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As I have already said, because there are no other forces pushing the person toward the latter.

And you know this, how? ...exactly?

The problem is that I was not utilizing formal logic, but informal logic.

Umm... There's no such thing. There's logic and there's illogic. What you call "informal logic" is a collection of unsubstantiated generalizations and personal assertions.

That's not logic, informal or otherwise.

I do know. They're almost exclusively Christian, usually fundamentalist.

...or are you making assumptions again?

The rest of your post is one big ad hominem (a mild version of which sparked your outrage), probably showing something about yourself. I hate to say it, but you argue like a liberal.

No, not really. I don't know you personally. You may be a reasonably nice guy, for all I know. I'm simply pointing out the gaping holes in your reasoning. I honestly hope to persuade you to think about the subject more thoroughly, since you clearly haven't done so.

I happen to believe those who say they've overcome their homosexuality and changed. My reason for believing that is that I have personally witnessed similar, to-the-core changes in the character and personality of people I personally know. I don't question their motives, nor does it even matter. I have witnessed it with my own eyes and ears, and it's very much real.

I know a man who has changed from a chain-smoking, belligerant, MEAN jerk into a kind, wise, caring and happy person who is a pleasure to be around. I have watched filthy, stoned, single-minded addicts become intelligent, hard-working, responsible people. There are too many examples of such changes in my memory to ever list, or to ever deny.

So, when a man with nothing to sell me is telling me he has overcome his homosexuality, I tend to believe him. At the very least, I know it's possible.

Umm... There's no such thing. There's logic and there's illogic. What you call "informal logic" is a collection of unsubstantiated generalizations and personal assertions.

Obviously, you have done nothing even remotely resembling logic, even as you were telling me to do so. You would have known what informal logic is. It's formal logic when (1) the conclusion follows with certainty and it (2) adds no new information. Everything else is informal logic. You're making quite a show out here, by making the claims you do, about subject matters that you have a modesty of knowledge.

I'll get back to respond to the rest of your post, it is quite amusing to have a discussion with you, but I felt the need to get this exceedingly preposterous point out of the way.l

Wow. Would you kindly point me to your exhaustive study or survey by which you came to this conclusion? Only by talking to all of them could you reasonably conclude that "They're almost exclusively Christian." You must have spent a number of years interviewing reformed homosexuals. I'd love to read up on your research.

Not exactly. I do know that most of these groups are ministries, religious therefore.

I'm simply pointing out the gaping holes in your reasoning. I honestly hope to persuade you to think about the subject more thoroughly, since you clearly haven't done so.

You didn't point out any hole, let alone a gaping one. It seemed as if you were merely expressing your own frustration - a reaction people often have when they try engage me. And that's why I enjoy these debates so much.

I happen to believe those who say they've overcome their homosexuality and changed. My reason for believing that is that I have personally witnessed similar, to-the-core changes in the character and personality of people I personally know.

Perhaps, but homosexuality is not a character and personality issue. While those can be somehow molded, it's far more difficult to affect something like one's sexual orientation. Do you think you can make yourself attracted to men? I don't think so.

I know a man who has changed from a chain-smoking, belligerant, MEAN jerk into a kind, wise, caring and happy person who is a pleasure to be around.

You mean he's not a chain-smoker anymore? That's a shame. Did you cause that?