Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth

Rating:
Summary: Simple truth
Review: This is as much a reaction to another review as it is a review in itself. In fact, I just want to make clear where Christianity stands, or should stand regarding the issue of homosexuality. First of all, before I get flamed for misusing the word, I want to make clear that by homosexuality I mean homosexual actions AND thoughts as well. I will explain the reason later, so bear with me for a minute.

Satinover operates according to a very simple truth. Homosexuality is sin in God's eyes. Before you scroll down thinking that I am just another hypocrite, I must add that it is no greater sin than extramarital sex or stealing a candy bar from the convenience store around the corner. But it is a sin nonetheless. There is no need for argument about that, simply because if one does not believe in God, then they do not care about what God says, and if someone does believe (whether he is a Christian or a Jew), their Holy Scripture, the VERY WORDS OF GOD, CLEARLY states that homosexuality is indeed a sin. Another reviewer brought up the issue saying that this was an Old Testament law that we were liberated from by Christ. Well, what does this liberty mean?

We were not liberated so that we could go around sinning all we want. Liberation means we are not slaves to sin anymore. That sin is still a sin, but we now have power over it, we can say no to it with the help of the Holy Spirit. And, as a matter of fact, there are actually at least two passages (probably more) in the New Testament that very clearly speak against homosexuality - this AFTER Christ (one being Romans 1:26-27). Jesus also said that a sinful thought was just as bad as a sinful act. Therefore I do not need to explain myself and say that one is only sinning if he acts on his homosexual thoughts. No, God's word is very clear, one is as bad as the other.

But, since homosexuality is a sin, God has a simple solution for it - Christ. Certainly, getting over years and years of living a homosexual life will not be easy even for a Christian, in fact it will be extremely difficult, but again, God provides all the help one needs.

Christians who decide to read Satinover's book should not let their preconceptions over this issue set the mood, they should open it with a mind that is willing to accept whatever God wants to tell them. Keeping a Bible handy could be good too. For non-Christians this book will help understand why (most) Christians do not accept homosexual behaviour as "normal", and why we think it is a condition that needs to be changed (again, it is no worse than extramarital sex). I think Satinover's book is an excellent piece of writing, for the believer and the non-believer as well.

Rating:
Summary: Quackery Masquerading as Science
Review: That this gentleman also wrote 'Cracking the Bible Code' and is endorsed by the notoriously anti-gay bigot Dr. Laura Schlessinger should have been enough to tell me this would not be a book of reputable science. He is as much of a scientist as is an astrologer. Someone should remind the good doctor that a few testimonials do not constitute research...

Rating:
Summary: Quack Science
Review: This is quack science. At every step this so-called psychiatrist deviates from accepted scientific practice to insert morality and religious views into his allegedly "neutral" argumentation. Don't fall into this trap! This is right-wing propaganda that helps justify the kind of inhumane treatment people like Matthew Shepherd encounter every day. Homosexuality is a genetic and biological reality. It occurs cross-culturally throughout history at about 10% of the population. It occurs naturally in every higher animal species. It is immutable. If you are gay, skip this text and try "Coming Out of Shame"--written by two real psychiatrists with some sense of the scientific method (which, incidentally, was developed by Descartes who used it to proove that God exists). This will be a healither and more constructive way to deal with your sexuality than exposing yourself the bigotry replete in "Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth."

Rating:
Summary: Beneficial for those interested in changing
Review: This book is a little scientific, but for those really seeking change it leads you to the correct place. The cross. The only way to change is to surrender your will.

Rating:
Summary: Oh, yes!
Review: Yet another wonderful book to rationalize americas prejudice towards anything "different". First it was blacks, then women, now gays. If you want to be amazed by manipulated facts, half-truths, and outright lies, then this book is for you. Gives the american people grounds for even more prejudice, just what we need in this world.

Rating:
Summary: politics, yes. truth, no.
Review: This beautifully printed, grammatically correct text is science gleaned through a microscope with a particular lens: a moralistic viewpoint, which is now only one among many. The book is a great compendium of the 'medical' treatment gay and lesbian persons have suffered at the hands of 'objective' scientists. Yet one more nail into the hand of the contemporary leper. If only Jesus could save people from the hate, fear and contempt of his followers...

When will the day come when some people stop trying to control the sexuality of other people? History says its always happened, in some way or another. This book points to the way this is accomplished today...science fictions.

Rating:
Summary: Christian Minister Disagrees With Santinover's Judgement
Review: I agree with Santover's analysis of the scientific data, but I do not agree with all his moral judgements. I believe thinking people on both sides of the fence, or closet, will want to read this book. Santinover is very sharp. He does a great job of explaining data of studies on the origin of homosexuality. He concludes, "Like all complex behavioral and mental states, homosexuality is multifactoral." He explains what most of these factors are. I have several problems with the book however. First, he fails to put the science of "his side" through the same scrutiny as the "other side." No doubt others have done so, as he points out. Santinover compare the predisposition toward homosexuality to the predisposition toward alcoholism. One of his points in doing this is to say that a genetic or biological predisposition toward some behavior doesn't make the behavior morally correct. I agree. He does well with the comparison, except that while society has a considerable range of acceptable alcohol consumption, Santinover seems to be argueing that any homosexual sex is compulsive, undesirable, or, like an alcoholics consumption of alcohol. That is, unlike alcohol, no form of homosexual "consumption" could ever be morally acceptable. As a Christian minister, and a student of anthropology and sociology, I can say Santinover is out of his element when discussing paganism and when interpreting the Bible. He makes huge, glittering generalities about paganism, as if everything outside Christianity and Judaism can be lumped together. He clearly makes a fool of himself here. Then he allows his ideological blinders to guide his selection and interpretation of the Bible and morality. My own reading of how Jesus would have us determine "the moral" would be somewhat different. There is room for contextuality in moral decision making in the Gospels: note for instance, Jesus brakes the Sabbath law to heal a man. Then Jesus says, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." With sincere faith and guidance of the Holy Spirit, there is freedom from the law in Christ. The law is a guide, not our Savior. Emphasis, nuance and outright changes were make to the Judean law through time. Note it was apparently fine for Israelite Kings to have a couple of hundred wives and a few concubines (tell me that doesn't leave a lot of room for compulsive sexual activity). Circumcision, as Santinover points out, was indeed one way God reminded the people they were set apart, expected to be and act in a way that may go against "natural" tendencies. Paul threw that out, saying to the uncircumcised gentiles, "We are free from the law in Christ." And Paul isn't the end of the discussion, as he admits, "Now I see in a mirror dimly..." And Jesus says to the disciples, "I have many more things to tell you..." Clearly Santinover is correct that compulsive persuit of pleasure is a downward spirol, and clearly our culture suffers emensly from it. While there are no doubt compulsive, addictive, and dangerous subculters, I am not convinced that all homosexuals are acting compulsively in their sexual activity. Total sexual anarchy cannot last long, but I'm not convinced God wants us to go back to a puritan sexual ethic where people, especially women, were taught to feel guilty for enjoying the gift of the body God has given us.

Rating:
Summary: Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth
Review: Superative work. I had long ago discounted any work coming from the Psychiatry/Psychoanlysis community. Dr. Satinover is the execption that proves the rule! Must read for any serious student. I am sending copies to friends.

Rating:
Summary: A Classic of Junk Science
Review: Junk science comes in many forms, but this is a classic of the genre. Satinover's hateful agenda is exposed by his reliance on bad science to prove his case. He repeats the lie about gay males dying, on average, in their forties. (A fine debunking of this, by Andrew Sullivan, ran in The New Republic and is available on the web.) It's fine if you want to read or write an anti-gay screed -- welcome to the land of free expression -- but to disguise it as science or medicine is to do a disservice to both, as well as to the author's dubious cause. Twenty years from now, this book will be seen as one of the less honorable convulsions in reaction to what is clearly a trend toward equality and acceptance for gay and lesbian people.

Rating:
Summary: Finally, the real truth!
Review: This text was part of a course that I took, looking at homosexuality and it's truths, lies and myths.

Satinover does an excellant job giving us the medical side. This is a wonderful tool for understanding where those with biblical views stand, as well as comprehending the Gay Agenda.

Satinover helped eliminate many confusing thoughts on this topic. This is recommended reading for anyone in the counseling world.

Get the facts that the media DOES NOT report! It is well written and easy read for those who want the TRUTH!