This post is courtsey of two places of thought: the CPE group on Yahoo and a great article on the ex gay movement from AlterNet. Some of the references to the group will be taken off here, but the rest of the post is very frightening but very thoughtful too. Enjoy!--Ed
--------------
Before I begin I wanted to be the first to tell you the news that Jodie Foster is a lesbian.
I know. Wasn't a shock to me either.
But I say this because I just read a very detailed report about the current ex-gay movement going on in America and in other parts of the world. The goal of these movements is to "steer" those with same sex attractions to a more "healthier" heterosexual path. The report I just read counters what these groups claim and the human toll itbrings on many who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons.
So why bring this up in this forum when many of you here are either straight or bi, swingers or poly, into or not into pain, etc?Because as hard as they push to try and "change" homosexuals they are equally ferocious regarding any sexual openness and freedoms period. Billions of dollars are spent yearly to try and counter positive gay and lesbian folks out there.
Jodie Foster, in her own way (I personally don't know her), tried to keep her life a secret because maybe she wanted the choice of not having her life and who she shares it with to be the focus of who she is instead of the fact she is a very darn good actress. (I guess her and her long time girlfriend are raising kids too so I guess they wanted them out of the limelight)
Why bring it up? Because this group wouldn't be in existence had it not been for the revelation given in an interview by the BBC to the head of the Episcopal(sp) church, Archbishop Gene Robinson. On the eve of his ordination to the post, the presenter asked Bishop Robinson why the church and Christians seem intent of countering homosexuals. (Not an exact quote) "Because they do not want to look into the broader and more extensive sexuality of heterosexuals. We're just about 10% of the gamut of human sexuality; straight people inthe faith have so many issues to deal with that they avoid dealing with it for fear of opening a Pandora’s box."
I bring this up because I lost a very good friend of mine because he felt God didn't love him and that his life of three years raising a family fell apart. He lost hope and went back to the very things the church threw at him "you're evil, no good, need to change, you don't have God's best for your life". He was found hung to death by his former partner.
I know by posting this I will alienate those believers who do believe gays and lesbians are going down a wrong path, that they are out of touch with God's best, and that they can be changed. I know by posting this some may feel they need to walk away from this group. But if you've been on this group a long time you know I don't shy away from expressing opposing viewpoints I believe is vital to many of you who struggle with sexuality and its place with your faith. But as I respect those of you who believe this way, permit me as the moderator to express my viewpoint and bring facts along with me to back up what I am saying.
The other reason I bring this article up is because this could easily be those who are the sexually stable. In fact, it has been us on one level or another. How we can identify with those gay believers on the grounds that those in the faith frown on any sexual expression outside of the marital bed. How often we read books, go to healing lines, pray without ceasing, avoid shopping areas aimed to titillate, etc. to keep us from "falling into sin".
I'm in the process of writing a post/article with the title "The Christian Church has lost the War on Sex". I firmly believe this because this year highlights the exposed truth that for every move to rid the world (the Christian world) of the natural desires of sexuality God has given us we see many both small and great fall because of their denial practices. I firmly believe the church needs to embrace our sexual diversity and take a new, fresher view regarding those with same or opposite attractions.Groups like this one, who are clear about their belief gays and lesbians had nor moral ground according to Scripture.
I have yet to take the time to read the book on the whole gay issue from the author of Divine Sex, but in reading Divine Sex I remember the point made the only homosexual sex God is against is those forcedupon others (especially children). Outside of that the movement against gays and lesbians is a fraud. (Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe I read that portion right).
Truthfully, this need to put this disclaimer before this post is to me an un-necessary. But I do it because even on this group we do have those who agree with my point and those who don't. But in the mind of Christ, and the need to show respect to fellow believers, I submit to obedience because I feel I need to point out different points of view to spark debate and find common ground on such issues. At the same time, in our differences the one thing in the discourse (if any) over this post is to be mindful and respectful of each other’s convictions even if we disagree. So...After all that long winded talk and discussion, and in honor of Jodie Foster's coming out party, I know present exhibit "A" on the issue of ex-gayness.EdModerator, CPE
-------------------
John Smid has a high school diploma, a minister's license and five acres of land outside Memphis, Tenn., where he "cures" homosexuals.For most of the past two decades, Smid's residential "ex-gay" program was known as Love in Action. The majority of the young men who entered the program came from the kind of conservative religious upbringing where being gay is a sin that will cast a person out of church, family and home. To rid themselves of "unwanted same-sexattractions" they paid $1,000 a month, with some staying at the facility for years.
At LIA, as it was known, staff would lead clients in group sessions to trace out childhood trauma along side lessons in throwing footballs, changing motor oil and learning how to cross their legs ina manly fashion. In much of the world of ex-gay ministries, same-sex attractions are thought to result from childhood sexual abuse orparents who failed to instill masculinity in their sons. Since the goal is to rewire parent-child dynamics, LIA clients were forbidden to call their families. Those who worked in Memphis while living onthe LIA compound had to navigate around a "forbidden zone" that covered nearly half the city, keeping them miles away from its handful of adult book stores. They were ordered to drive straight to and from work without speaking to strangers.
"On our way to work, we saw two cars get into an accident. We actually debated over whether we should stop," said Peterson Toscano,who lived at LIA for two years in the early 1990s and now helms an ex-gay survivors' movement. They didn't stop. "Looking back, I see how brainwashed we were. We were sick the whole day. We could have helped the people."
0 comments:
Post a Comment