The Broken Image: Restoring Personal Wholeness Through Healing Prayer

Rating:
Summary: Religious Right Flim-Flam
Review: As a licensed psychotherapist it is disturbing to see that "christian" writers must attempt to vilify homosexuality in the name of "love." Bigotry and lack of scientific evidence wrapped in the Bible is still bigotry. What all believers in "reparative therapy" (disavowed by the APA and the overwhelming majority of mental health professionals) cannot grasp is that behavior does not equal identity. Certainly heterosexuality is not defined only by it's erotic states. This "old shoe" theory of a maladaptive relationship with the father simply doesn't hold water in scientific studies. Also of note, is the "relapse" of the notable names in reparative therapy, (John Paulk among others.) Mainstream mental health professionals (heathens to the likes of Ms. Payne) believe that anyone can temporarily change sexual behavior, bisexuals for example. But behavior change does not equal identity change. Promoting that it does, is the big lie of christian counseling. (...)Payne and her ilk, (dispite growing evidence to the contrary) refuse to even consider the possibility that God created homosexuals. This does not fit into the evangelical rigid black and white thinking. Sadly, the clients I see have been tortured by this "Christian love", and are seeking a real path to heightened self-esteem through acceptance of themselves exactly as they are.

Rating:
Summary: Insightful and Readable
Review: As a therapist who works with people dealing with all manner of sexual addictions, and also as a lay minister and pastoral counselor, I highly reccommend this book to those seeking healing and also those who help them. Obviously for anyone who is of a strictly "Gay affirmative" or "Gay rights" perspective, this book will be objectionable, but for those with open minds to both theological and psychological roots behind sexuality struggles, this book has much insight and also practicle application. It is filled with very readable case presentations and explications of the underlying roots of these important issues of sexuality and emotional pain. Contrary to one's first impression, it is also applicable for those seeking help for other emotional struggles and shame-based mental and emotional afflictions. In addition, Payne's books "Restoring the Christian Soul through Healing Prayer" and "Healing Presence" go into a broader explication of the principles covered in this book. This will be an invaluable resource to any seeking insight into issues of healing prayer, christian theology of the psyche (self), and issues of broken sexuality, from an alternate point of view than those of the gay rights and gay affirmative approaches. It seems that one of the other reviews posted on this sight has come from the gay rights and affirmative perspective (Roy Culver, JR), as his positive review of a gay affirmative book and positive mention of PFLAG on his own amazon.com web site reveal. For those of his persuasion, this book will obviously be objectionable and will be seen to have many flaws, due to the antithetical nature of this book's approach compared to gay affirmative and unorthodox christian outlooks.

Rating:
Summary: Hope for the Homosexual
Review: Finally, words of hope for those who have struggled with homosexuality. As I read The Broken Image, I was amazed that Leanne Payne wrote of things that were deep in my heart that I'd never seen in another book. I found healing and comfort in her teaching and then in her subsequent books. I'm grateful that Ms. Payne had the courage to speak some truth into this emotional topic. If I had gone along with the old rhetoric that homosexuals can't change and that you just have to reconcile that between yourself and God, I'd still be bound in the chains of discontent that held me for so many years.

Rating:
Summary: Hope for the Homosexual
Review: Finally, words of hope for those who have struggled with homosexuality. As I read The Broken Image, I was amazed that Leanne Payne wrote of things that were deep in my heart that I'd never seen in another book. I found healing and comfort in her teaching and then in her subsequent books. I'm grateful that Ms. Payne had the courage to speak some truth into this emotional topic. If I had gone along with the old rhetoric that homosexuals can't change and that you just have to reconcile that between yourself and God, I'd still be bound in the chains of discontent that held me for so many years.

Rating:
Summary: Healing the Payne
Review: Having "suffered" from the sinful disease of sexual deviance for the better (pun intended) part of my life, I regret to believe that there still exist feeble brains who are certain that this lifestyle is most often derived from the "something" that happened or didn't happen when the homosexual was a child. In Mrs. Payne's book, she repeatedly blames homosexuality on the misfortunes of youth. I wish to hear her wisdom concerning those of us who had the best of childhoods. Her fascination with deviance concerns me; I question her motives, as do I question the catalyst of her interest. I, certainly, would not be interested in researching the sexual patterns of one who conforms to the definition of "acceptable"-- according to the harsh judgements of society. As a practicing member of the homosexual community, I wish to make Mrs. Payne aware of the feelings-- not the definitions, reasons, excuses-- of a typical child who suffers, not from homosexuality, but from the evilness of a society whose relentless lack of compassion drives many to suicide. Your book, ma'am, will satisfy many parents who want reasons for their child's deviance, but it will never serve as genius for truth. Many parents feel as though they are the ones who suffer when their child proclaims homosexuality, and for those we need prayer. For their children, we need acceptance and love-- and tolerance for difference, not wrongfulness. One more fact-- God loves homosexuals just like He loves those who judge them. Thank you for your time.

Rating:
Summary: Read "Prayers for Bobby" instead
Review: I comment only on the belief that homosexuals need to be healed through prayer. However sincere the religious belief, there is much evidence of the harm that is done in trying to change something that is innate, not chosen. I have seen the misery of the spouses of persons who were told they were "changed" and should now marry. Bobby Griffith's mother kept after him to pray to change; it was only after his suicide that she realized she should have loved him as he was. The American Psychiatic Association, American Psychological Association and many churches decry any attempt to "cure the sinner".

Rating:
Summary: Read "Prayers for Bobby" instead
Review: I comment only on the belief that homosexuals need to be healed through prayer. However sincere the religious belief, there is much evidence of the harm that is done in trying to change something that is innate, not chosen. I have seen the misery of the spouses of persons who were told they were "changed" and should now marry. Bobby Griffith's mother kept after him to pray to change; it was only after his suicide that she realized she should have loved him as he was. The American Psychiatic Association, American Psychological Association and many churches decry any attempt to "cure the sinner".

Rating:
Summary: Great for Homosexual who tries so hard to follow JesusChrist
Review: I was a lesbian (homosexual) but got saved through the salvations of Jesus Christ. This book will teach you how to (lead people or yourself) pray and bring the great inner-soul healing and peace for any hardship and hurt that once were hidden so deep in the soul in the past and no one can retrieve it, not even psychologists. Great book, touches my heart and my soul, and help me to get out the homosexuality with a full peaceful heart and totally renewal life.

Rating:
Summary: The Broken Image's broken theories
Review: I've read many books from a Christian's perspective addressing homosexuality and this follows the party line pretty closely. Payne's argument falls back on the age old idea that God desires to "heal" the homosexual if only the homosexual person is open to it. She even states in the preface that the healing of the homosexual is remarkable simple and in page 46 goes on to say it will only take 2 to 3 weeks DEPENDING on if the sufferee is willing to lay down their own will and respond to God.
This flies in the face of the thousands of Christians who have spent years praying for deliverance that has never come. Payne comes across as a charismatic healer that seems less grounded in medicine and science than in theological hysterics rooted more in Benny Hinn crusades than reality. Payne states that masturbation is also one of the causes of homosexuality as well. Judging by the small % of homosexual people vs. the # of people that masturbate her point is laughable at best, hurtful and ridiculous at worst.
The Broken Image is a classic example of a book that follows the same lines as what Exodus reports: "Gay people can be changed, if they will only allow it to happen." If someone wants to live a celibate life, that is their business. The religious movement over and over has drug their feet accepting things socially that they were uncomfortable with. What better way to discredit something than to demonize it?
This book is a place to begin if you want to see the sort of irrationality one will face when debating the issue of homosexuality with most Christians. It's worth a read if for no other reason than to know point by point what will be parroted to you and how to refute it.

Rating:
Summary: The Broken Image's broken theories
Review: I've read many books from a Christian's perspective addressing homosexuality and this follows the party line pretty closely. Payne's argument falls back on the age old idea that God desires to "heal" the homosexual if only the homosexual person is open to it. She even states in the preface that the healing of the homosexual is remarkable simple and in page 46 goes on to say it will only take 2 to 3 weeks DEPENDING on if the sufferee is willing to lay down their own will and respond to God.
This flies in the face of the thousands of Christians who have spent years praying for deliverance that has never come. Payne comes across as a charismatic healer that seems less grounded in medicine and science than in theological hysterics rooted more in Benny Hinn crusades than reality. Payne states that masturbation is also one of the causes of homosexuality as well. Judging by the small % of homosexual people vs. the # of people that masturbate her point is laughable at best, hurtful and ridiculous at worst.
The Broken Image is a classic example of a book that follows the same lines as what Exodus reports: "Gay people can be changed, if they will only allow it to happen." If someone wants to live a celibate life, that is their business. The religious movement over and over has drug their feet accepting things socially that they were uncomfortable with. What better way to discredit something than to demonize it?
This book is a place to begin if you want to see the sort of irrationality one will face when debating the issue of homosexuality with most Christians. It's worth a read if for no other reason than to know point by point what will be parroted to you and how to refute it.