Mr. “Not a Scientist” said he values substantive information, not vague claims or opinions. To accomodate, I’m offering a few selected resources.
Jeffrey Satinover, a psychiatrist who is a graduate of MIT, Harvard, and the University of Texas and has lectured at both Yale and harvard, reports some of the medical harm that is typically associated with male homosexual practice:
- A twenty-five to thirty-year decrease in life expectancy
- Chronic, potentially fatal, liver disease — infectious heptatitis
- Inevitably fatal immune disease including associated cancers
- Frequently fatal rectal cancer
- Multiple bowel and other infectious diseases
- A much higher than usual incidence of suicide
Satinover also points out a significant contrast in the sexual behaviors of heterosexual and homosexual persons. Among heterosexuals, sexual faithfulness was relatively high: “90 percent of heterosexual women and more than 75 percent of heterosexual men have never engaged in extramarital sex.” But among homosexual men the picture is far different:
- A 1981 study revealed that only 2 percent of homosexuals were monogamous or semi-monogamous — generally defined as ten or fewer lifetime partners . . .
- A 1978 study found that 43 percent of male homosexuals estimated having sex with five hundred or more different partners . . . Seventy-nine percent said that more than half of these partners were strangers. (Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth by Jeffrey Satinover, Grand Rapids: Baker, 1996)
Society should encourage and reward marriage between one man and one woman. All societies need babies to survive, and Biblical marriage is the best environment for having babies. Societies should encourage an institution that provides this best kind of environment for raising children. A married man and woman raise and nurture children far better than any other human relationship or institution. The benefits that husband and wife (father and mother) bring to their children are numerous. Children who live with their own two traditionally-married parents:
- Have significantly higher educational achievement.
- Are much more likely to enjoy a better economic standard in their adult lives and are much less likely to end up in poverty.
- Have much better physical and emotional health.
- Are far less likely to commit crimes, are less likely to engage in alcohol and substance abuse, and are more likely to live according to higher standards of integrity and moral principles.
- Are less likely to experience physical abuse and more likely to live in homes that provide support, protection, and stability for them.
Children who live with their own two traditionally-married parents are more likely to establish stable families in the next generation. Traditional marriage:
- Provides a guarantee of lifelong companionship and care far better than any other human relationship or institution.
- Leads to a higher economic standard and diminished likelihood of ending up in poverty for men and women.
- Provides women with protection against domestic violence and abandonment far better than any other human relationship or institution.
- Encourages men to socially beneficial pursuits far better than any other human relationship or institution.
- Provides a healthy environment for sexual faithfulness (men and women have an innate instinct that values sexual faithfulness) far better than any other human relationship or institution.
- Provides greater protection against sexually transmitted diseases than any other relationship or institution.
- Honors the biological design of men’s and women’s bodies that argues that sexual intimacy is designed to be enjoyed between only one man and one woman. (The above is documented by Wayne Grudem in Politics According to the Bible (Zondervan, 2010, pp 224-225).
God created marriage between one man and one woman. We cannot change the “fit” and still call it marriage. Now, it is something else. Marriage is the building block of any stable society. Any society that wants to remain healthy and stable must have governments that encourage, protect, and reward marriage between one man and one woman. In turn, marriage and family give back to society in immeasureable ways.
There are countless resources for the curious. I value the following:
Joseph Nicolosi, President of the National Association for the Research and Treatment of Homosexuality
Exodus International, a ministry for those leaving the muck and mire of homosexuality and starting new lives
Stand to Reason, apologetics for both Christian and non-Christian
The Family Research Council (click on: “Marriage and Human Sexuality”)
Unwanted Harvest by Mona Riley and Brad Sargent
A Strong Delusion: Confronting the”Gay Christian” Movement by Joe Dallas
The Homosexual Agenda: Exposing the Principal Threat to Religious Freedom Today by Alan Sears and Craig Osten
My dear Linda,
Your cause is noble, your approach strong, your evidence sound and your heart pure. I just wonder why the friends that requested you write a letter to the editor so they could sign it did not all write one themselves. There is much more power in many than in one signed by many. Iowa (and Minnesota) people I know are articulate and have strong opinions, but too often expressed only in private. Many, too many people hide behind strength, seek resolution through others and look the other way when confronted with requirements to lead.
I’m sure you deal daily with this community shortcoming because being a target is no problem for you. Regretfully, we have a baby murdering congress, we have financial leaders with not a clue about economy, we have constant, persistent bombardment from every TV channel about how innocent gay is, we have a military that is fighting three wars with no goal to complete the missions, on and on and on. Why? Because the good people of Iowa and Minnesota and other states that should know better sit back and let it happen, even vote regularly to insure it will happen.
Whither courage about? You have it in spades!!
Enjoy your spring day.
Duane
I have a theory on this–some people are passionate but cannot speak up because their past will be revealed. Linda’s willingness to take the ‘heat’ and essentially represent men and women who cannot come forth is valuable and important. There are multiple reasons why people do not come forward and sign their name or make their views public but I think it all goes back to The Garden of Eden….it is shame and fear of judgement for past sins.
Praying for God’s healing and God’s grace to abound!
Love you, Linda!!!!
I am one of the many people who want to have my name signed with the editorial that will be printed in our newspaper. With all due respect, I don’t see it as hiding behind Linda (she is pretty awesome) so that she can be the target. I would gladly be the one to have the bull’s eye on my back on this one. I feel that the way in which Linda phrased and wrote the letter was so good, I just had to be a part of it.
Sorry, my husband did not write the above comment, it was me. Didn’t mean to put words into your mouth, dear! 🙂