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Homosexuality: chosen or determined?
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Homosexuality: chosen or determined? A Presbyterian elder and
neuroscientist offers clarification of interpretations of Robert
Spitzer's Wall Street Journal article of last May.
[1-15-02]
Craig E. Tenke, Ph. D. is
a Presbyterian elder in Center Moriches, NY, and a neuroscientist at the
NYS Psychiatric Institute, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, NYC
He
submitted this essay to PresbyWeb in December, 2001, in response to
considerable discussion of the the article published in the Wall
Street Journal by Robert L. Spitzer on May 23, 2001, which was
interpreted by some as claiming that homosexuality is chosen rather than
determined by genetic and other factors.
This was first published on PresbyWeb
on 10-20-01.
Dr. Temke has shared it with us
in the hope that it may help inform the discussion of Amendment 01-A in
the weeks ahead.
A dangerous misstatement:
What
Spitzer did not say
by Craig E. Tenke
After the hideous events
of September 11, we were confronted by a direct experience of the unity,
respect, and cooperation that God intended for us. Out of respect for us
all, many of us have postponed our comments about our denomination's
controversies. However, on Oct 18, Rev.
Crawford
posted a dangerous misstatement of a study from my own institution.
Since I've seen this error repeated in different forms a number of
times, I felt compelled to respond.
Using Dr.
Spitzer's Wall Street Journal piece on sexual orientation as a
reference, Rev Crawford insists, "Homosexuality is not a genetic
fact. It is a mental choice." While I am certain that these
statements accurately reflect HIS impressions and feelings, neither of
these assertions are supported by the work he alludes to. Dr. Spitzer
was not saying this at all, but rather that the OPPOSITE position was
NOT NECESSARILY TRUE. He was looking for evidence of an unorthodox,
unexplored possibility of change in SOME PATIENTS.
For a more
precise interpretation, Dr. Spitzer has graciously supplied me with the
following paragraph from the discussion section of the complete paper,
which is now being reviewed by a professional journal:
"The
results reported here, that some individuals with a homosexual
orientation can change their sexual orientation, could be misused by
those who oppose the full integration of gay men and lesbians into the
mainstream of American society. For this reason, it should be emphasized
that the study in no way justifies coercive treatment. Furthermore, the
study provides no support for the notion that homosexual orientation is
a matter of choice or that any gay man or lesbian can change if
motivated enough. Nor does it show that the potential benefits of
undergoing sexual reorientation therapy, even for the highly motivated
gay man or lesbian, outweigh the potential harm. The risk-benefit can
only be answered by future research."
The BIGGEST
controversy arising from Spitzer's report has nothing to do with its
unorthodox nature, its technical or theoretical quality, its science, or
its reproducibility. The empirical method of science will ultimately
decide all of these in time. The real controversy is a purely political
one, as evidenced by "inferences" such as those made by Rev.
Crawford.
I trust that
no matter how each delegate votes on Amendment 01 A, that they will not
be distracted by rumor, misinformation, or coercion. Instead, let us
remain focused on Christ.
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Visit
our lively
new website! |
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GA actions
ratified (or not) by the presbyteries
A number of the most important actions of the 219th
General Assembly have now been acted upon by the presbyteries,
confirming most of them as amendments to the PC(USA) Book of Order.
We provided resources to help inform the
reflection and debate, along with updates on the voting.
Our three areas of primary interest have been:
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Amendment 10-A,
which removes the current ban on
lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender persons being considered as
possible candidates for ordination as elder or ministers.
Approved! |
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Amendment 10-2,
which would add the Belhar Confession to our Book of
Confessions. Disapproved, because as an amendment
to the Book of Confessions it needed a 2/3 vote, and did not
receive that. |
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Amendment
10-1, which adopts the new Form of Government
that was approved by the Assembly. Approved. |
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If you like what
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Some blogs worth visiting |
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PVJ's
Facebook page
Mitch Trigger, PVJ's
Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where
Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and
views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both
personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!
You can post your own news and views,
or initiate a conversation about a topic of interest to you. |
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Voices of Sophia blog
Heather Reichgott, who has created
this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:
After fifteen years of scholarship
and activism, Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the
voices of feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy,
students, exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers
and devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God
in whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God
through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through
articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and
thoughtful community. |
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John Harris’ Summit to
Shore blogspot
Theological and philosophical
reflections on everything between summit to shore, including
kayaking, climbing, religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology,
politics, culture, travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New
York City and the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive
New York City Presbyterian Pastor. John is a former member of the
Witherspoon board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian
Church in Flushing, NY. |
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John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive
A Presbyterian minister, currently
serving as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton,
Tenn., blogs about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized
and disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and
lightening up. |
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Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
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