APA Study Shows Link Between Faith and Homosexuality
ORLANDO, FL - The American Psychological Association has released a new report today at its annual convention in Toronto acknowledging that an individual's faith is an important variable when it comes to dealing with conflicts between religious beliefs and same-sex attraction. Exodus International, the largest worldwide ministry to those in conflict with their sexuality and faith, says this report acknowledges religious diversity and hopes to see more efforts to ensure this in the future.
While Exodus does not fully agree with the APA's crticisms of clinical techniques such as reparative therapy and its view of sexual orientation change, the report does recognize that some choose to live their lives in congruence with religious values. The report also encourages therapists to avoid imposing a specific outcome on clients.
The APA's report comes on the heels of a recent study conducted by the Barna Research Group that compared the religious views of heterosexuals and homosexuals. The study, showed that 60% of the adults surveyed who identified themselves as gay described their faith as "very important."
Alan Chambers, President of Exodus International, says that not only is faith is an essential part of life for many gay men and women, it is almost always the motivating factor behind their decision to leave it behind and that many in Exodus have experienced a shift in attractions along the way. Chambers just released his second book, Leaving Homosexuality, which clarifies realistic expectations involved in this process.
"The role of religion and the importance of faith cannot be understated when it comes to the ongoing dialogue over sexual and gender identity," said Chambers. "It is an essential element of many people's lives and creates great moral conflict and tension for those who struggle with unwanted same-sex attraction. We are grateful that the APA has acknowledged this and hope to see more done to ensure that religious diversity and personal autonomy are respected in the future."
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Doesn't quite mean that they are indeed a Christian. Some people have faith that there is no God. Some have faith in the Dahli Lama. I hate the poor choices of wording on Exodus's part.
I liked this article because it is proof that a person who has the support and help of their church can leave homosexuality . It shows rather nicely that homosexuality is not some all consuming way of life.
Since APA says they acknowledge those individuals personal decisions one would tend to agree with CHILDRENCRYINGOUT that the APA is alluding to a possiblity that some do stop living the homosexual lifestyle and start living a heterosexual one and even go on to have lucrative jobs and successful family lives and raise children .Nice article. I agree with CHILDRENCRYINGOUT that in the future the flood gates will force open the closed minds of the APA and allow for choice.
alluding to the fact that homosexuality is indeed a choice. No they wont come out for awhile and say it right out but in so many words thats what I am hearing.
I would like to quote what an Episcopalian rector by the name of Bill Carroll stated, " FOR TOO LONG, WE HAVE ALLOWED OUR RESPECT FOR DIFFERENCE TO MEAN ANYTHING GOES. THERE ARE BOUNDARIES' I agree with Mr. Carroll we have attempted to provide some respect to persons who do not choose to beleive as we do regarding sexual practices and in doing so we have succeeded in dignifying that which we call sin and do not support. To me that is the real issue, that is the real stick in the mud, we have gone past the boundaries of Moral and Christian etiquette and embraced evil in ways that has jeopardized our faith foundations. This, has in my opinion, caused the damn to break in regards to the sexual holocaust we are now seeing in our public schools and against the very Holiness of Gd himself by setting against the vows of Holy Matrimony.
What is so encouraging is that we are now seeing the pundulum swing back to a more balanced persepctive that homosexuality is in fact a choice, and should someone choose that lifestyle should not be treated as scum of the earth but as one whom Gd does love and wants them to make better choices.
I love that: " homosexuality is in fact a choice"
The psychiatrists disagree. The psychologists disagree. The overwhelming majority of anyone who has ever identified as 'gay' disagrees. The three main authorities who have real knowledge of homosexuality and who are qualified to talk about whether it's a choice or not, testify that it is not a choice. And yet you, who are presumably straight, are sure that the weight of decades of research in psychiatry and psychology, together with the testament of millions of gay people throughout the world who are in fact LIVING with homosexuality, are all trumped by your personal prejudices and the rules laid out (as you interpret them) by the religion you happen to have been born into.
There is only one type of person who thinks homosexuality is a choice and/or that it can be "cured": religious fundamentalists.
My comment states that the author of the article was grabbing at straws to make his argument. You actually topped him. You somehow came to a completely different conclusion than even the subject matter of a misguided article.
The APA is saying the exact opposite thing.
"Scientifically rigorous older studies in this area found that sexual orientation was unlikely to change due to efforts designed for this purpose."
Where do you read choice in that?
Did you even read the APA report linked in this article? As was already pointed out, you are twisting the words of the report to so that it seems to favor your archaic view points. In fact, you are blatantly incorrect in saying "It appears the APA is listening and possibly alluding to the fact that homosexuality is indeed a choice." That's dead wrong. Read the APA report (or the latter part of Rice klowN's response to you) and you should be able to see why you are wrong.
Ah yes, from delusion, springs forth insanity.
"No they wont come out for awhile and say it right out but in so many words thats what I am hearing."
Do you hear yourself? You are projecting what you want to hear and admitting to it.
"we have attempted to provide some respect to persons who do not choose to beleive as we do regarding sexual practices and in doing so we have succeeded in dignifying that which we call sin and do not support."
Openly admitting that the problem with someone else is that they "do not choose to beleive as [you] do", always disturbs me. It's honest as ever, but it's just mindboggingly arrogant. Have you ever once considered that you are wrong? That maybe it's not ok to disrespect someone simply because your religion tells you that g-d doesn't approve? Your holy book has your g-d demanding a whole lot of more serious things that I doubt you be on board with, but you find it ok to be a bigot towards those you already hate.
It's faithheads like you that make me sick.
If you were intellectually consistent you would have to declare to not respect those of other faiths and of liberal Christianity. You must on the grounds that they don't follow the rules of your religion. Or are you just a hater that uses your religion to just justify your thoughts?
It's easy to go from needing justification for hating a person because of who they kiss, to using them ad the bane of society , isn't it? Do you seriously think that all of our problems are because we don't go around gaybashing anymore? Do you not see how absurd that is? You are so absorbed in thinking about sin that that's all you see when you think of societies problems. I got a hint for you: societies problems are for real reasons, not thought crimes!
Aside from all that you are so blinded by your obsession with thought crime that you totally missed that the recommendation from the APA that under no circumstances should a therapist try to change a persons sexual orientation.
The only "choice" that they recognized was that so called "ex-gays" are still actually gay and that you only cause psychological damage by forcing them to suppress their true feelings. But yiu latch in to the mere mention of the words choice and homosexual in the same sentence and decide that they don't really mean what they say and that they just aren't willing to admit that you were right all along.
It's arrogant and stupid and makes me glad my parents taught me to think and not ignore the facts that I don't like.
While you might not agree with "childrencryingout" I think you are a bit touchy and they have the right to voice their opinion,why I assume this site is called opposing views, and their interpretation is a very valid point.
What I found wrong with your comments is this:
You called this person ARROGANT, BIGOT,ABSURD, GAY BASHING, HATING A PERSON,OBSESSED, because they stated their opinion how disrespectful is that? You need some serious help! And by the way thousands have left homosexuality sucessfully and even more will do so in the following years and your comments a reflection of your own behavior.
How absurd is it to condemn someone for being "rude" to someone who says should STOP RESPECTING PEOPLE!
I don't know who makes me more upset... the person who espouses hate, or the person who says I should respect that opinion!
Not all opinions are legitimate or equal and hate *should* be disrespected and condemned.
So your saying only opinions that agree with yours are legitimate and they are hateful? And your not being slightly rude?
I dont beleive the other blogger was saying that either. You are the only one saying that and I say your wrong.