William F Kraft

This book honors the courageous sex victims who exposed their abusers. The spotlight, and rightly so, has been on them and their predators. William Kraft contends, however, that little attention and help has been given to those who unknowingly knew a sex offender, people such as spouses, family friends, and parishioners--the unintended victims. Kraft gives these forgotten and silent victims a voice. He recognizes, listens, and responds to people who trusted, often admired, and perhaps loved a sex offender--the shocked woman whose husband is found guilty of sexual assault, the stunned parents and disillusioned parishioners of a pedophile priest, the lost man of an unfaithful wife, and the depressed parent of a promiscuous child. Kraft wants us to cease forgetting these victims and offer them help. His proposal is that sex abusers cause severe and lasting harm because their defilement is not only physical but also emotional, social, and most importantly spiritual because abusers violate bonds such as trust, fidelity, and love. Thus, Kraft offers concrete psychological and spiritual ways to achieve effective management and healing.

This book honors the courageous sex victims who exposed their abusers. The spotlight, and rightly so, has been on them and their predators. William Kraft contends, however, that little attention and help has been given to those who unknowingly knew a sex offender, people such as spouses, family friends, and parishioners--the unintended victims. Kraft gives these forgotten and silent victims a voice. He recognizes, listens, and responds to people who trusted, often admired, and perhaps loved a sex offender--the shocked woman whose husband is found guilty of sexual assault, the stunned parents and disillusioned parishioners of a pedophile priest, the lost man of an unfaithful wife, and the depressed parent of a promiscuous child. Kraft wants us to cease forgetting these victims and offer them help. His proposal is that sex abusers cause severe and lasting harm because their defilement is not only physical but also emotional, social, and most importantly spiritual because abusers violate bonds such as trust, fidelity, and love. Thus, Kraft offers concrete psychological and spiritual ways to achieve effective management and healing.

""This book is a response to such questions as: What is sexuality? Spirituality? How are they interrelated? What is healthy sex--and, how can we achieve it? Are there different kinds of sexuality? What are female-male similarities and differences? What is the sense and nonsense of marital and nonmarital sex, heterosexuality, homosexuality, masturbation, sexual addictions, and abstinence? ""My goal is to construct a model of sexuality and spirituality that engenders more health and satisfaction. My method is phenomenological. Theological truths are not explicitly included--I am a psychologist, not a theologian. Nevertheless, theologians and religious leaders across a broad spectrum have assured me that my vision is not incongruent with theirs and that it can serve as an infrastructure for their studies. My hope is that what follows will help married, single, and vowed celibate people to cope with, grow from, and enjoy their sexuality."" --from the Preface William F. Kraft, PhD, is a professor of Psychology at Carlow University and maintains a private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A husband and father of two children, he conducts workshops and lectures and has authored many articles and books, including 'The Normal Alcoholic, ' 'When Someone You Love Drinks Too Much, ' and 'Ways of the Desert.'

""This book is a response to such questions as: What is sexuality? Spirituality? How are they interrelated? What is healthy sex--and, how can we achieve it? Are there different kinds of sexuality? What are female-male similarities and differences? What is the sense and nonsense of marital and nonmarital sex, heterosexuality, homosexuality, masturbation, sexual addictions, and abstinence? ""My goal is to construct a model of sexuality and spirituality that engenders more health and satisfaction. My method is phenomenological. Theological truths are not explicitly included--I am a psychologist, not a theologian. Nevertheless, theologians and religious leaders across a broad spectrum have assured me that my vision is not incongruent with theirs and that it can serve as an infrastructure for their studies. My hope is that what follows will help married, single, and vowed celibate people to cope with, grow from, and enjoy their sexuality."" --from the Preface

Discover how negative experiences such as loneliness, depression, and anxiety can be opportunities for personal growth! Ways of the Desert: Becoming Holy Through Difficult Times analyzes the similarities and differences between spiritual and psychological experiences. This book shows religious professionals and others interested in spiritual development how suffering can foster growth. You will explore the so-called “negative” desert experiences--depression, anxiety, loneliness, guilt, and anger--and learn how they can be opportunities for spiritual growth. This book explains why opposites are necessary and related parts of healthy and holy development, and that, especially in a spiritual life, the positive and negative are related. Ways of the Desert will take you on a journey through the “deserts” and “promised lands” of adolescence, adulthood, and the elderly years. In most Western cultures the acceptance of opposites as a necessary and related part of healthy and holy growth is not common, and its rejection can engender spiritual stagnation. Ways of the Desert offers suggestions on creating lifelong spirituality including:understanding the need for both “clock” time for functional order and “sacred” time to redeem us from the boredom of our daily challenges understanding the languages of the desert, or the messages that are primarily nonverbal, ambiguous, or ambivalent using effective communication when expressing feelings such as shame, frustration, anger, or anguish examining the similarities and differences between psychological and spiritual activity comparing psychological twelve-step help programs to spiritual growth journeysThis extraordinary book works to help you make sense of your life when you feel lost, trapped, depressed, or lonely. You will attain spiritual guidance to assist you on your journey through life and help you understand that the deserts of negative experiences that we sometimes wander into can be illuminating opportunities for spiritual progress. Ways of the Desert will guide you through difficult and challenging times and help you achieve spiritual satisfaction and happiness in life.

Discover how negative experiences such as loneliness, depression, and anxiety can be opportunities for personal growth! Ways of the Desert: Becoming Holy Through Difficult Times analyzes the similarities and differences between spiritual and psychological experiences. This book shows religious professionals and others interested in spiritual development how suffering can foster growth. You will explore the so-called “negative” desert experiences--depression, anxiety, loneliness, guilt, and anger--and learn how they can be opportunities for spiritual growth. This book explains why opposites are necessary and related parts of healthy and holy development, and that, especially in a spiritual life, the positive and negative are related. Ways of the Desert will take you on a journey through the “deserts” and “promised lands” of adolescence, adulthood, and the elderly years. In most Western cultures the acceptance of opposites as a necessary and related part of healthy and holy growth is not common, and its rejection can engender spiritual stagnation. Ways of the Desert offers suggestions on creating lifelong spirituality including:understanding the need for both “clock” time for functional order and “sacred” time to redeem us from the boredom of our daily challenges understanding the languages of the desert, or the messages that are primarily nonverbal, ambiguous, or ambivalent using effective communication when expressing feelings such as shame, frustration, anger, or anguish examining the similarities and differences between psychological and spiritual activity comparing psychological twelve-step help programs to spiritual growth journeysThis extraordinary book works to help you make sense of your life when you feel lost, trapped, depressed, or lonely. You will attain spiritual guidance to assist you on your journey through life and help you understand that the deserts of negative experiences that we sometimes wander into can be illuminating opportunities for spiritual progress. Ways of the Desert will guide you through difficult and challenging times and help you achieve spiritual satisfaction and happiness in life.

Two exaggerations threaten a wholesome understanding of human sexuality today. The first is represented by the ceaseless, value-free quest for pleasure; the second focuses on rules and spiritual cliches that offer little practical counsel or support. ""Whole and Holy Sexuality"" is an insightful and enlightening handbook with concrete suggestions and support. It will help married, single and vowed celibate people to cope with, grow from, and enjoy sexuality.