It's clear that Dr. Adams has not researched the field very much. This issue is not a new one to counseling.
For example, and I'm simplifying things here and am not a mental-health professional myself, when Emory University found that traumatic events of childhood could result in different brain chemistry for adults (i.e., molested girls growing into women with PTSD had different brain chemistry), it demonstrated that we're not just "blank slates" upon which our thoughts are drawn. And many psychologists were against publicizing the research, saying, "this will take away hope from women who might be able to make some progress in therapy." Meanwhile, psychiatrists said that it would be important to let these women know, because they wouldn't beat themselves up as much for slow progress in therapy.
The State of Georgia is attempting to do no less than force a student to articulate a position that has been empirically falsified; namely, that the genetic influence upon homosexuality is so complete as to nullify free will.
Dang, Dr. Adams does write some good things sometimes, but then he acts like a freshman who's never had a logic or science course.
Is he wholly unaware of things that occur in the womb?!? Does he not realize that testosterone differences to fetuses can change their development?!? And there are even post-natal environmental conditions such as parental and sibling interactions that can't be said to be free will unless we're going to hold a newborn infant responsible for his whole life.
"If it's not genetics, it has to be free will" is a most ridiculous vie, and extremely disturbing, given he's a criminology professor and should know better. Dang, UNCW is an excellent school, in my opinion, but this is highly disturbing. Whether one agrees or disagrees with his end opinion, his reasoning to get where he is...is faulty.
Are you seriously implying homosexuals have no free will? Do you believe it’s impossible for a homosexual to change?
Listen, we’re all tempted to do all manner of harmful, aka sinful, things. I’m heterosexual. Surprisingly enough, I somehow remain faithful to my wife in spite of my heterosexual tendencies and the general availability of other women. I have the FREE WILL to resist temptation. That’s fundamental Christian thought. Not only that, but it’s reality. No one has to act on their temptations.
Personally, I think gender is far more mutable than most people are willing to admit. Men who would probably never engage in sodomy in free life apparently enjoy buggering their cellmates in prison. Either they were all born with homosexual tendencies, or they adapted to their environment.
I assume that means that it could cause changes in brain chemistry but that it could also NOT cause changes in brain chemistry which lead to PTSD. Why would it cause changes in some but not others? Could it be the totality of the experience including previously learned values and attitudes?
Regardless, if an event can cause a reaction that changes brain chemistry can't future events change brain chemistry also? Cannot sound reasoning which puts that event into prospective with other values also change brain chemistry? If the change requires a shot of adrenaline, as happened the first time, then that also can be emotionally induced. Is a change in brain chemistry a one-time thing?
As with most things, Scripture speaks to this issue. Forgiving the perp often negates the harm. Putting ones life completely in God's hands will also do the trick. Does that change brain chemistry?
Bottom line, I disagree with the existentialists theory that we are unchangeable, that we are what we are and that is the end of it. Years ago I read B.F. Skinner's book Beyond Freedom and Dignity which espouses that theory. If true, why try to achieve anything? Why punish people for anything? Why give kids grades? Why keep score in games? If the desire is to take meaning from life then it is a good theory. It is all part of the long term goal of acclimating the masses to state control by killing the spirit.
I agree with Mike Adams.
Interesting. So, you believe that homos have no more hope of changing than pedophiles?
We either have free will, or we are nothing but animals. The two positions are comprehensive and mutually exclusive.
That doesn’t mean that the temptations that we are subject to are exactly the same for all of us.