Religions and Science - when spirituality and reality stand together

Homosexuality and Mental Health Problems

by N.E. Whitehead, Ph.D.
(Author of "My Genes Made Me Do It")

Summary: Recent studies show homosexuals have a substantially greater risk of suffering from a psychiatric problems than do heterosexuals. We see higher rates of suicide, depression, bulimia, antisocial personality disorder, and substance abuse. This paper highlights some new and significant considerations that reflect on the question of those mental illnesses and on their possible sources.

The American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its diagnostic list of mental disorders in 1973, despite substantial protest (see Socarides, 1995). The A.P.A. was strongly motivated by the desire to reduce the effects of social oppression. However, one effect of the A.P.A.'s action was to add psychiatric authority to gay activists' insistence that homosexuals as a group are as healthy as heterosexuals. This has discouraged publication of research that suggests there may, in fact, be psychiatric problems associated with homosexuality.

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The Torah Declaration is a public statement signed by Rabbis, Community Leaders, and Mental Health Professionals

Declaration On The Torah Approach To Homosexuality

Societal Developments On Homosexuality

There has been a monumental shift in the secular world’s attitude towards homosexuality over the past few decades. In particular over the past fifteen years there has been a major public campaign to gain acceptance for homosexuality. Legalizing same-sex marriage has become the end goal of the campaign to equate homosexuality with heterosexuality.

A propaganda blitz has been sweeping the world using political tactics to persuade the public about the legitimacy of homosexuality. The media is rife with negative labels implying that one is “hateful” or “homophobic” if they do not accept the homosexual lifestyle as legitimate. This political coercion has silenced many into acquiescence. Unfortunately this attitude has seeped into the Torah community and many have become confused or have accepted the media’s portrayal of this issue.
The Torah’s Unequivocal And Eternal Message

The Torah makes a clear statement that homosexuality is not an acceptable lifestyle or a genuine identity by severely prohibiting its conduct. Furthermore, the Torah, ever prescient about negative secular influences, warns us in Vayikra (Leviticus) 20:23 “Do not follow the traditions of the nations that I expel from before you…” Particularly the Torah writes this in regards to homosexuality and other forbidden sexual liaisons.

Same-Sex Attractions Can Be Modified And Healed

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reply to post by MaMaa

Originally posted by MaMaa

Two studies? That's it? Hardly concrete evidence if you ask me. Besides that anyone can do a study and make it say whatever they want. People rely too much on 'studies' and not enough on reality.

Reality check :-
Walk quietly to your extinction, the rainbow will disappear and our skies will be clear again.
You are not as evil pretended, just the nature's casus.

We see higher rates of suicide, depression, bulimia, antisocial personality disorder, and substance abuse

I think all of these things are higher in homosexuals because of just that, they are homosexual and have to deal with a host of other things heterosexuals dont have to deal with. Like highschool. Being gay in highschool is a direct line to all of those things mentioned above. Not exactly because 'they are just not as healthy'

Maybe homosexuals have more mental health problems because they have been subjected to persecution from religious bigots.

First secret to being mentally healthy, and which aligns with the bible, is "Love your neighbor like you love yourself." It doesn't say "judge thy neighbor as you judge yourself."

If you want to try the scientific approach begin by understand causality. A swarm of flies didn't cause the dog crap they fly around.

Maybe there are studies that show a correlation between stupidity and religious bigotry.

Originally posted by AzureSky

We see higher rates of suicide, depression, bulimia, antisocial personality disorder, and substance abuse

I think all of these things are higher in homosexuals because of just that, they are homosexual and have to deal with a host of other things heterosexuals dont have to deal with. Like highschool. Being gay in highschool is a direct line to all of those things mentioned above. Not exactly because 'they are just not as healthy'

This has been addressed and analyzed in the OP:

The Effect of Social Stigma

Third, does pressure from society lead to mental health problems? Less, I believe, than one might imagine. The authors of the study done in The Netherlands were surprised to find so much mental illness in homosexual people in a country where tolerance of homosexuality is greater than in almost all other countries.

Another good comparison country is New Zealand, which is much more tolerant of homosexuality than is the United States. Legislation giving the movement special legal rights is powerful, consistently enforced throughout the country, and virtually never challenged. Despite this broad level of social tolerance, suicide attempts were common in a New Zealand study and occurred at about the same rate as in the U.S.

In his cross-cultural comparison of mental health in the Netherlands, Denmark and the U.S., Ross (1988) could find no significant differences between countries - i.e. the greater social hostility in the United States did not result in a higher level of psychiatric problems.

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Even more, NZ youth gay suicide rates are higher despite the government enforced gay-friendly policies and public education system attempts.

reply to post by bokonon2010

Originally posted by bokonon2010
Same-Sex Attractions Can Be Modified And Healed

Have you actually been through one of these programs? With all your frantic anti-gay posting lately, I can't help but wonder if there's something more to it than simple interest or concern...

I just want to say that if you (or anyone) are gay, there are plenty of people who will support you. Even here on ATS. Crusading against gay people will not lead to "healing"... Wanna talk?

Wow lol. my expressionism is being curved by ats mods lol

Bokonon2010 The absence of “significant differences between countries” could easily be explained by the legal tolerance of homosexuality having an insignificant impact on social hostility. A gay person will always be different (i.e. 10% of the population) and their existence will always make many heterosexuals feel insecure (a massive percent are thought to have had bisexual fantasies & experiences). This after all, is mostly why adolescent kids are so hostile: Nobody teaches them it, it just happens because they are insecure people.

Furthermore being different hurts: Imagine if 9 out 10 people you fancied were literally freaked-out by your attraction? It also goes against one of the biggest human instincts which is to “be like everyone else”.

Even when homosexuals are apparently tolerated, you can bet much homophobia has been suppressed beneath the surface. And because it’s suppressed you can bet it will raise its head whenever it can (if you’re gay). This will bread insecurity, which can probably be worse than knowing where you stand.

Furthermore…

Researchers found that gay men are 1.9 times more likely than straight men to report having had cancer. They also found that lesbian and bisexual women are more than twice as likely as heterosexual women to report fair or poor health after having cancer. www.msnbc.msn.com...

Is this your demonic, twisted God, punishing them?

It certainly seems more scientific to note gays suffer higher rates of both mental & physical illness. I know (having grown up on a sheep farm) there are such things as homosexual rams. And I have often wondered why evolution tolerated it?
I have this suspicion that if you forced gay people to breed, the rates of things like birth defects would go up –ultimately what you would be doing, would be unnatural.

Don't encourage this cretinous garbage by posting in the thread. Leave these bigoted, antediluvian views to dry up and blow away in silence.

“The Torah makes a clear statement that homosexuality is not an acceptable lifestyle or a genuine identity by severely prohibiting its conduct.”
FROM the OP
biblebabble.curbjaw.com...

At one time I lived here en.wikipedia.org... . They had a huge ranch of www.yourdictionary.com... . Because of Leviticus 19:19 I cursed them ( I yelled, " Oh ye generation of vipers! There will be gnashing of teeth for thee! " Things looked hopeful but then I realized that they were chewing their cud www.bigsiteofamazingfacts.com... and not gnashing their teeth.) . Obviously God did not hear me because I was wearing a mixture of polyester and cotton.( again Lev.19:19) at the time!