Tuesday, April 25, 2006
A little C.S. Lewis on theorizing
It's been awhile.
Re-reading Pilgrim's Regress by C.S. Lewis and came across this:
"Hypothesis, my dear young friend, establishes itself by a cumulative process: or to use popular language, if you make the same guess often enough, it ceases to be a guess and becomes a Scientific Fact."
This stated by Mr. Enlightenment to John the traveler who was looking for his Island (desire). I believe I could say this about a lot of theories but a regular reader will surmise that I might apply it to both reparative theory and to the direct biological theory of sexual attractions.
Re-reading Pilgrim's Regress by C.S. Lewis and came across this:
"Hypothesis, my dear young friend, establishes itself by a cumulative process: or to use popular language, if you make the same guess often enough, it ceases to be a guess and becomes a Scientific Fact."
This stated by Mr. Enlightenment to John the traveler who was looking for his Island (desire). I believe I could say this about a lot of theories but a regular reader will surmise that I might apply it to both reparative theory and to the direct biological theory of sexual attractions.
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Happy Easter
Easter meditations:
I've got my hand in redemption's side
Whose scars are bigger than these doubts of mine.
I'll fit all these monstrosities inside
And I'll come alive.
-the beautiful letdown, Switchfoot, 2004
I've been in trouble but I'm ok,
Been through the wringer but I'm ok,
Walls are falling and I'm ok,
Under the mercy and I'm ok.
-humans, Bruce Cockburn, 1980
He is risen.
-Matthew
I've got my hand in redemption's side
Whose scars are bigger than these doubts of mine.
I'll fit all these monstrosities inside
And I'll come alive.
-the beautiful letdown, Switchfoot, 2004
I've been in trouble but I'm ok,
Been through the wringer but I'm ok,
Walls are falling and I'm ok,
Under the mercy and I'm ok.
-humans, Bruce Cockburn, 1980
He is risen.
-Matthew
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
People are exercising their free speech rights: It is a beautiful thing
These pesky First Amendment guidelines about sexual orientation in the public schools just keep causing "trouble." Here is a two-part series with a bit of a fuss between Chad Thompson/me and Linda Harvey. I wonder if anyone will ever implement them?
Friday, April 07, 2006
Science behind the stereotypes?
Southern Voice article on gender atypical preferences and sexual orientation. I haven't read it closely as yet but it looked pretty balanced when I skimmed it.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Report: "Youth in the Crosshairs"
Blogger at Disputed Mutability has some thoughtful reactions to the NGLTF report about ex-gay ministries and youth. I concur with much of this. I have numerous problems with the report but not sure it is worth more scrutiny.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Update on PFOX's eviction from VSCA conference
PFOX released a statement today about the incident at the VA School Counselors Association conference.
On March 30, 2006, Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX) exhibited at the Virginia School Counselor Association (VSCA) annual conference. We exhibited for approximately three hours before the VSCA and the Holiday Inn Select/Koger South Conference Center in Richmond approached our booth and asked us to leave. The hotel offered us free lodgings if we would leave. We refused, citing breach of contract by the VSCA which had approved our exhibit application. Nonetheless, the senior sales manager and the front office manager of the hotel forcibly removed our exhibit with the approval of the VSCA president and past president.
That day the VSCA was scheduled to present a conference session entitled:
“Sexual Orientation: Meeting the Challenge to Promote the Health and Well Being of All Students. The presentation will be based on the concept of sexuality as a continuum and will provide a brief overview of gay history and culture, followed by a discussion about sexual identity development and the ways in which cultural attitudes and societal institutions have a negative impact on the health of GLBTQ students. Handouts will be provided and implications for school counselors will be discussed. Level: Elementary/Middle School”
When VSCA threw us out, we asked them why they were presenting a gay seminar but not allowing an ex-gay exhibit. They denied it and agreed we could attend the seminar and pick up the handouts. When we arrived for the seminar, a sign on the door said that the seminar had been cancelled because the speaker was unavailable.
This is the first time we have seen a gay seminar presented to school counselors for the elementary school level, at least in Virginia.
Although the VSCA liked two of our PFOX brochures on teens and bullying, they still would not permit us to exhibit at the conference, although we were listed in the conference brochure and school counselors at the conference showed great interest in our materials.
Still no word from the VA School Counselors.
On March 30, 2006, Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX) exhibited at the Virginia School Counselor Association (VSCA) annual conference. We exhibited for approximately three hours before the VSCA and the Holiday Inn Select/Koger South Conference Center in Richmond approached our booth and asked us to leave. The hotel offered us free lodgings if we would leave. We refused, citing breach of contract by the VSCA which had approved our exhibit application. Nonetheless, the senior sales manager and the front office manager of the hotel forcibly removed our exhibit with the approval of the VSCA president and past president.
That day the VSCA was scheduled to present a conference session entitled:
“Sexual Orientation: Meeting the Challenge to Promote the Health and Well Being of All Students. The presentation will be based on the concept of sexuality as a continuum and will provide a brief overview of gay history and culture, followed by a discussion about sexual identity development and the ways in which cultural attitudes and societal institutions have a negative impact on the health of GLBTQ students. Handouts will be provided and implications for school counselors will be discussed. Level: Elementary/Middle School”
When VSCA threw us out, we asked them why they were presenting a gay seminar but not allowing an ex-gay exhibit. They denied it and agreed we could attend the seminar and pick up the handouts. When we arrived for the seminar, a sign on the door said that the seminar had been cancelled because the speaker was unavailable.
This is the first time we have seen a gay seminar presented to school counselors for the elementary school level, at least in Virginia.
Although the VSCA liked two of our PFOX brochures on teens and bullying, they still would not permit us to exhibit at the conference, although we were listed in the conference brochure and school counselors at the conference showed great interest in our materials.
Still no word from the VA School Counselors.
Free Speech is controversial: Article about First Amendment Center's guidelines
Chad Thompson and I released an article today that supports the First Amendment Center's framework for having discussions about sexual orientation in public schools. You can read it at Townhall.com or on my site (Sexual orientation: When conflict rules the school).
