John and Ken explore the integral model and how it can be applied to gender and relationship issues. The four quadrants (I/We/It/Its) include the personal, cultural, and social realities of a situation, and developmental psychology looks at the interior levels of growth in individuals. The four quadrants—All-Quadrant—and developmental psychology—All-Level—come together to form the core of the AQAL or integral model.

There are four primary levels or stages of development influential in the world today (though more exist), and each has a different perspective on the question of gender. A traditional (mythic) perspective often creates strict roles and responsibilities along the gender line. Any notion of differences between genders is therefore used in a way that supports the ideal of eternally fixed roles for men and women, any deviation from which is often thought to be sinful. A modern (rational) perspective cares less about gender differences than what a person, man or woman, can create, inspire, and achieve. A person either performs or they don't—why complicate things with outdated ideas about men and women? A postmodern (pluralistic) perspective views all gender differences as culturally created and therefore quite open to being changed (and conversely, any fixed roles or differences, of any sort, are seen as a source of social oppression). According to this view, men and women are fundamentally the same, and any attempt to say otherwise is a regressive slide to conservative, fundamentalist values. And finally, an integral or comprehensive perspective recognizes that all approaches hold a piece of truth and must be honored. But not all truths are equal, and so one seeks to weave a tapestry of increasing care and concern, where greater wholeness is the pattern seen throughout.

John and Ken go on to comment on the sad state of the postmodern sex life. In a noble attempt at equality, people were freed from having to be merely "masculine" or merely "feminine," but often at the cost of erasing all sexual polarity, charge, and thrill altogether. Very deep and genuine love can be shared between anyone, but sexual attraction exists between polarity—and polarity had just been outlawed.

Is there an integral alternative that allows both deep sexual polarity as well as its transcendence? John and Ken think so, as you will see in this fascinating exploration of the spectrum of sexuality and spirituality.

We hope you enjoy this dialogue between two distinguished, mature, and intelligent authors who nonetheless always seem to find a reason to talk about sex....