From the National Post:
There is a good possibility the session at which Stanton Jones will present his paper at the 117th annual convention of the American Psychological Association in Toronto will be sparsely attended but raucous.
First off, it is at 8 a.m. on a Sunday morning, not exactly prime time.
And then there is the title of his paper: Ex-Gays? A Longitudinal Study of Religiously Mediated Change in Sexual Orientation.
After a six-year study, Dr. Jones reached the conclusion that some homosexuals can become heterosexuals. It is an idea that is deeply resented in the gay community, because it implies that homosexuality is a mental disorder, and almost universally dismissed in the world of psychology. Indeed, a report this week by the American Psychological Association (APA) said there was not a shred of evidence that homosexuals can be “converted.”
Dr. Jones, and his research partner, Mark Yarhouse, base their findings on a study of about 98 men and women who sought help from Exodus International, a Florida-based evangelical ministry that provides sexual-orientation conversion therapy and counselling.
“I had met people in the religious community who claimed to have changed,” said Dr. Jones, a professor of psychology at Wheaton College, an elite Christian school in Illinois. “And at the same time I saw a growing momentum behind the view that change is impossible. As a scientist it is an empirically interesting question when you see a growing momentum behind a view but you feel that you also see exceptions to that view. So I thought it would be an interesting thing to study.”
The group was composed almost entirely of born-again Christians, the average age was 35, more than half were university educated and some had graduate training. Only a small percentage had been abstinent when they entered the study. Exodus paid for the study, but Dr. Jones said that he told the group he would report whatever he found.
Their study found two forms of success in their study group:
“[A]n embrace of chastity with a reduction in prominence of homosexual desire. … [And] the second form of success was marked by a diminishing of homosexual attraction and an increase in heterosexual attraction, with resulting satisfactory, if not uncomplicated, heterosexual adjustment.”
I hope and pray that the good Doctor is a Christian.
“a report this week by the American Psychological Association (APA) said there was not a shred of evidence that homosexuals can be “converted”
There are none so blind, as those who will not see.
Stuck –
Why;? I would prefer that he not be a Christian…..it would give his study more validity in the eyes of the gay community if anything can give validity in their eyes on such a subject. If he is a Christian, they would be screaming “fix”……
I would also pray that his credentials be impeccable in the APA community..
There are many in the Gay community who know in their hearts that they were not born that way, n’or were they made that way by anyone, rather, it has been an act of defiance on their behalf.
Let’s keep the good Doctor and the GLBT community in our prayers.
Blessings Brother.
Gerry, I think you are wrong about that. I think that some folks are born that way. We are all born in sin, after all. What matters is how we respond to what we are tempted by.
For Kate #3
Science has yet to prove anyone is born a homosexual and there is no evidence in history to prove that claim. There has even been incidents where pedophiles have claimed they were “born that way”. However, I fully agree that we are all born in sin and each and every one of us is prone to sin in one area or another and you are quite correct in stating it is how we respond to temptation that makes the difference. It is not for nothing that we are warned of our “old nature”.
Kate:
If you re-read my entry you will see that you misinterpreted my words.
Scripture tells us that “Some are born that way and some are made that way by man”…….
but I am suggesting to you that some go the way of homosexuality, lesbianism, etc. by way of defiance or even exploration and perhpas even turn to lesbianism as a result of fearing entering into more abusive relationships with males. I could quote specific instances where such is the case and I’m sure if others thought about it, they would find that similar instances have occurred that they are aware of.
Regardless of the “reason or excuse”, Scripture says that these are acts that are abominations in the eyes of The Lord and that these people are to turn away from their sin….period.
my take on Homosexual orientation?
I don’t believe it is a natural circumstance, I do believe there is the possibility of genetic disposition. Not in the context of biological evolution but rather the First Commandment. “For the Lord thy God is a jealous God and visits the sins of the father’s unto the fourth and fifth generation of them that hate me (from memory)” Actually now that I think of it this very well could be natural.
Gerry (#2 g’day mate)- I pray he is Christian because his work is in direct defiance to the operational specs that certainly appear to be authored by loosefur. in other words screwtape’s letter to wormwood would be sort of like this “get that guy outta here”.
I guess I could have said I’d rather have a Christian “marching as to war” Than a well intentioned person not washed in the protective blood of the lamb.
Hope this changes your mind Bro!
The Jones & Yarhouse study reported in the National Post is posted online here:
http://wthrockmorton.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Jones-and-Yarhouse-Final.pdf
I read it with great interest on account of my son, who has struggled with homosexual attraction since his early teens.
The 23% conversion rate among those who participated in the study suggests that change is at least possible. However, it’s a fairly small sample (98 started but 26 dropped out along the way and are statistically excluded) so further work is needed to replicate the findings. I note that the study population was highly-motivated (91.8% identified themselves as “born again’). Also, the average participant was 37.5 years old, so most were at an age where sex drive is naturally tapering down anyway. Finally, conversion was generally incomplete. Most of the 23% who reported themselves converted to heterosexuality “did not report themselves to be without experience of homosexual arousal, and they did not report their heterosexual orientation to be unequivocal and uncomplicated.” It would be useful to extend the study to determine long-term recidivism.
Here’s more background and discussion on the study (some of the comments are quite interesting):
http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/08/09/jones-and-yarhouse-exodus-study-follow-up/
Stuck; #6 – Nope, haven’t changed my mind on my thoughts on that one…… I’m talking logic here if the LGBT crowd can understand logic! Which I rather doubt..however, worth the try. As to whether or not I would pray that he be a Christian, of course I would that he would become a Christian, but not for the purpose of his paper being presented and accepted by those who are in sin with the LGBT crew.
Also, it is in Exodus and Deuteronomy: Exodus 20:5
you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
Have a good one.
Easy, Gerry. Charity, please.
Kate – Sorry…. I recognize that all of us are in sin. I also recognize that some of us are trying to abide in the Word and are trying to turn from our sin(s) with Gods help.
#8 Warren
Thanks for the link. After reading the comments thread there, I actually find myself more pessimistic, but at least it’s evidence of mutability. My son says that sexual performance isn’t a problem with women but he falls in love only with men. I wonder if it was something in our parenting that caused this, but the usual theories don’t fit. I was never particularly absent as a father, and the split with my wife didn’t happen until years after this manifested.
I don’t think his attractions are really a matter of “defiance” because he would honestly prefer to be straight. Hopefully he’ll be chaste now that his pal has dumped him after a year together, but I recall what it’s like at that age and now I have to put up with much sullen moping around the house. Pray for him.
Will do.
ugh. And for you (She said, as the parent of a teenager…)
Noli #12:
“I don’t think his attractions are really a matter of “defiance” because he would honestly prefer to be straight.”
Please don’t feel that I meant all are acts of defiance Noli. No such intention to leave that inference. I do feel that SOME enter into homosexuality and even moreso, Lesbianism as acts of defiance.
I agree with Warren, Pray for him as I am sure most who read this string will do.
Gerry