A college psychology professor's observations about public policy, mental health, sexual identity, and religious issues
Wayne Besen is reporting that he will “debate” Michael Glatze and Charlene Cothran tonight on the Paula Zahn Now show at 8pm. I put debate in quotes because the format of the show rarely allows much time for any substantial give and take — mostly sound bites and zingers. But it might make Crossfire fans yearn for the return of the show.
UPDATE: TWO is now reporting that the segment has been cancelled or postponed.
Today’s WorldNetDaily carries an article and column featuring Michael Glatze, who describes a religious conversion that he says has led to sexual conversion as well.
Glatze says a 2005 appearance with Judy Shepard stimulated reflection that led to an evaluation of his life. While it will be tempting for those opposed to homosexuality to generalize Mr. Glatze’s experience, I hope they will resist it (apparently WND already has done so). I also hope pro-gay proponents will not savage the man for his sharp words about homosexuality. Inasmuch as he generalizes his experience to all gays, that will be unfortunate. At the same time, whatever happened in his life, he suggests again that religious devotion can stimulate rather huge shifts in a person’s beliefs, values, and behavior. I know nothing about Mr. Glatze beyond this article, although I suspect we may be hearing more about him in the coming days.
Wednesday June 27, at 8pm (est), Paula Zahn will examine changes in attitudes among people doing sexual identity therapy and ministry. I was interviewed for this segment as was Alan Chambers. Not sure what the exact focus will be. But the Zahn website has this brief description:
Wednesday’s show
Boys who want to be girls… women who want to be men.. and gays who want to be straight! Uncovering changing attitudes and changing lifestyles, this Wednesday on “Paula Zahn NOW,” 8 p.m. ET.
UPDATE: Apparently it is a kind of GLB-fest today on CNN with several segments devoted to research about causes and change of sexuality. Here is a segment that was posted today online. Douglas Abbott takes the environmental view. You can read more about his views here.
Stephen Bennett weighs in on the recent LA Times article and CNN appearance of Alan Chambers.
Stephen takes issue with suggestions from Al Mohler and others that biological factors may be involved in homosexuality:
There is ZERO biological, scientific “evidence” for homosexuality to this date. The biblical evidence for homosexuality is very clear: it’s sin.
Ominously, he declares:
“What we see here is the public divide of the pro-family movement.”
Well, since he brought it up…
I think there have been some significant tensions among social conservatives that may be a part of the broader development of evangelicalism. Of late, divides have occured over environmental policy and abortion. I think we are seeing tensions now over sexuality.
The San Francisco Chronicle has been criticized from all sides due to its recent article on adoptions. Today the paper ran a revised correction that puts some distance between Paul Cameron and Focus on the Family. It reads:
CLARIFICATION: In an article that ran on Page 1 on Monday about San Francisco’s campaign to get more gays and lesbians to adopt foster children — as well as an opposing evangelical campaign led by Focus on the Family to get more Christian families to adopt — the Chronicle quoted Paul Cameron, director of the Family Research Institute. The article should have noted that Cameron, who believes gays make unfit parents and self-published dozens of articles he said were based on his research, was expelled from the American Psychological Association in 1983 when he refused to subject his work to peer review. The article also should have reported that his Family Research Institute was named a hate group in 2006 by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Writings by Cameron, who split with Focus on the Family many years ago, are still relied on by many conservative Christians.