Political Crossfire Forums

[ToonArmyIsComing]

I read this article, which is really amusing to say the least! He hates the "gay life style" [I take it he means promiscuous homosexual behaviour], but at the same time, he is against gay marriage, which will help many to come out of the "gay life style" and live a monogomous lifestyle.

Anyhow, good luck to him as he has joined the "ex gay" camp to be "treated" for being "against God"!!!

Quote: I hate being gay

In late July the Washington State supreme court upheld a law that limits marriage to heterosexual couples. As a gay 19-year-old in Longview, Wash., my delight with that ruling is probably surprising. However, I’m not your average gay person—I'm also a Christian who views living a gay lifestyle as against God's word.

And because of my religious beliefs, I hate the fact that I am gay.

About the time I was 12 years old, it became clear to me that I was sexually attracted to guys. I assumed these feelings would go away as I got older. People choose to be gay, right? I didn’t choose this, so I figured it would pass. But it didn’t. By age 15 I had my first boyfriend.

At about that time I started to attend a Pentecostal church. I began reading the Bible, including its many different and powerful passages condemning homosexual activity. I knew in my heart that being gay was wrong in God’s eyes. I decided to devote myself to living a God-filled life and knew I needed to stop being gay so that I could stop being attracted to guys.

I looked into "ex-gay" ministries and joined such a program offered by a local church. It has taught me that with God’s help I can change my desires. A friend of mine went through another church’s program, and he's changed. He’s now happy and in love with his girlfriend. I pray the same will happen to me someday.

In the meantime I focus on fighting efforts to force the "gay agenda" on those of us who know God does not accept homosexuality. Although I do not condone discrimination, I also do not support gay marriage laws or many of the other issues backed by gay rights groups. I am a proud conservative Republican, and I support political candidates who feel the same way I do.

Many people ask me how I can be gay and also be a Republican and a Pentecostal Christian. My answer is that I am so much more than my sexuality. I don’t vote solely on pet gay issues. My faith and love of God is not guided by one small piece of who I am—a piece of me that I am trying very hard to change.

Being a gay Christian is at times very hard to deal with. Some days I feel as if I’m at war with myself. But I know God would not approve of me acting on my gay feelings, and I have no right to question his directive. I know that in the end I will be happy I lived my life according to God’s standards the best that I could.

That means refusing to accept being gay.

http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid36462.asp

[Jaxian]

It is perfectly okay for this guy to want to change his own sexual attraction, and go to an ex-gay camp to do it. It is his life, and he can do with it what he pleases. He should live it according to his own beliefs.

But at the same time, this guy is wrong when he works against the legalization of same-sex marriage: that's not fair to people who don't share his belief.

It is wrong to punish people for having different beliefs. I do not believe that God hates homosexuality, and I will live according to my beliefs. So why should my beliefs be treated differently than his? Why should his marriage be recognized by the state, while my marriage gets no recognition?

[F'losrix]

I pretty much agree with Jaxian.

What we learn from the article (and none of it's new):

- Religious beliefs can lead some people to hate themselves

- Religious fervor inspires some people to hate others (though they'll deny that's what it really is)

- That some religious people tend to confuse their faith in some belief with actual, independently verifiable facts

- That some Christians believe their interpretation of the clobber passages to be infallible, and that they have special powers that allow them to 'know' the mind of God.

[StrangerWitCandy]

The definition of self-loathing. I pity him.

[Jaxian]

StrangerWitCandy wrote: The definition of self-loathing. I pity him.

You know, I don't really think you should pity him. He doesn't like something about himself, so he's trying to change it. More power to him, I say.

For example, I have naturally bad acne. I hate having acne, so I use various medications to prevent my acne. I don't hate myself, I'd just rather have clear skin instead of acne-filled skin.

Now, maybe I find acne disgusting. But I sure don't go around telling people with acne that they can't marry one another.

That's this guy's real problem: he is telling gay people they can't marry members of the same sex, and in doing so, he is hurting gay people. It is morally wrong to deny same-sex marriage, and this guy is trying to do it. His problem isn't self-loathing, it is that he's treating gay people like dirt.

[StrangerWitCandy]

Jaxian wrote: StrangerWitCandy wrote: The definition of self-loathing. I pity him.

You know, I don't really think you should pity him. He doesn't like something about himself, so he's trying to change it. More power to him, I say.

For example, I have naturally bad acne. I hate having acne, so I use various medications to prevent my acne. I don't hate myself, I'd just rather have clear skin instead of acne-filled skin.

Now, maybe I find acne disgusting. But I sure don't go around telling people with acne that they can't marry one another.

That's this guy's real problem: he is telling gay people they can't marry members of the same sex, and in doing so, he is hurting gay people. It is morally wrong to deny same-sex marriage, and this guy is trying to do it. His problem isn't self-loathing, it is that he's treating gay people like dirt.

I agree with what you say about him choosing to do this. I'm not trying to stop anybody. But it is self-loathing behavior. I know because I was the exact same way years ago, and I said and did the same things. Its psychologically destructive.

I don't really think the acne thing is a very good analogy though, thats a skin condition. Sexual orientation is deeply rooted in your psychology. A skin condition can be treated or cured. Usually treating or 'curing' sexual orientation only ends up in misery, deception, and further psychological damage.

I pity people like him because I remember what it was like to have that mindset and allow it to control your life.

[toddytodd]

What's interesting is that he is right - people are so much more than his sexuality. However, he seems to be focused on changing one of the things he himself has determined is a small piece of him. At least that is the way I read the passage.
It just makes me wonder how truthful he is being with himself and how honest he is with his writing...
Of course it is his life, his body - he is free to do what he thinks best. I only hope this is truly what he wants, not what he thinks others want of him.

[Tracker]

Quote: By age 15 I had my first boyfriend.

At about that time I started to attend a Pentecostal church ...

AND WERE BRAINWASHED INTO HATING YOURSELF.

TERRORISM is the name of that, EXACTLY.