You are excusing the bullying of children by pretending that their depression is not the result of outside forces but is instead due to their conscience and their awareness of their “sinful thoughts or actions”.

Your contention is a gross perversion of Christian theology.

And then, after the Holy Spirit convicts, then Satan condemns. And it is not the convicting of the Holy Spirit but the condemning of Satan that leads to depression and death.

Timothy, go learn some Theology 101 and then come back.

Oh, so it’s the Holy Spirit that is driving gay kids to suicide?

No, Timothy. It’s the devil. The one who condemns. Conviction leads to repentance which leads to transformation. I thought your church upbringing would have taught you that.

Ask them if they believe in the literal admonition that when it comes to gays, “their deaths will be upon them”, with no-one to blame but themselves if they end up strung up somewhere.

It’s the public face of Evangelical Christianity, whether accurate or not.

It is on Planet Zoe. Did you stop to think about how that “face” could be both public and inaccurate? That’s an oxymoron. Do you mean improper or heinous?

http://www.bilerico.com/2010/09/47323_1497572092628_1633910917_1209766_154427_n.jpg

This from someone running for the State Senate, and president of the Big Sky Tea Party Association:

Tim Ravndal: “Marriage is between a man and a woman period! By giving rights to those otherwise would be a violation of the constitution and my own rights”

Kieth Baker: “How dare you exercise your First Amendment Rights?”

Dennis Scranton: “I think fruits are decorative. Hang up where they can be seen and appreciated. Call Wyoming for display instructions.”

Tim Ravndal: “@Kieth, OOPS I forgot this aint(sic) America no more! @ Dennis, Where can I get that Wyoming printed instruction manual?”

Dennis Scranton: Should be able to get info Gazette archives. Maybe even an illustration. Go back a bit over ten years.”

They’re the victims here you see. Their God-given right to lynch the ungodly is being infringed.

Debbie, that may not be, in fact I really, really doubt it is, the Evangelical Christian viewpoint you’re familiar with. But I’d bet dollars to doughnuts you know some Evangelicals who think along those lines. Ask them. Ask if they feel that Christians are being persecuted by “The Gay Agenda”. Ask them if they believe in the literal admonition that when it comes to gays, “their deaths will be upon them”, with no-one to blame but themselves if they end up strung up somewhere.

It’s the public face of Evangelical Christianity, whether accurate or not.

“Are gay youths more at risk for depression and suicide? Can we say with 100 percent assurance (we can’t be rigid, now) that all gay youth depression comes from bullying or guilt-trips from their faith communities?”

Now who is splitting hairs Debbie? Why does it matter if ALL gay suicides are caused by bullying or not? What if 0 % of gay suicides where caused by bullying would that make it okay to bully gay youth then? What’s the cut-off point for you Debbie? what percentage of suicides have to be cause by bullying before you are willing to say something needs to be done about it?

Ken, this is rather like the “When did you stop beating your wife” question. I have NEVER said or suggested that bullying isn’t a real problem and that something needs to be done or that it was OK to bully gay kids. This it precisely the kind of intellectual (not) bullying I am reacting against.

And Timothy, what I am suggesting is that gay youth depression is played up as almost exclusively from bullying and condemnation from Christians with nary a thought given to every individual’s own conscience (as I also discussed) and its role in ferreting out sinful thoughts or actions for which we condemn ourselves. Add to that the usual teen angst and developmental confusion over being different, and you have a predictable recipe, ALL things considered, for depression.

One of the roles of the Church is to teach all sinners that “there is, therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Remember, that passage followed Paul’s discourse on his own sin nature: “Wretched man that I am! Who will save me from the body of this death?” You can find this all in Romans 7 and 8.

It’s conviction (Holy Spirit) and not condemnation (Satan) we need.

here is where I make my argument that homosexual adolescent males need abstinence education…as MSM means twice the impulsivity…girls for the most part seem to moderate the impulsivity of adolescent men.

…

I think the facts support this simplified conclusion.

David…

This is a meme we’ve all heard before. But I’m not sure that it is bound in science.

We do know that gay men’s brains are in some ways more similar to that of women than heterosexual men (navigation, for example), so it may well be that the impulse moderation instinct is there as well.

And maybe not, as well. But I don’t think we should assume one way or the other.

(Stereotyping alert:) I think that those outside the gay community assume that gay folk have no hesitation; ya wanna play, let’s do it! But those within know that often gay guys are FAR pickier in selecting partners than either straight women or straight men.

I’ve seen an attitude among straight men that when they are horny and want a one-night hook-up, just about any woman will do. I don’t think you see that as much with gay guys. Just my observation.(stereotyping over)

Add to that the usual teen angst and developmental confusion over being different, and you have a predictable recipe, ALL things considered, for depression.

Exactly. Teens from all branches of the culture are at risk because they are teens.

But even that is too pro-gay for Focus.

Honestly though – are you really surprised? The hypocrisy that abounds in that group knows no limits.

All behavioral science involving humans finds correlations, not causation.

Neurological theory associated with adolescent development and the pairing behavior of females suggests that early sexual experiences for women are less satisfying and more unstable. Such experiences could trigger depressive episodes in girls with genetic and environmental “loading” for depression.

Body awareness for males is less necessary for sexual satisfaction in adolescence than it is for females.

Adolescent girls seem more vulnerable to coercive sex (date rape) than adolescent boys.