Posted on 03/22/2011 9:18:13 AM PDT by greatdefender
"There's an app for that."
The catchphrase coined by Apple and their advertising gurus to sell iPhones and iPads has become so ubiquitous that it's even been parodied on Sesame Street. Still, few would have ever thought that the tech giant—which, like many other Silicon Valley concerns, boasts a progressive profile on many cultural issues, and extends domestic-partner benefits to gay and lesbian employees—would condone an app that purports to "cure" homosexuality. It would seem an even greater stretch for Apple and company founder and CEO Steve Jobs to make such an application available through its iTunes store.
Yet the app—by a ministry group called Exodus International—is right there, along the thousands of other iPhone apps available to plugged in Apple users. And this appears to be the point at which many of Apple's cultish fans—including plenty of gay activists—are drawing the line. No, they say: There's not actually an app for that.
The Exodus ministry seeks to promote the "ex-gay" movement—promulgating the testimony of people who claim to have been cured of homosexuality through Christ. The target audience for the smart-phone app, its makers say, are "homosexual strugglers." The idea is to teach gay people that they have a choice when it comes to their sexuality, a choice to choose "freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus."
Of course, providing a tech platform for a particular spiritual or ideological movement doesn't signify an endorsement of its point of view. At the same time, however, as Gawker's Ryan Tate noted during an earlier controversy over a gay-themed app, "every time Apple approves an app, it implies moral endorsement of the
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
“Where the confusion stems, I believe, is that many mean the behaviour is a choice, not the same-sex-attraction”
I can accept that. These conversations frequently devolve into silly arguments due mainly to misunderstandings. When it starts getting rude, I generally shut up and go away. I don’t worry enough about the subject to want to fight about it.
Yep - it's called desensitization.
Yes. Good friends of mine who had relationships with women; met some new friends. Both ended their relationships and ended up with boys. One is still with the same guy; the other regrets giving up the girl (she was a great gal with money), lives alone and has guys moving in and out ever couple of months.
Cureable? If everyone had stayed in the closet, these guys would be married with kids. Would they go back? Probably not; but could, I think.
Current research suggests that the moment of choice is not always a conscious one. What straight guy is going to admit that he chose being straight; that would mean he’d have to admit he considered being a homo. WHo would admit that?
Your friends are or were most likely bi-sexual.
“Bisexual” and “homosexual” are made-up terms for the purposes of forming a class.
No one is born one way or the other; sexuality is socialized behavior, subject to environmental influences. Theoretically we could all be taught to be one way or the other (and there are societies, e.g., ancient Greece, where this was the case). My friends were socialized to be heterosexuals but open to experimentation. They weren’t born “bisexual,” “heterosexual” or otherwise. They switched from one socialized preference to another; but for the acceptance of homosexuality and a more welcoming society, these guys would not be practicing homosexuals today.
The US is a presumed heterosexual society. The presumption is that we are all going to be straight: our parents, family, friends, acquaintences assume as much from the day that we’re born. We therefore all start as straight; that’s why you don’t hear of anyone choosing to be straight, because for all intents and purposes, we’re all “born” straight. When environmental forces (conscious or not) change our socialized preference, that’s when people become/choose homosexuality, bisexuality, etc....
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The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried. - G. K. Chesterton
Oh I agree with you but my post was in response to a post that claimed that simply being exposed to the Word would cure or keep someone from becoming gay.
My own view is that it's a fetish, much like any other, and that it is very strong. I don't suppose that anybody makes single decision at any point in time to suddenly acquire some fetish (like... say... feet). But I don't think people are born with intact fetishes either. I think it's the result of a long process of both conscious and unconscious conditioning of the mind, over a lifetime.
It's not that people "choose" to favor boobs and some favor butts. Or that anyone "chooses" to be into bondage or whatever else turns them on. But over time, those things have developed and formed into a set of preferences. And fetishes do evolve over time, and can diminish in favor of something totally different.
Easily? Who said anything about degree of difficulty?
Do you have a narrative that requires that jump?
I have never read anyone but a novice say fighting sin personally or otherwise was easy.
abnormal behavior.
see prison population behavior.
can a thief stop stealing? that behavior changes.
It is really simple. One behavior is biologically normal and produces results which society rewards.
The other does nothing for society.
A “cure” for homosexuality... not quite what folks want to think. While I believe homosexuality is a “disease” - it really is a choice.
Just as true alcoholics have a disease - but can be “cured” - its all about DECISIONS.
I’m not familiar with the organization that put out the app in question, but in my own views (and I believe they are biblical)- People are “born” with all sorts of proclivities (Gods’ word says ALL have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God). For some, the tendency is towards addictive behavior (sex, drugs, alcohol, etc.). For others, it may be towards specific and unnatural sexual attractions (homosexuality, masochism, etc.). As well - some may be inclined to steal... and so-on. But God’s word doesn’t distinguish, except that ALL sin is to be rejected - put off with the “old man”. God WILL give the strength and ability to stop such sinful behavior if one truly desires to be obedient and free from the horrible burden that sin causes. Practicing homosexual have access to the exact same grace that everyone else is - we just have to accept it and “put off” the old sin.
Life is all about decisions. Really - the only difference between homosexuality and most other sins identified in God’s Word - Few cities were destroyed primarily because of one identified sin (though Sodom and Gomorrah were filled w/sin - the homosexual mobs just were the most visible and obvious outward sign).
And regardless of the terminology used - any group that has a goal of helping people to make better/the right choices in life is a good thing.
This is where we find out how gay the Apple org is. Whether they will cave into gay morons and their fellow travelers. My bet is they will. Gay bois are Apple fanbois
The post you responded to (#17) said nothing of the kind.
You made that up in order to justify the response you wanted to make which you knew wouldn't quite fit.
Your anecdote about two people who chose sin over the Bible is hardly anything new or surprising. What is new is the scramble in America to openly mock the Bible and sin twenty four hours a day. Twisting the Bible or the words of those who refer to the Bible is standard modern liberal behavior as I am sure you well know.
I am sorry the two people made the wrong choice even after hearing the truth but indulgence in sin is what this culture preaches; a trend that was specifically warned about for fifty years by conservatives who believed the Bible.
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