Description: First published in 2008, Donna Freitas's Sex and the Soul revealed what college students -- at institutions large and small, public and private, secular, Catholic, and evangelical -- really think about sex, dating, religion, and spirituality. Based on face-to-face interviews with students across the country, Sex and the Soul achieved national acclaim, illuminating the as-yet-unexplored struggles of college students navigating the lines of faith and sexuality. Now, in this updated edition, Freitas reflects on the hundreds of conversations she has had with students since the book was first published in an all-new afterword, and offers practical advice for young people struggling with issues of sex and spirituality and for the adults giving them guidance.
Review Quotes: "The value of the revised edition is twofold: It offers a descriptive account of the intersections of spirituality, religion, sexual behaviors, and relationships on diverse college campuses, as well as a more robust section addressing realistic and relevant responses to the issues students name as problematic. With her gift of expressive writing, Freitas -- who has a background in religion and literature -- brings the research data to life in her retelling of student interviews . Her engaging prose presents a picture of college life that invites the reader to be part of students' accounts of their struggles with sexuality and relationships."--National Catholic Reporter
From the previous edition: ''Fascinating, disturbing...Freitas's tone is engaging and her writing persuasive...Freitas's work chronicles a poignant spiritual loss that students themselves articulate and mourn.''--Publishers Weekly
"Candid, disturbing, yet ultimately hopeful...Throughout this beautifully written book, Freitas presents students' feelings and experiences in an unflinching yet compassionate way. You care about these young people and their struggles. This book is a great service to students, parents, and those at colleges and universities who want to prepare young adults not just for the workplace but for healthy and fulfilling lives."
--Christian Science Monitor
''Fascinating...provocative...Anyone with any interest in mentoring young people should read this book and its recommendations, because there's great hope and wisdom in them.''
--The Weekly Standard
"An unequivocal must-read for church leaders, college and seminary professors, and parents."
--Perspectives: A Journal of Reformed Thought
''A wonderful, mind-clearing book... A boon to anyone who not only cares about our nation's young people, but who has previously learned about this phenomenon only through rumors or anecdotes. Read her book, based on dozens of interviews, for the real scoop.''
--James Martin, SJ, America
''Freitas's book should scare Catholic parents into asking some honest questions early and often.... Freitas has opened those dorm rooms a crack and allowed us to hear how we're doing. We need to listen up.''
-Commonweal