Ex-Gay Therapy Discussion
Filed under News, Sexuality & Gender on December 30th, 2008 by Marcus FrenchJoe Delaney of Joseph’s Coat Ministries and Randy Thomas of Exodus International were quoted in the December 28th Chattanooga Times Free Press article Faith said to change sexual orientation. The article provides a good overview of the debate concerning ministries that promote freedom from homosexuality, with both sides being given a chance to voice their beliefs. The take from the pro-gay blog Good As You can be seen here.
The Chattanooga Times article quoted a representative from the APA below:
Still, Dr. Anderson of the American Psychological Association contends conversion therapy is rooted in subtle criticism.
People who decide to turn to such therapies “are often people who are involved in social groups that have a high level of negativity toward homosexuality,” Dr. Anderson said. “They are seeking such therapies not necessarily because they’re going to benefit from them, but because they are trying desperately to fit into communities they seek to fit in.”
Dr. Anderson provides quite an interesting assessment of faith communities from an outsider’s perspective. Do you think he’s right? Leave a comment below and share your opinion.
Tags: exodus international, good as you, Joe Delaney, Randy Thomas, reparative therapy, ssa
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I think Dr. Anderson’s assessment is lacking a level of respect for people who have same sex attractions to make up their own minds based on quite a complicated set of facts with social groups only being one element. It’s a very strong influence but only one element.
My only social circle at the time I became a Christian was gay. I came to Christ only because of a couple of Christian friends I had known for years. I didn’t like Christians even after I became one. That changed of course :) … once I discovered the truth of who the Christian community is.
If “high level … negativity” is the barometer for how someone like me self determines their path … I would still be gay. The meanest “highest” level of negativity I have ever heard was against the Christian community. Whereas 98% (guesstimated) of the Christians I have been involved with over the past sixteen years do not have any “negativity” toward those who have same sex attractions.
Oh and … Merry Christmas! (belated) and Happy New Year!
Randy,
Happy New Year to you as well!
Thanks for the input on Dr. Anderson’s statement. When I read his words, I wondered if someone would have said those things in first century Corinth or Ephesus about people giving up their sin upon becoming part of a church birthed by the Apostle Paul. When Paul said to the Corinthians, after listing off various sinful lifestyles, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God”, or when he said to the Ephesians that “you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God”, would the Dr. Andersons of his day have perceived it as nothing more than desiring to “fit in” to a particular “social group”?
Hey Randy,
Nice to see you on our VOR site here. Blessings on your new year!
Hi Marcus! Glad to contribute. Good points to ponder.
Hi Dr. Brown! I added your blog to my google reader list. :)
Randy,
I’m honored! :)
I find Dr. Anderson’s statement to be highly insulting. For far too long everything that people like myself (commonly referred to as ex-gays) have been through, fought for and won as been diminished, devalued, and dismissed. I first made my decision to put my homosexual orientation under the microscope as a practicing new-ager while studying for an advanced degree at a liberal institution and working in a gay-affirming arts community. My journey out of homosexuality and into heterosexuality was a difficult yet rewarding road. It has been close to 12 years since my decision. I can look back and say that it was a wonderful voyage of self-discovery that has touched nearly every aspect of life for my good. I’m glad for what I’ve been through, and am exponentially stronger for it. It has brought health and wholeness to my life in unexpected ways. Not everyone has had the same outcome as I; nevertheless, the rights of people to choose should be respected and preserved.
Melanie,
I’ve been wondering for a while now why so many from the LGBT community seem to be unable to believe that people like you (those that are no longer engaged in homosexuality) exist? (Or at least that you all are repressing your desires). Can you provide any insight here?