Reparative therapy denounced by Exodus International

[jclalor 12]

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Alan Chambers, 40, the president, declared that there was no cure for homosexuality and that “reparative therapy” offered false hopes to gays and could even be harmful.

Very courageous of Mr. Chambers.



http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/07/us/a-leaders-renunciation-of-ex-gay-tenets-causes-a-schism.html?pagewanted=all

[RonD1120 62]

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Alan Chambers, 40, the president, declared that there was no cure for homosexuality and that “reparative therapy” offered false hopes to gays and could even be harmful.

Very courageous of Mr. Chambers.


http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/07/us/a-leaders-renunciation-of-ex-gay-tenets-causes-a-schism.html?pagewanted=all

I totally agree. There is no therapy for a behavior choice. If someone believes their actions are rationalized as good for them they will not change based on someone else's opinion.

Similarly, there is no treatment for an Axis II diagnosis.

I disagree with Chambers on this point:

"“I believe that any sexual expression outside of heterosexual, monogamous marriage is sinful according to the Bible,” Mr. Chambers emphasized. “But we’ve been asking people with same-sex attractions to overcome something in a way that we don’t ask of anyone else,” he said, noting that Christians with other sins, whether heterosexual lust, pornography, pride or gluttony, do not receive the same blanket condemnations."

Many churches abhor the latter behaviors mentioned. The church I am currently attending will not allow membership to a man because he smokes. He is welcome in attendance but not membership.

I will work with this guy because he would like to quit but is having difficulty.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[wmw999 2,602]

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The church I am currently attending will not allow membership to a man because he smokes. He is welcome in attendance but not membership.

How about fat people -- or do you have to test them to make sure it's glandular, and not just plain old gluttony?

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[RonD1120 62]

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The church I am currently attending will not allow membership to a man because he smokes. He is welcome in attendance but not membership.

How about fat people -- or do you have to test them to make sure it's glandular, and not just plain old gluttony?

Wendy P.

Good one. I don't have an answer. Looking around the congregation I see some overweight folk but no obesity.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[Southern_Man 0]

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Alan Chambers, 40, the president, declared that there was no cure for homosexuality and that “reparative therapy” offered false hopes to gays and could even be harmful.

Very courageous of Mr. Chambers.



http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/07/us/a-leaders-renunciation-of-ex-gay-tenets-causes-a-schism.html?pagewanted=all

Very interesting. Reparative therapy always seemed to me to be a very limited model based on accepting and enshrining that homosexual behavior and urges came only for psycho-social developmental factors. I never could believe that things were that simple.

I did not know Spitzer had disowned his own article until I read it in there. I will have to look for information on that.

"What if there were no hypothetical questions?"

[headoverheels 334]

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Good one. I don't have an answer. Looking around the congregation I see some overweight folk but no obesity.

You don't see anyone say 5'10" weighing over 210 pounds?
In a sizable group in today's US, that is amazing.

Those smokers and queers do tend to be more trim, though.

[Andy9o8 3]

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I totally agree. There is no therapy for a behavior choice. If someone believes their actions are rationalized as good for them they will not change based on someone else's opinion.

Similarly, there is no treatment for an Axis II diagnosis.

You're perpetuating 2 myths in a single post. Bravo.

[RonD1120 62]

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I totally agree. There is no therapy for a behavior choice. If someone believes their actions are rationalized as good for them they will not change based on someone else's opinion.

Similarly, there is no treatment for an Axis II diagnosis.

You're perpetuating 2 myths in a single post. Bravo.

Wow! You got me on that one, please explain.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[Shotgun 1]

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There is no therapy for a behavior choice.

Well, except for that whole big field of behavior therapy.

[RonD1120 62]

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There is no therapy for a behavior choice.

Well, except for that whole big field of behavior therapy.

I guess I was not clear. I was referring to the choice aspect. Behavior therapy works when the client chooses to change. The point of the article as I understood was that homosexuals do not choose to change. And, I agree, few do. For those that do choose to change, behavior therapies apply,

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[Shotgun 1]

I see. Thanks for clearing that up.

Of course, "homosexual" refers to a sexual orientation. It's not a behavior choice, and it's not some type of mental illness that needs to be managed through therapy. (Though the stigma that society inflicts on homosexuals may push some of them into therapy.)

[RonD1120 62]

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I see. Thanks for clearing that up.

Of course, "homosexual" refers to a sexual orientation. It's not a behavior choice, ....

There is the crux of the whole sociological/Christian debate and disagreement.

When does orientation toward anything not involve a behavior choice?

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[jakee 1,610]

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There is the crux of the whole sociological/Christian debate and disagreement.

Sociological/Christian debate!

Yes, it's always awkward when reality and dogma collide.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[Shotgun 1]

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Of course, "homosexual" refers to a sexual orientation. It's not a behavior choice, ....

There is the crux of the whole sociological/Christian debate and disagreement.

When does orientation toward anything not involve a behavior choice?

Simply having the orientation is not, in and of itself, a behavior choice. But yeah, technically, an orientation toward anything will likely be followed by a behavior choice. But the majority of people in the fields of medicine, psychology, psychiatry, etc., do not view homosexual behavior as a behavior choice that requires therapy.

The Christian part of the debate is only important if the individuals involved are (by choice) Christian and seeking a Christian answer.

[RonD1120 62]

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Of course, "homosexual" refers to a sexual orientation. It's not a behavior choice, ....

There is the crux of the whole sociological/Christian debate and disagreement.

When does orientation toward anything not involve a behavior choice?

Simply having the orientation is not, in and of itself, a behavior choice. But yeah, technically, an orientation toward anything will likely be followed by a behavior choice. But the majority of people in the fields of medicine, psychology, psychiatry, etc., do not view homosexual behavior as a behavior choice that requires therapy.

The Christian part of the debate is only important if the individuals involved are (by choice) Christian and seeking a Christian answer.

Once again your wisdom so often recognized by Coreece shines brightly.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.