Praise for Sex + Faith

Now Featured at the Patheos Book Club
Sex + Faith
Talking with Your Child from Birth to Adolescence
By Kate Ott

What People Are Saying

"Brimming with compassion and common sense, Kate Ott's Sex and Faith is a love letter to parents who are doing their level best to raise kids who love God, themselves, and others, right down to their X and Y chromosomes. Ott's brilliance as a teacher shines through on every page; instead of moralizing, she shows how parent-child sex conversations, around countless topics, might sound at various points in the lifecycle—and how these conversations strengthen the faith of parents and children alike. Sex and Faith doesn't pick ethical fights or resolve theological disputes (nor does it try to). It's a refreshingly honest, and ultimately hopeful go-to book that every parent, children's minister, youth pastor, and educator should have on our shelves."

—Kenda Creasy Dean, Ph.D., 
Professor of Youth, Church and Culture, 
Princeton Theological Seminary, and author of Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers is Telling the American Church (Oxford) and The Godbearing Life: The Art of Soul-Tending for Youth Ministry (Upper Room, with Ron Foster).

"Face it, parents need good sexuality education even more than their kids do, so stand aside Dr. Ruth, Dr. Phil, and Dr. Spock. Kudos to Kate Ott for writing the book everyone's been waiting for."

—Rev. Marvin M. Ellison, Ph.D., 
Willard Bass Professor of Christian Ethics,
 Bangor Theological Seminary, and
 author of books such as Making Love Just: Sexual Ethics for Perplexing Times

"Good, thoughtful, faithful sex education is probably the best antidote we have to sexual abuse. Thank God for Kate Ott's valuable contribution to this effort in our faith communities."

—Rev. Dr. Marie M. Fortune, 
Founder and Senior Analyst, 
FaithTrust Institute, Seattle, WA

"Let Kate Ott help you on the wonderful adventure of teaching your children about their sexuality in the context of your Christian faith! This book is full of practical, accessible, and sensible information and counsel for today's parent."

—Rev. Debra W. Haffner, 
President, Religious Institute, Inc., and author of From Diapers to Dating and Beyond the Big Talk

"The perfect support for those important, but sometimes tough, conversations on faith and sexuality. Dr. Ott breaks down an important, but sometimes overwhelming, topic into manageable conversations."

—Rev. Micah James, 
Minister to Families and Children, Northway Christian Church, Dallas, TX

"As a pastor, parent, and person of faith who adamantly believes the church needs to be more proactive and positive about all matters of sexuality, I applaud and appreciate everything Kate has presented. From infants to adults, she has gifted us with a resource that is accessible, engaging, and sorely needed in our time!"

—Kenji Marui, 
Coordinating Minister of Worship and Care, Calvary United Church, Ontario, Canada

"Kate Ott offers an informed, well-written resource that is sensitive to parents' concerns and the complexities of talking with children and teens about sexuality in our time. A terrific resource at any stage of parenting!"

—Joyce Ann Mercer, LCSW, Ph.D., 
Professor of Practical Theology
, Virginia Theological Seminary and author of Welcoming Children: A Practical Theology of Childhood and Girl Talk/God Talk: Why Faith Matters to Teenage Girls—and Their Parents

"Finally, a holistic, 'faith-full' book on sexuality education that isn't only about sex. I wish I had this book when raising my two daughters. Explicitly Christian but values and ethics translate across faiths. A must-read for all parents and grandparents, and anyone working with children and youth."

—Su Yon Pak, Ed.D., 
Senior Director & Associate Professor, Integrative and Field-Based Education, 
Union Theological Seminary, and author of Push It! Young Adults Engage the Bible

"This book is beyond 'user friendly' for parents to teach their children sexuality education. It is a must read for all who care about bridging the divide between sexuality and faith."

—Evelyn L. Parker, Ph.D., 
Associate Professor of Practical Theology, 
Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, and author of The Sacred Selves of Adolescent Girls: Hard Stories of Race, Class And Gender.