Selling Homosexuality to America

CBN ^ | 7/11/03 | Craig von Buseck

[apackof2]

Selling Homosexuality to America

By Craig von Buseck
CBN.com Producer

In this exclusive interview, Paul Rondeau talks about his in-depth study, Selling Homosexuality to America, which was recently published in the Regent Law Review.

CBN.com – In his recent study, Selling Homosexuality to America, marketing expert Paul Rondeau explains, "Among America's culture wars, one of today's most intense controversies rages around the issue alternatively identified, depending on one's point of view, as "normalizing homosexuality" or "accepting gayness." The debate is truly a social-ethical-moral conceptual war that transcends both the scientific and legal, though science and law most often are the weapons of choice. The ammunition for these weapons, however, is persuasion."

This article and interview explores how gay rights activists use rhetoric, psychology, and the media to frame what is discussed in the public arena -- and how it is discussed. "In essence," Rondeau points out, "when it comes to homosexuality, activists want to shape 'what everyone knows' and 'what everyone takes for granted' even if everyone does not really know and even if it should not be taken for granted."

"The first strategy of persuasion," he goes on to say, "is to establish a favorable climate for your message so that the communicator (marketer) can influence the future decision without even appearing to be persuading ... This is at the heart of the homosexual campaign: to get consent via social construct today to determine whose idea of personal freedoms will prevail in our legal codes tomorrow."

Paul Rondeau has been a senior sales and marketing management professional with industry leaders for over 25 years. He holds an M.A. in Management, with a specialty in persuasive communication. Currently, he is a doctoral student in communication studies with a focus in rhetoric and persuasion.

READ STUDY HERE

[PurVirgo]

Again, I find fault with your argument. Not too long ago, children born left handed were seen as either witches, evil, bad omen, whatever. If that were the case, why would God have created an innocent child to be judged so?

In Native American culture, a child born of blue eyes were also given the same status.

In my culture (Asian), a firstborn child that is femal brings shame into the family.

They are all based in ignorance. Of course God didn't create left handed babies, blue eyed children, or little girls for the express purpose of damnation. But

current thought at the time dictated that. Can you at least consider the possibility that the same is true of homosexuality?

[PurVirgo]

no, but he did say it so that we may be examples of His love.

[viaveritasvita]

>>"I can show people God's promises in return for a narrow path, but I can not force them down it. If I do, then I have destroyed any chance that I can be of help to them in the future. Does that make sense?"<<

It makes a lot of sense. But keep in mind that there may not be a "future" time when you can help someone in the right way. You can't force anyway to accept God and to choose the narrow path that Jesus has trod before us, but you can yell and scream and point and wave your hands and shoot off flares and bang on the door of their hearts and...well, you get the picture. Similar to what sweetliberty was saying earlier, you wouldn't let a man die in a burning house if you could do something (in fact, I venture to say you'd force him out of the house!!). Why should we do anything less when the man's soul is dying??

[sweetliberty]

" Can you at least consider the possibility that the same is true of homosexuality?"

No, and again the reason is simple. In all the cases that you sited, it was MAN'S sin that branded those children. GOD never said it was a sin ro be left-handed or blue-eyed or female. Those were all constructs of man, not God, and any child who suffered as a result of those wrongful judgements by men may well be redeemed by God. Homosexuality is different in that GOD says that it is sin and as such will be ultimately judged by God, regardless of what men say about it. In other words, no matter how many city spported "parades" they have, or how many books are written for children making it look like it is okay for Heather to have two Mommies, no matter how many churches decide to ordain practicing homosexuals, no matter how many "hate crimes" laws are passed and no matter how many Supreme Court decisions support homosexuality as a legitimate and Constitutionally protected lifestyle, it alters not the fact that God will condemn the unrepentant homosexual. We should do our best to obey the laws of the land, but when the law of the land is in direct conflict with the Law of God, our choice is clear:

" "We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name(Jesus), and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man's blood upon us." But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:28-29).

[I got the rope]

You made it sound as if Jesus said this as a prohibition against recognizing the faults of others. In reality Jesus was speaking against passing judgement in a spirit of arrogance and being forgetful of your own faults.

For example...if I were a sodomite...why would I condemn other sodomites when I too was involved in the same behavior.

[sweetliberty]

Oops...

ro = to
spported = supported

[Porterville]

I think this gay marriage thing may actually cause some type of civil war. If taxes are spent to fund homosexual civil unions in anyway, I can see people protesting the government outright by with holding taxes and other protest. Homosexuality slaps religion in the face, and state sponsorship is an attack on religion, that would trigger a backlash as like 1850s pre civil war era where politicians were afraid to breathe. Or perhaps this is the environment of the late 1820’s during the SCOTUS revolution of Marshall…it certainly feels that the SC believes it is the sole arbitrator of the law. I’m pretty moderate and the gays are pissing me off, so I don’t know what less tempered folks are thinking..

from:http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States Marshall delivered a number of opinions that they found uncongenial, strengthening the Judicial branch at the expense of the Executive branch and asserting the Court's monopoly on the interpretation of the Constitution

[PurVirgo]

because salvation is a personal choice. Besides, yelling and screaming may indeed reinforce their beliefs, turn them away when in fact that is not what we should want.

Don't you think it's presumptuous to beleive that you can save another man's soul? We can only show him the way - he alone must decide

[Porterville]

I don't think the gays care anymore, they've been so brain washed by the media some are actually seeking out the HIV virus... Maybe they need to be yelled at, I sure would hope someone would yell at me if I was heading for a cliff rather than worrying about making me cry, hell if I'm heading for a cliff, I'd hope to be shot in the leg and become lame, rather than fall on the jagged rocks covered in seagull crap below.

[PurVirgo]

so I don't see what the problem is. Clearly, you endeavor to obey His word, as do I. That's all that matters.

I don't mean this to sound callous, but that's it in a nutshell. All I can be is an example. I cannot save another man's soul, I can only lead him to the Truth. And even when he finds the Truth, it is by his choice.

But I still feel that homosexuality is not a choice.

THe fact that is recurs through generations, even with "enforced sterility", leads me to beleive that way.

[PurVirgo]

I never said that. Sure we recognize other peoples faults, but I don't think He wants us to judge them for it. See, when I'm judging you, I'm obviously not looking at my own faults. However, when I see a shortcoming in another person, then I must examine myself so that I don't have to be that way. People can be axamples, either positive or negative. Just as I learn from people how to act, I also learn from others how not to act. *LOL* My endeavor is to be a positive one, though.

[PurVirgo]

Why would they seek out HIV??

*befuddled look*

[sweetliberty]

"THe fact that is recurs through generations, even with "enforced sterility", leads me to beleive that way."

So do drunkeness and incest. Doesn't make them God given either.

[PurVirgo]

=) I can see that neither of us will give an inch on this subject. But that's okay. I've been there though, watching another person struggle with his sexuality. It's heartbreaking to see the internal struggle. What convinced me was that when he accepted his homosexuality, he was a new person. His confidence came back and most of his friends were still by his side. His family, well... they are back in his life now, after a few years of estrangement.

[sweetliberty]

"Why would they seek out HIV??"

Good question. Obvious answer: they're self-destructive.

Thousands purposefully seek AIDS each year, SF doctor says

[viaveritasvita]

Well, now we're getting into some deep theological questions -- whether salvation comes only through the work of the Holy Spirit (i.e. Calvinism, the elect) or whether we have some part in it (i.e. Armininism, we decide to repent) or whether there's some sort of cooperation. Free will or God's sovereignty/omniscience? Too much for a discussion in this forum, I think.

I hope I didn't give you the impression that I believe humans can "save." I don't believe that. I do believe, however, that the great commission requires us to preach the Gospel of Christ to the world. I believe that God is equally a God of holiness, justice, and love. (Yelling and screaming may just be a difference of approach and is not always necessary -- in the case of the burning building, you could, of course, just knock politely on the door and state quietly that the building is burning, perhaps you should get out.)

Here's what I believe in accordance with my study of the Bible. You may disagree with my approach.....

SODOMY IS A SIN AGAINST A HOLY GOD. IT'S AN ABOMINATION, UNNATURAL, AND PERVERTED. IT HAS BROUGHT DOWN NATIONS (ROME, GREECE, SODOM AND GOMORRAH, TO NAME A FEW) AND WILL BRING OURS DOWN IF WE DON'T STAND UP AGAINST IT.

If you are a sodomite (I don't necessarily mean you, purvirgo), I urge you to turn from this "lifestyle" and humble yourself, asking God to forgive you. If you refuse, don't flaunt your sin in front of me; stay away from my children; don't ask me to accept it; don't expect me to give you a pass or sanction it through the law/public schools/media/etc.

The Word of God is a red hot iron when it comes up against our treasured sins.

The choice is yours.

By the way, your screen name is interesting...I'm assuming you are announcing that you're a Virgo. Do you believe in astrology?

[Porterville]

It is a different world...

From: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/printer_friendly.asp?nid=17380

Bug Chasers

The men who long to be HIV+

Carlos nonchalantly asks whether his drink was made with whole or skim milk. He takes a moment to slurp on his grande Caffe Mocha in a crowded Starbucks, and then he gets back to explaining how much he wants HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. His eyes light up as he says that the actual moment of transmission, the instant he gets HIV, will be "the most erotic thing I can imagine." He seems like a typical thirty-two-year-old man, but, in fact, he has a secret life. Carlos is chasing the bug.

"I know what the risks are, and I know that putting myself in this situation is like putting a gun to my head," he says. Some of that mountain music that's so popular is playing, making the moment even more surreal as a Southern voice sings, "Keep on the sunny side of life" behind Carlos. "But I think it turns the other guy on to know that I'm negative and that they're bringing me into the brotherhood. That gets me off, too..... Click here for rest of article

[sweetliberty]

I had a friend quite a few years ago who was a lesbian. She was a member of our church and in a live-in relationship with another woman. She wanted to be a priest and came to the point where she broke off her relationship with her "partner" because she came to the conclusion that God condemned the practice of homosexuality. Her and I talked at some length about it. She still firmly believed that God had "made her that way" though she couldn't understand it, but also recognized acting on her inclinations to be a sin. It was a constant struggle for her, but she opted for celibacy rather than follow her desire to do what she knew to be wrong OR to seek to be heterosexual. I can't judge whether that is an acceptable option or not. That is ultimately between a person and God. But at least she confronted the issue rather than try to excuse wrong behavior by claiming "God made me this way."

[PurVirgo]

I agree with you everywhere, except that homosexuality is not a choice.

On a lighter topic - yes I'm a virgo. Also a cat lover, hence the Pur. As for do I beleive in it, I dunno. I had a natal chart performed, and I have to tell you, a lot of the info pegs me to a T. Does it control my life? Doubtful. I think it explains tendencies, personality quarks and the like. WHat about you?

[PurVirgo]

I forgot to thank you for keeping this thread and our comments. It's important that we are allowed to discuss our differences openly.