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."
APA Study Shows Link Between Faith and Homosexuality
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I am lost on what
Exodus finds significant here. Should it come as any surprise that 60% or more of gay people have religious or spiritual tendencies? If 78% of America is Christian, then isn't it perfectly sensible that gays would belong to that group too?
Here is what the APA said about changing a gay persons sexuality (the root cause of Exodus).
"TORONTO—The American Psychological Association adopted a resolution Wednesday stating that mental health professionals should avoid telling clients that they can change their sexual orientation through therapy or other treatments."
http://www.apa.org/releases/therapeutic.html?imw=Y
also:
"Based on this review, the task force recommended that mental health professionals avoid misrepresenting the efficacy of sexual orientation change efforts when providing assistance to people distressed about their own or others' sexual orientation."
and:
" "At most, certain studies suggested that some individuals learned how to ignore or not act on their homosexual attractions.""
and in this one article, there is even more. I might as well have just copy / pasted the whole of the article.
How is it that Exodus if finding a bright side to this?
- tek August 7, 2009 2:40AM
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It's amazing that are still amazed
"How is it that Exodus if finding a bright side to this?"
I find it astonishing that folks like you and I are still wondering how they do it.
After being a member here for a while, I was half expecting something like this. Back in April or May, Gallup released a poll that said that 51% of Americans consider themselves "Pro-life", while only 22% thought abortion should be illegal and 75% believed in some form of legal abortion (nearly split between "some cases" and most or all cases. In fact, the percent that supported all cases was 23%, so, while statistically identical, the hard numbers showed one percent more folks supported abortion access outright than thought abortion should be legal.
Jill Stanek and the entire pro-life movement completely missed what Gallup themselves acknowledged, that "pro-life" is being seen as an 'anti-abortion' stance by fewer and fewer people. Their response? A majority of Americans are pro-lifers now! Go team!
It's absurd... But it's what they do. Anything for the cause... That's why some of these Christian organizations are referred to as "Liars for Jesus"
- Rice klowN
August 7, 2009 9:07AM
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Corrections
" one percent more folks supported abortion access outright than thought abortion should be legal ."
The last word should be 'illegal' not 'legal'
also my title shouldve read: Its amazing that WE are still amazed!
- Rice klowN
August 7, 2009 9:10AM
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It appears the APA is listening and possibly
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.
- childrencryingout
August 7, 2009 10:01AM
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Did you choose
your sexual orientation? Did you pick straight?
- quantummechanik
August 7, 2009 1:04PM
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Holy crap!
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.
- Rice klowN
August 7, 2009 1:24PM
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Lets not get rude
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.
- angelmama
August 8, 2009 10:32PM
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Make me!
"While you might not agree with "childrencryingout" I think you are a bit touchy and they have the right to voice their opinion"
And I have the right to voice my opinion that "childcryingout" is a douche for thinking that the worlds problems are because society "respects" homosexuals. Childcryingout believes that all of society should start disrespecting 3% of the population because they do what ancient snuff books (aka "The Bible") say they shouldn't. That makes childcryingout an ARROGANT BIGOT who is OBSESSED with sin. Childcryingout's espousing the HATING of A PERSON because they live a different life than their own and that ancient scripture condemns it, means that they justify GAY BASHING with un-holy scripture!
"And by the way thousands have left homosexuality sucessfully and even more will do so in the following years"
I guess your religion has made you blind to facts as well... clearly you also failed to understand that this APA study shows that the only "choice" ex-gays have made is to ignore their homosexuality and pretend to be straight. That is ignorant of reality and blatantly sticking your head in the sand!
How is that for "rude"?
You can read my posts here, I am usually rather blunt with my comments and ALWAYS intolerant of gay hating. My sister and several of my many family members are LGBT. You bash on gays, you're bashing on my only sister, and I will respond with absolute intolerance of intolerance!
- Rice klowN
August 9, 2009 12:22PM
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I can only share my testimony
You say this blogger was hateful but I hear hate oozing from your replys. I am intolerant of Christian hating. Here is a poem that reflects most Christians I know:
By Maya Angelou
...
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean living,'
I'm whispering 'I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven.'
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.
When I say.. 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain...
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow!
end
Im no hater but I agree with childrencryingout.
- angelmama
August 10, 2009 10:59AM
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You are the same person
Unless all users of this website whom are from "Lubbock, TX" post random words in all capital letters, post incorrect facts and statistics, and ignore parts of people's posts which make logical sense.
Just because someone is pointing out that you are being irrationally hateful toward a group of people you do not fully understand (even though you pretend to) does not constitute that the person is necessarily being hateful toward you. You are fine to believe what you like in regards to religion , but to be actively trying to oppress people based upon your religious beliefs is absurd because not everybody has the same religious ideals as you.
The major problem is that you truly do not understand homosexuals at all. If you would actually allow yourself to be on good terms with homosexuals you would begin to understand that your incessant rantings about how terrible they are is completely unfounded.
- learnlogic
August 10, 2009 11:25AM
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Never read anything about promoting hate of a person
And sharing an opinion is now considered oppression? Plezzzz
- angelmama
August 10, 2009 3:41PM
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On further consideration
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.
- Rice klowN
August 9, 2009 1:10PM
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No one is saying you should disrespect anyone
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.
- angelmama
August 10, 2009 3:35PM
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to childrencryingout (aka Hope7)
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.
- learnlogic
August 7, 2009 3:36PM
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one upped
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?
- tek August 8, 2009 8:55AM
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Nobody with any real knowlege agrees with you
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.
- Mark D
August 12, 2009 6:38PM
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Article about LEAVING HOMOSEXUALITY
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.
- angelmama
August 8, 2009 10:38PM
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I think saying that your "faith" is very important..
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.
- ieatcomputers
August 9, 2009 6:04PM
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