Can Homosexuals Change?

You've heard the spin.

Now read the truth.

The first issue of the Journal of Human Sexuality summarizes the scientific research that:

• There is substantial evidence that sexual orientation may be changed through reorientation therapy.
• Efforts to change sexual orientation have not been shown to be consistently harmful or to regularly lead to greater self-hatred, depression, and other self-destructive behaviors.
• There is significantly greater medical, psychological, and relational pathology in the homosexual population than the general population.

The summary of the journal's first issue is titled "What the Research Shows."

In What Research Shows, we offer a landscape review of more than one hundred years of experiential evidence, clinical studies, and research studies that demonstrate that it is possible for men and women to diminish their unwanted homosexual attractions and develop their heterosexual potential; that efforts to change unwanted homosexual attractions are not generally harmful; and that homosexual men and women do indeed have substantially greater experiences of and risk factors for medical, psychological and relational pathology than do the general population. Based on our review of 600 reports of clinicians, researchers, and former clients—primarily from professional and peer-reviewed scientific journals, we conclude that reorientation treatment has been helpful to many and should continue to be available to those who seek it. Further, mental health professionals competent to provide such care ethically may do so.

Comments

[Blackgar Boltagon]

"Efforts to change sexual orientation have not been shown to be consistently harmful or to regularly lead to greater self-hatred, depression, and other self-destructive behaviors."

I think ive heard the most resistance to this point here, but I think the key word to remember here is the word consistently. I havent looked into the 'studys' enough to expand on that thought though, so ill end it. Though I strongly agree with the surmized thought at the end.

I think a straight man could make a reasonable case from his own desire to sleep with everywoman that is very analogous to the homosexual plight. From a purely emotional argument (which is often what I hear), there really isint a difference between the two destructive behaviors... Well, barring the fact of orientation, or preference or whatever word you want to insert.

In that regard, if were going to legitemize the emotional appeal, then we should just go the whole way and unhinge the whole of strange sexual behaviors. I cant think of a reason why not to.

[Blackgar Boltagon]

And by unhinge (because I think i was a bit unclear) I mean legitemize things like non-monagamous relationships, speciffically marriages, and even some "intergenerational relationships", as disgusting as that is, and I do think it is. Strange euphamism too.
Sorry for all the typos! lol

[Perry Shields]

I have known several Christians who a) were homosexual, b) were "healed," and c) reverted back to homosexuality. Almost all were committed leaders in the Church.

I have yet to meet a "cured" homosexual, and I feel like the ones I've heard on Dobson's radio program, et al, are trying too hard to convince me they're not gay. "Oooohh yes, I love watching girls go by, yes I do," or some similar sentiment.

People like Ted Haggard, who are married and seemingly "normal" on the outside, yet are caught in homosexual acts, do not convince me in the least by crying, "I'm cured now" two weeks later.

Granted, I should look at more cases, but so far, I remain skeptical.

[Blackgar Boltagon]

I hear you, Perry, and thats kind of what I was getting at. Im a bit more reassured by the Christian who is very candid about his struggle with homosexuality long after his 'conversion', because it resonates with my own struggles with promiscuity. I dont excuse either, but I think the more effective manner of evangelism is to just be honest about it. Praise God if for being full able to relinquish from all sin, and if you struggle, use that to more eloquently display Gods grace. Especially with something that im sure, must be difficult to overcome. Thats why I say I cant sympathize with emotional justification. I wouldent expect a fellow christian to sympathize with me if I argued that I just cant help wanting to have sex with some of my close friends. Thats just not good enough, regardless of who you are. God is very gracious.

[Andy M.]

Alan, in your spare time do a comparison of the 87 (or as some articles I read have it, 83) studies in the last 40 years the APA evaluated, versus the 600 over 125 years that the JHS did. Get back to us by the end of the day on that, would you?

[AP]

The Bible is clear that homosexuality is a grave sin along with other sins such as adultery that even demanded the death penalty in the Israelite theocracy. From the Biblical worldview, as with any other sin, one can overcome it if one is truly regenerated by the Holy Spirit. With our new nature in Christ God helps us to overcome any sin but also requires action on our part. We are commanded to "crucify" our flesh and sinful desires daily. According to Romans, rampant homosexuality is an indication of a depraved culture which is being judged by God for their sin. So in one sense, the homosexual is correct when he says he's sexually oriented because (just like any other sinful addiction) he cannot overcome it apart from God's grace - just like an addict, he's stuck in that situation. However, by God's grace through Jesus Christ and the regeneration of the Holy Spirit, the power of that addiction can and will be broken. After being saved, the Believer is still subject to the same temptations but now he has the power to refuse them and walk in victory. The true Believe may still fall into the same sin (especially a newer Christian) but the general pattern of his life should be to repent and seek Christ, continually "crucifying" those sinful desires. As one grows in faith and experiential knowledge of Jesus Christ, they will overcome more easily. A Christian cannot continue to live in sin (general pattern of their life). If one is continually practicing sin and calls themselves a "Christian", apostle John has something to say to you: "You're a liar!" (John 1...).

[AP]

Correction: 1 John 1...

[Joe]

"Cured" is a wrong-headed phrase. An orientation can remain, but can it be diminished enough to have a changed lifestyle? Apparetnly so. The world is marred by terrible sin. Easy fixes and 100 percent solutions are a fantasy Scripture does not support. As it does not support homosexuality. Or the idea that sex is the most important ten minutes of a weekend.

[Kevin Winters]

This is still too simplistic of a way of putting the issue. Current research has shown that both homosexuality and heterosexuality occur along a continuum and that, interestingly enough, women tend to be the most 'maleable' in this regard. So, along this spectrum, "reorientation therapy" would probably only be successful with those who are "less gay", or closer to the hetereosexual end of the spectrum.

As for the supposed Biblical rejection of homosexuality, one of my old professors is a theologian and open homosexual. He wrote What the Bible Really Says about Homosexuality. His Biblical argument is summarized here: http://www.visionsofdaniel.net/RebuttalToReformed.pdf. I would suggest starting at the end of page 9 as his earlier discussion can be a little...harsh (it's generally how he is with his critics and it is a part of his work that I don't like, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have something good to add).

Joe,

I'm sorry that sex only lasts 10 minutes... :oP ;o)

[Kevin Winters]

On the main substance of the APA article, I really do think you need to read a little closer and not just assume.

"There is substantial evidence that sexual orientation may be changed through reorientation therapy."

The article does say that it is possible, only that reorientation/aversion/etc. therapy seems to have a very low success rate. The summary of the 'response' article summary does not argue otherwise: it gives absolutely no statistics as it relates to success rates and how long such success actually lasts. Change is possible and both argue that it is.

"Efforts to change sexual orientation have not been shown to be consistently harmful or to regularly lead to greater self-hatred, depression, and other self-destructive behaviors."

Again, the APA article says the same thing. Here's a quote for you:

"There are no scientifically rigorous studies of recent SOCE that would enable us to make a definitive statement about whether recent SOCE is safe or harmful and for whom." (83)

You are misrepresenting the "spin" which is, in many ways, in agreement with your analysis. Furthermore, I find the "it was 'state of the art' when the studies were done" argument in the 'response' paper summary to be quite funny. Either there are reasons to doubt the rigor of the earlier research (each one taken individually) or there are none; its state-of-the-art-ness at the time it was done is completely irrelevant.

[Jonathan Foley]

There is a wealth of bad science that is performed without regard for the scientific method or scientific integrity. The JHS 'studies' are almost certainly biased in that the only individuals who seek such 'reprogramming' are pious Christians who are told by others that they are living in sin because the bible allegedly indicates as such. It is doubtful that for instance gay secular atheists seek secular counseling to rid them of their homosexuality. Such a group would be necessary to make claims related to the alleged choice of homosexuality and the ability to cure it. If homosexuality is indeed a choice, then it should be a choice independent of what the bible says and whether one is religious or not. Therefore, appropriate control groups that ask the test the hypothesis outside of the context of the Christian worldview would be necessary to make such claims. In general, to make broad claims related to human psychology and behavior, one needs to be very careful to have sufficient controls to prevent sample bias and control for confounding variables. The single most important aspect of psychological studies is the design of controls that allow inference of results from the collected data. Without knowledge of the precise manner in which the mentioned studies were conducted (e.g. how were sample groups defined and chosen? Were there control groups? What methods were used to collect data?...etc.), the suggestion of 600+ studies by JHS is uncompelling. Each of these studies may be equally poorly designed and therefore not permit scientific inference from the collected data.

[Mr. Incredible]

As Jesus showed, change comes ONLY when the object of the healing ministry RECEIVES the healing ministry. Reception comes ONLY when the object of the healing ministry is WILLING to receive. Willingness is a major factor, if not THE major factor cuz, although He says we -- meaning all -- are able to bear His light -- or Light -- burden and have the power [His Word], nothing happens without willingness. His Truth does nothing unless you know the Truth; the Book sitting on the coffee table does nothing. You gotta pick it up and read Him and understand Him. ONLY then will the Truth set you free; but, first, you must be willing

In other words, God had the might and the faith and the love to create. However, without the willingness, He would have kept it all to Himself.

A husband who loves his wife is ineffective if he is not willing to share that love with her; keeping it to himself does nobody any good.

This is why I say that biblical "love" has no relation to worldly "love." God's kinda love is "unselfish concern for the Salvation of others." Outta that unselfish concern, He spoke light/Light [Genesis 1:3; John 1:9] into the void, the darkness, the unrighteousness. He spoke outta willingness to speak, for His ability and faith and love would be useless without it.

So, as Jesus showed, one must be willing to receive what God has, through Christ, in order to be healed. Those who claim to be homosexual received a different ministry to be where they are. That's cuz they talked themselves into it [Proverbs 18:21].