When you write an article about homosexuality, there is no need to come up with a clever first sentence to catch people’s attention—the word itself is enough.
It already carries a tremendous amount of emotional baggage.
The term may conjure feelings of pain for people who have been ostracized or otherwise wounded on account of their sexual orientation.
Maybe the feeling is hate, or different kinds of fear: fear of the so-called homosexual agenda and fear of being found out.
Homosexuality has often been discussed in two spheres: the political, in debates about same-sex marriage and homosexual parenting, and the religious. Often the two overlap or motivate the other.
Sometimes there is a near militant atmosphere in the lines drawn during these discussions.
Our own campus certainly functions this way. Liberal groups view moral and religious objections to homosexuality as an affront to personal freedom and identity, a bigoted sort of bullying.
Sometimes, that is true. I think of Brother Jed spewing derogatory terms on the South Oval while touting the fake skull of “Chad, the homosexual, who is now burning in hell”.
How do we respond to that? How do we divorce ourselves from unhealthy animosity while still having these sorts of discussions, or is the best tactic to be divorced from the discussions themselves?
Some of the animosity will be hard to lose.
Christians who believe in the Bible, for instance, adhere to a moral standard inherently opposed to the homosexual lifestyle. I think that biblical opposition to homosexuality, though, should not manifest itself in hate-filled hearts.
The Christian community is realizing exhortations against homosexuality do not exist in a vacuum; rather, they are cloaked in the command to “love your neighbor as yourself.”
There is sin in the Christian’s life, and they want to be healed, not hated. I think they should treat others accordingly.
There are groups dedicated to this perspective. One such organization is “First Stone Ministries”. If you are interested, they will be presenting tonight at 8 p.m. in the Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Meacham Auditorium. Former homosexuals will bring a talk on “relational wholeness” and sexual healing.
To many, this perspective is patronizing, perhaps inauthentic. Or maybe, who cares whether it’s sincere or not – it’s still opposed to human diversity and the freedom to be who you are”
Some in the Christian community have adopted this perspective. They seem to have swung the pendulum to the other end of the spectrum. Love now exists in a vacuum apart from biblical disapproval of homosexuality, and the love expressed is more rooted in the actions of 1960s activists, and less rooted in that of first-century carpenters.
Conversations between these groups (and others) are present now and guaranteed for the future. The push for gay rights and acceptance is constant, and admonitions against homosexuality remain written.
Hopefully, as those conversations arise on our campus, people will steer clear of the bitterness common to most of the many sides of the issue.
I hope that those conversations continue, however, because they are incredibly important. If homosexuality really is something to be embraced, those opposing it are committing grave errors.
If, however, homosexuality is actually a form of sexual brokenness, stifling those who say so prevents many from accepting truths that allow them to abandon certain lifestyles and enable them to maintain healthy, rewarding relationships.
— Trevor Clark, professional writing and religious studies junior
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cjmays 1 year, 2 months ago
Im outright disgusted, and offended that the daily would lend any mention of a reparative therapy group. People dont understand the horrible effects that such a program can have, namely that several participants have committed suicide after attending the guilt laced seminars. Homosexuality is in no way an illness or form of brokenness. I dont know who you are Trevor, but you should feel ashamed for plugging this event.
MRambrose 1 year, 2 months ago
Your closing line is so sweet. You really care about me having rewarding relationships! Don't worry. I'm having healthy rockin' lez sex and have a multitude of crazy awesome relationships (I'm nonmonogamous and polyamorous too!)! In fact, I'm pretty sure a relationship with you would be most unrewarding. But maybe I should try it, since it sounds like being straight might really help me out! What are you doing this weekend? ;)
thedelphicbee 1 year, 2 months ago
I honestly appreciate that you do not want to be hateful and bitter towards glbt but there is still a problem here.
Firstly, something many Christians seem to want to ignore, this country is a democratic republic, not a theocracy. Laws should not be passed in accordance to anyone's religious beliefs this is unconstitutional. It was deists who founded us, and deist philosophers that inspired it.
Secondly, "former homosexuals" this is a little unsettling to me. You can not turn a gay man straight just as you cant turn a straight man gay. Yet when people are brought up in an environment where being gay is an abomination and people seem to treat it like the more they ostracize people the more service they're doing to their lord, its assimilate or die. Can you imagine growing up with shame and self hatred because you had no support? That you must either lie to yourself and everyone for the rest of your life or in many cases never see your friends and family again? These people don't need to be "healed" they are who they are. I guess Im one of those people who find it patronizing, inauthentic and that it is opposed to diversity and the freedom to be who you are right?
Are you seeing now why people like me are so bitter toward this stance? No one knows whose religious views are correct. No one. That is why it's called faith. When you make statements like my religion is absolute and anyone who doesn't fit into that mold needs to change or gtfo, it's just not cool. Besides the fact that many christians seem to treat the bible like a buffet selecting which rules to follow and which to not.
Finally Christ himself never said anything about gays. Christ was actually pretty liberal. In a time when women weren't allowed to hear sermons he was not only letting them hear but teaching them. He was fine with people of differing religious backgrounds as seen in Luke 9:50. Some even go as far as to say he might have studied with Buddhist monks and Brahmin priests. Not too much of a stretch with his methods of teaching in parables and that many of the things he said often reflected eastern philosophies. So maybe your first century carpenter was more loving and accepting than you think.
I'm wondering what grave errors I'm committing? And why you feel homosexual relationships cant be healthy or rewarding?
jsnodg 1 year, 2 months ago
Trevor. Hey man. You and I have spoken in person about theology and such in person, so I had to read your article. As you may have guessed, I do not agree with the position you present and I will explain why, but first man I just wanted to say hello. When I contemplate the Christian approach to homosexuality and listen to you plugging that shmuck from Stoner ministries, I have to pause and regain my composure as it infuriates me to hear such ignorance purported uunder the flag of Christian belief structure.
You say in your article that "Christian who beleive in the bible (like there are christian who dont) adhere to a moral standard inherently opposed to homosexual lifestyles" and go on to say that opposition should not manifest in the hatefilled hearts. However it is the hate that manifests the opposition my friend, not the other way around. Hateful people are the bread and butter to homosexual lifestyles and the hateful are often Christians passing judgement and casting the first stone. You're right that Christians need to be healed and not hated, but their ability to apply the golden rule has been long lost.
I remind you that you are still drawing credibility and "moral guidance" from a book, god, mesiah, and prophets shared by child molesters, sex offendors, killers, mass murderers, dictators, colonialists, rapists, and worse. You are already lumped in with people who justify the violation of children--and the subsequent coverups-- with the bible and beleif in Jesus. Sure there is sin out there, but who someone sleep next to at night is hardly something you should bother with, leave it god and it will be left alone. I just want to point out that presently there are over 450,000 species on earth-including humans- the exhibit homosexuality as a genetic mutation no different than being left handed. Science has dispoven the christian perspective that homosexuality is a poor choice on the part of the person.
jsnodg 1 year, 2 months ago
(Cont'd) Now I know how you Christians are about being quoted and having someone "interpret" what you say, but you say-and I quote- "If homosexuality is actually a form of sexual brokeness, stifling those who say so prevents many from accepting TRUTHS that allow them to abandon certain lifestyles and enable them to maintain healthy, rewarding relationships" First, homosexuality is not brokeness nor choice (it could only be one or the other anyway). Second, there is no evidence that what you spew is any more "true" than Dr. Seuss or Alice in Wonderland, so don't hide behind that "the truth the way" crap. It petty and makes your arguement structurally unsound. Lastly, you comments suggests that homosexuals are incapable of maintaining healthy and rewarding relationships, and that is something that is both untrue and judgemental and perhaps you should reevaluate your own Christain morality before you make agregious alegations against the gay community or any other human being for that matter. Your ignorance, and the probable denial of your ignorance is a bane to Christian morality and both deserve much more attention than the arguement against homosexuality that you present here or may be ppresented by your plugged speaker
sniferriple 1 year, 2 months ago
I cannot believe the Daily would publish an article that endorsed reparative therapy for homosexuals. There is working to be fair and present a wide spectrum of opinions; and then there is endorsing dubious practices that have ruined as many lives as they have "saved."
Awesome comments, by the way. Proof that this can be discussed without bitterness.
sexuallybrokenlulz 1 year, 2 months ago
It's unbelievable that the Daily would publish this. Yes, rejecting this column would 'stifle' those who believe that an entire segment of the OU population is sexually broken and can't have healthy relationships, but some beliefs don't deserve our attention. Would the Daily have printed a column by someone who thinks that the Japanese are getting what they deserve because of Pearl Harbor?
sandra 1 year, 2 months ago
Probs closeted.
jmstamand 1 year, 2 months ago
"I'm Trevor Clark. Hey! I know what I really want to say to the world today. I want to tell those annoying pro-LGBTQ people how annoying they are, and that's how I know I'm right and they're wrong. Because when people from my religion try to tell them what to do and how to act all the time, sometimes they get mad! I wish they could see it from my perspective, where hate and bigotry over matters of sexual identity is something I can comfortably distance myself from, because it is not part of my daily life. They take it so personally when I intrude into their personal lives from time to time and tell them their feelings are wrong and their relationships with their loved ones don't mean as much as my relationships with my loved ones! It sure is great to be white, straight, Christian, and male, because that means I get to tell everyone else how to behave whenever I feel like it. It sure is great to be me, Trevor Clark! Hey. I bet all the gays reading this will, like, suddenly realize how wrong their feelings are, because I, Trevor Clark, told them that it is wrong to be angry about all this homosexuality nonsense. Maybe they will come be Christians with me and help me vote for taking more rights away from minorities! That would be awesome and cool for me, Trevor Clark. It would really make me fulfilled as a person. I'm glad I'm so rational and know all the right answers. I'm glad I have discussions with myself, like this one, featuring me, Trevor Clark."
annika 1 year, 2 months ago
lol "former homosexuals"
dykasaurus 1 year, 2 months ago
Yay for Lez sex! If I'm broken then I don't wanna be fixed!!!
braceyourself 1 year, 2 months ago
Keep to the topic, lose the bitterness?
How about you keep to your own life/sexuality and lose the self-righteous control of other people, Trevor?
braceyourself 1 year, 2 months ago
So tell me. If you're really interested in promoting dialogue, why is it that you find time to plug the program that's trying to give people "freedom from homosexuality," but you didn't mention EVEN ONE of the MANY, MANY amazing events that LGBT students organize?
oudaily99 1 year, 2 months ago
Sexual "brokenness"? What a joke. I mean, oh, how NOBLE of you. Thank you SO much for having COMPASSION. It should be pretty obvious to most people by now that sexual orientation is a spectrum, where absolutely exclusive attraction to one sex is highly unlikely, even in people whose attitudes are absolutely polarized. Yes, Trevor, you and everyone else are almost surely "bisexual," in the sense that you are to some degree sexually attracted to both sexes. You may have a strong preference for one, but what is important is that you understand how attraction works, because that is the key to understanding why the terms "straight" and "gay" are misleading and why any model of sexual "brokenness" is just nonsense.
Soonergirl45 1 year, 2 months ago
Trevor: Great article!! I'm so excited for tonight!!
Most people who claim to be Christians do in fact pass judgement and have hate filled hearts. The point of this ministry is to love ALL people no matter what. When I chose to put my faith in God, I declared that I would love all people. Not all people think this way. Every Christian does not think this way and it is truly said that our world is like this but you cannot pass judgment on ALL Christians because of what SOME Christians do. And is very ignorant of you jsnodg to lump us all together.
cjmays: Homosexuality is a form of spiritual/sexual brokenness and the point of this event is to get people away from harming and bullying homosexuals but loving them for who they are. It's for people who may be struggling with it to help them and support them...finally you're dumb!!!
thedelphicbee: The Bible specifically says in 1 Conrinthians 6:9-10 that homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of God. Pretty much all religions except for Christianity don't even make sense!! They don't line up with history and what makes anyone think that they can earn their way into Heaven by doing good works. You can't!! We're all human and we're all sinners!!! We can never repay Christ for what He did for us.
mustafa 1 year, 2 months ago
So Daily Staff - Is there some reason that your doing your job on the page that deals with bundles of wood and not the ones that deal with sharp/stiles?
You're the ones that have publish 4 opinions on the subject in 5 days. Do I need to come down there watch to faculty adviser get all nervous, again?
You are all acting awfully queer all of a sudden. Have you run out of K-Y Jelly. Do your freakin jobs.
MRambrose 1 year, 2 months ago
Soonergirl, the event was not to "accept" homosexuality. Its speakers were with an ex-gay ministries. Telling queers that they are sexually broken and need to realize that they can be straight is NOT support. That entire event was a huge bully sesh.
tannerblair 1 year, 2 months ago
You are right. The bible condemns it. It even does so twice. That's almost half as many times as it says that you aren't allowed to cut your hair. To help out all you biblical literalists, I've compiled this conversion chart:
2.5 haircuts = being homosexual 2 tattoos = being homosexual 1 piece of bacon = being homosexual 1.5 thefts = being homosexual
So if you are gay and you are worried about God's judgement just skip a few haircuts, stop eating bacon, and you'll be back in the shepherd's fold in no time. Good Luck!
SoonerforTruth 1 year, 2 months ago
I have no choice of being gay. Trust me. I spent 3 years in Christian Counseling to "fix" it.
I used to know "Reformed Homosexuals" and "Straight Camp" attendees. Now a few years later, I know those same men as "Reformed Reformed Homosexuals" and victims of suicide.
Your "Evangelism" did this.
Thanks Trevor.
squirrelly 1 year, 2 months ago
I generally try to steer clear of debates like this because I figure that no amount of arguing will make people with perspectives as different as yours and mine see eye to eye--because you're right, debates like this one do stir up a lot of bitterness. I don't think you really understand just how much bitterness, because it shocked me that you could talk about that and then go on to say that my relationship isn't "healthy" or "rewarding" just because it happens to be lesbian. I've been with my fiancee for almost two years now and I am still absolutely thrilled at the idea of spending the rest of my life with her. She saved my life and I've never been happier; I don't know where I would be without her. I guess if I was a man saying all this then it would be wonderful, but somehow just because I have a vag, I must secretly be miserable?
Sorry, but if you seriously thought that you were talking about this issue in a reasonable way which would not incite bitterness, you failed.
GlorytoGod 1 year, 2 months ago
Don't you realize that this is not the way to live? Unjust people who don't care about God will not be joining in his kingdom. Those who use and abuse each other, use and abuse sex, use and abuse the earth and everything in it, don't qualify as citizens in God's kingdom. A number of you know from experience what I'm talking about, for not so long ago you were on that list. Since then, you've been cleaned up and given a fresh start by Jesus, our Master, our Messiah, and by our God present in us, the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Well said Soonergirl45
squirrelly 1 year, 2 months ago
@GlorytoGod See, this is what I'm talking about, about the 'no amount of arguing'... I don't understand how I am an unjust person or how I am abusing anything (let alone everything!), and frankly I don't care about getting in to (your) God's kingdom. I can't understand how people like you think at all. But I guess you can't understand how I think either.
awesome 1 year, 1 month ago
Trevor, thank you for writing this article. The people making the not so nice comments to this article are being as intolerant as they CLAIM Trevor is being, which seems a little inconsistent. Admit it or not people are broken in this area of life (let's face it, we're all broken people in our own areas) and it needs to be addressed and if these people at First Stone believe what they are saying they would be evil not to address it. Good job Trevor.