lifelong task. As usual, then, we are dependent upon the word of God, for that word is identical with Him.

This little volume is written with the hope that it will stimulate us to further examination of the nature of man, who of all creatures is a person (and race) of destiny. It is a rich experience to be truly man, and not to be shut up to the despair which philosophers, religionists and other thinkers seem to know when they contemplate him.

I trust then that the many obvious deficiencies of this written exercise concerning man will not blind intelligent readers to the richness of the material which is available to us, when we seek to know man. None of this material is really of much use until we come to know God. Knowing God, the thoughts contained in this book may then be of genuine value.

Geoffrey Bingham

Coromandel, August 1982