Book Description A Christian psychiatrist
examines the latest research, refuting the alleged genetic basis for
homosexuality and assessing the social power homosexuals have gained.
About the Author Dr. Jeffrey Satinover has practiced
psychoanalysis and psychiatry for more than ninetten years. He is a former
Fellow in Psychiatry and Child Psychiatry at Yale University and a past
president of the C. G. Jung Foundations. He holds degrees from MIT, the
University of Texas, the Harvard University and serves as a medical
advisor to Focus on the Family. Jeffrey and his wife have three children.
I agree with the Congressional Record's
rating of this book as "The best book on homosexuality written in
our lifetime...", and I have studied the subject,having worked in
the San Francisco Bay Area as an RN, and researcher at Stanford
University. Sadly, I think we can safely assume anyone who dismisses
this book as "junk science" simply does not want the truth about
homosexuality to be known. As another reviewer pointed out, the
science is a major strong point of the book. Dr. Satinover is highly
qualified to deal with this topic. He is a graduate of Harvard, MIT,
University of Texas, and a former lecturer at Yale. He is a board
certified MD in the private practice of psychiatry for over twenty
years with extensive work with homosexuals. He is the recipient of
many awards, including the Yale Symour L. Lustman Research award,and
past William James lecturer in Psychology and Religion at Harvard,
among other qualifications. Gay activists, since the 60's, have
waged a relentless public relations campaign to convince Americans
that they should overturn 4,000 years of Judeo-Christian moral
standards that condemn homosexuality as unhealthy, a sin, and
perversion of God's design. The activist's goals (and they are
spelled out in such handbooks as "After the Ball, by Kirk and
Madsen, 1989),are to convince the public that homosexuality is
normal, innate or inherited, and irreversible; therefore gays are
not subject to moral choice. Dr. Satinover analyses the extensive
evidence to address these claims. Is homosexuality "normal?" Read
the facts and decide for yourself. When you compare homosexual
patterns with heterosexual patterns, it becomes clear that
homosexuality is an addiction, as lethal or more so than alcoholism
or drug addiction. Homosexuals have an average of 50 lifetime
partners compared to heterosexuals who have an average of 4. One
study found that 43% of male homosexuals estimated having sex with
500 or more different partners, and 28% estimated having sex with
1000 more partners. Less than 2% of homosexuals are monogamous,
compared to 83% of heterosexuals. 95% of male homosexuals engage in
anal intercourse. Even if condoms are used, male heterosexuals are
highly vulnerable to a long list of diseases, including Hepatitis
B,C, Giardia lamblia infection (Gay Bowel Syndrome), and many
others. Dr. Satinover describes the physiology and explains why the
life expectancy of typical homosexuals is reduced by a dramatic 30%.
Is it innate or inherited? Dr. Satinover clarifies the studies
grossly misinterpreted by the press to suggest a genetic cause for
homosexuality. If it were genetic, then it would be impossible to
recover one's heterosexuality, but clearly this is not the case.
Research on biological influences on behavior reveals that
homosexuality is highly similar to alcoholism in its characteristic
features. There are biological influences, but no one is "caused" by
their genes to be an alcoholic, nor a homosexual. Dr. Satinover
discusses the "nature-nurture" debate and makes this complex subject
understandable to professionals and lay people. Is it irreversible?
The fact that there are thousands of individuals (20,000 by one
estimate) that have freed themselves of same sex attractions to
become functioning heterosexuals proves beyond the shadow of a doubt
that homosexuality is indeed reversible. However, Dr. Satinover
explains how, as in other physically addicting habits, sometimes the
habit becomes so ingrained in the individual's constitution that it
triumphs over any will that the person might have had to overcome
it. Change takes a high level of motivation and usually God's help
in the form of Twelve Step Programs or religious ministries,
although secular treatments are also more successful than generally
credited. In addition to an excellent review and assessment of the
scientific facts about homosexuality, this book is an illuminating
discussion of the moral,philosophical and religious implications for
our society as well. As he points out, public policy must be based
on objective facts and sound moral judgments. Moral judgements must
be informed by our religious beliefs, as science can only tell us
what is, but not what should be. Dr. Satinover discusses
psychiatry's inadequacies in dealing with moral questions. It seeks
material "causes" for human behavior, therefore engaging in a
dehumanizing reductionism. Man happens to be a moral being however.
Psychiatry doesn't know how to deal with syndromes like alcoholism,
narcissism, neurosis, homosexuality and others except as
"illnesses," but these syndromes have decided moral dimensions. Dr.
Satinover has spelled out the solid, rational reasons why we should
be compassionate of individuals struggling with this profound
problem, yet hold fast to public policies that discourage this
destructive compulsion. I highly recommend this book.
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32 of 57 people found the following review helpful:
A
well structured and convincing argument, March 27, 2004
Amidst all the political and social
debates raging today, I believe Dr. Satinover is saying something
that all of America needs to hear no matter what side of the debate
you find yourself on. I believe it is a dishonest and cheap tactic
to levy charges of homophobia and bigotry against the people of
faith who believe that homosexuality is wrong and abide by the
consistent teachings of the Judeo-Christian worldview. Satinover
illustrates that it is possible to show compassion and kindness to
homosexuals while at the same time not engaging in full-fledged
acceptance of their lifestyle. This is the Biblical mandate that all
believers are called to and is the quintessential Christian call to
"hate the sin, but love the sinner." Unfortunately, many in
Christian fundamentalist circles have not heeded this call and are
rather harsh and unforgiving when discussing this subject.
Satinover presents a convincing argument which states that
homosexuality is a product of a myriad of factors including:
genetics, intrauterine influences, environment, relationships, and
personal choices. To say that homosexuality is 100% genetic as many
activist's claim is a false claim, and has not been substantiated by
scientific evidence. In fact, the meager scientific studies
conducted on twins has illustrated that homosexuality cannot be
genetic since in identical twin pairs the results are not 100% in
either direction. Nevertheless, it is also unfair and irresponsible
to say that homosexuality is simply a choice one makes; To venture
in this direction is to make an equally disastrous and false claim
as those made by the genetics camp. Moreover, many of the arguments
employed by gay activist groups are not scientific at all, but a
product of circular reasoning. Arguments such as, we say internal
homophobia makes people not want to be homosexual, and people who do
not want to be gay are that way because of internal homophobia. Mr.
Satinover's remarks that serious scientific research, removed from a
political agenda, must be conducted to clarify and enlighten on this
issue are very true indeed.
I believe all Christians should read this book so that they can
understood the complexity and multi-faceted nature of the issue.
Likewise, I believe activist's from the opposite spectrum should
read this book so that they might understand the Judeo-Christian
rejoinder on this subject. Of particular interest is Satinover's
detailed analysis of the relationship between homosexuality and
pedophilia. As he notes, pedophilia is more common among
heterosexuals since they comprise the vast majority of the
population, but the behavior itself is more prevalent among
homosexuals, who make up a much smaller sector of the populace.
Furthermore, the declassification of the paraphilia's as illnesses
is the next logical step in the chain once homosexuality is
normalized by the medical profession. Sadly, these steps are already
being taken because of the efforts of activist groups such as
NAMBLA(North American Man Boy Love Association).
To the critics who say that Dr. Satinover's research is outdated
and new research has disproved his assertions, this claim is hardly
true. Examining the bibliography of this book, I found that 75% of
Satinover's source material was dated from the 1980's and 1990's,
hardly antiquated and irrelevant. Furthermore, since Dr. Satinover
wrote this book no one has conclusively found the gay gene, although
many have claimed to do so and later been disproven. As the doctor
states, research uninfluenced by political agendas and activist
desires needs to be conducted because only then will any real
conclusive and comprehensive results be achieved.
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7 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
I re-read this book recently after first
coming across it a few years ago. Reading this marvelous study of
homosexuality, one cannot help sense the compassion that Dr.
Santinover feels for those who bear the burden of homosexuality. His
attitude is compassionate and unpretentious. He begins the book by
discussing his experience of treating a fatally-ill young man dying
of GRID, or gay-related immune disorder, now known as AIDS in New
York in 1981, and the death of another gay man who was a psychiatric
patient of his from the same disease.
"To the extent that
homosexuals have been victimized, we can only reach out in
compassion for the suffering, struggling soul. How can our hearts
not go out to the young, prehomosexual boy or girl who is already
shy, lonely, sensitive, and who surely suffers taunting rejection
and maybe even beatings by the very peers he or she envies and most
longs to be with? Can we really blind ourselves to the presence of
that still-suffering child within the adult, however bristling and
exotic an exterior with which he protects himself?" [21].
In
the course of discussing AIDS and the other numerous mental and
physical health problems connected with homosexual sex, we do see
that he is very angry, not at homosexuals, but at gay-rights
activists who carelessly endanger the lives of millions without
regard for anyone or anything but the advancement of their political
agenda.
"[T]he organizd, political side of the picture is
entirely different. Here we too often see on violent display the
brute aspcet of human nautre in all its crudity, stupidity, vanity,
selfishness, disregard for others, and disregard for truth. Like so
many of its predecessors, too often gay activism follows the dictum
that desired ends justify all means . . . By deliberately confusing
. . . the political and the personal - gay activism has created a
dangerous monster . . . The greater danger, by far, is that our
justifiable protest will stifle and eventually kill our
understanding that "homosexuals" are . . . simply us" [21-2].
"Homosexuals are simply us" is an essential point.
Homosexuals are not a group of people in the sense that women or
blacks are. This is because homosexuality is NOT
genetically-determined. It IS genetically-influenced. This is
evident in that the concordance rate of homosexuality between
monozygotic twins is below 50%. The concordance rate of "femaleness"
or "blackness", if you will excuse the terms, is of course, 100%. Is
homosexuality due, in part to genetics? Yes, all behaviors are. But
this does not mean we MUST behave in any particular way. People who
are born taller than average are more inclined to be basketball
players but this does not mean that they have no choice about
whether or not to do so. Obvioulsy this is not a perfect analogy but
it demonstrates that homosexuality, unlike race and gender, is not
unchangeable. In fact, Satinover argues persuasively that
homosexuality has very little to do with sex at all, it is in
reality a compulsive behavior resulting from emotional anxiety.
Homosexuality is "a loosely defined aspect of the overall
polymorphism of human sexuality" [245], and as such, it IS natural.
Too often opponents of homosexual sex, such as I did in the past,
make the mistake of arguing against homosexuality on the basis that
it is not natural. This is incorrect. Human sexuality, especially in
the male, is polymorphous. Men have had sex with men, children, a
single partner, in large groups, with family, and with animals. They
have become aroused by inanimate objects, absuing others or being
abused, cross-dressing, and being urinated and defecated on. Each
individual's sexuality is the result of "a complex mixture of
genetic, intrauterine, and extrauterine biological factors combined
with familial and social factors as well as repeatedly reinforced
choices" [245]. And they are all natural.
That something is
naturally-occuring does not, however, make it healthy, and certainly
not moral. For instance, animals eat their offspring, engage in acts
of necrophilia and rape. But if someone in society were to do these
things one would not argue that they are acceptable because they are
natural, as evident in the animal world. Moral commandments are by
nature, unnatural, they tell us how we ought to be, not how he are.
Moreover, that certain behavior, such as homosexuality or
alcoholism, are difficult or seemingly impossible to correct, we are
no less bound to strive to correct them. The virtue lies in the
effort to be better than we are, and it is proportional to the
difficulty of the struggle we face.
In respect to the health
issues, Satinover offers some shocking evidence regarding the
inherent pernicious of homosexual sex to the human body, including
the following:
"[A]mong heterosexuals the risk of AIDS
associated with lack of condom use, while not entirely negligible,
is so much lower than among homosexuals that the risk of not using a
condom in heterosexual sex is vastly smaller than in homosexual sex
[in regards to AIDS alone]. This difference reflects the other
factors discussed above: Most heterosexuals are in relatively
monogamous relationships and engage in anal intercourse
infrequently; many homosexuals are in relatively polygamous
relationships and engage in anal intercourse frequently . . . The
best current [1996, 2002?] estimates hold that about one out of a
thousand adult Americans is now infected with HIV. This is 0.1
percent of the adult population. Because roughly half the population
is male and 2.8 percent of all males are homosexual, 1.4 percent of
the adult population consists of homosexual males, which account for
about 30 percent of all AIDS cases. Thus the likelihood of a
randomly selected heterosexual man or woman being infected with AIDS
is roughly 7 in 10,000 (0.07 percent) . . . 30 percent of all
twenty-year-old homosexual males with be HIV-positive or dead of
AIDS by the time they are thirty. This means that the incidence of
AIDS among twenty-to thirty year-old homosexual men is roughly 430
times greater than among the heterosexual population at large. It is
also estimated that a single act of unprotected intercourse (not
taking into account whether it is homosexual or heterosexual, anal
or vaginal) with a known-to-be-infected male carries with it a
transmission risk of roughly 1 in 500. If we multiply this rough
measure of the transmissibility of the AIDS virus by the average
risk of encountering an HIV-positive heterosexual, this means that
in the absence of any information about one's partner's HIV status,
age, demographic group, and so on, a single act of heterosexual
intercourse of any type carries with it an average risk of roughly 1
in 715,000 (calculated by 7 in 10,000 x 1 in 500 = 7 in 5,000,000).
In fact it must be less, as acts of heterosexual intercourse are by
far mostly vaginal, and the 1 in 500 transmissibility figure
includes acts of anal intercourse as well . . . [A] single act of
unprotected intercourse with a twenty- to thirty-year-old male
homosexual carries with it a transmission risk of roughly 1 in 165
[56-8].
[T]he gay male life span, even apart from AIDS and
with a long-term partner, is significantly shorter than that of
married men in general BY MORE THAN THREE DECADES. AIDS further
shortens the life span of homosexual men by more than 7 percent
[69]."
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16 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
Dr. Satinover's book is extremely objective, November 5,
2005
Homosexuality is a subject which I have
read a great deal about, having some friends who are homosexual and
others who are bisexual. I have had difficulty buying into the idea
that, that is a "gay gene" and that is all there is to it. The
person is born to be gay; they have had gay fantasies all of their
lives; and they are simply behaving in accordance with the way that
God made them. Given that some people have become successfully
reoriented refutes this claim; and studies even done by homosexual
groups refute this claim. For instance, a study of identical twins
where one twin is homosexual; 50% of the other twins are homosexual.
This is a much higher percentage than is found in families with a
homosexual member; and a higher percentage than found in fraternal
twins. Therefore, there must be a genetic component--that is
undeniable. However, since only 50% of their twin siblings are
homosexual, that means that genetics (and family environment) is not
a determining factor.
On the other hand, there is the view
that homosexual acts are simply a matter of free will and they just
need to stop it. The study cited above indicates that there is more
to this than a simple free will choice. Furthermore, some, like
myself, are not at all tempted by homosexual activity; and that
feels inate to me. So, my point in all of this is, it is simply not
a simplistic issue with simplistic answers.
Dr. Satinover
addresses homosexuality as the complex issue that it is, examines
the studies, examines the pyschology, examines the case history
records, and presents what appears to be a very accurate picture of
who and what homosexuals are.
Now, if you are overly
simplistic in nature, and you are the type who would carry a sign,
"Homosexual, you are going to hell" or if you are the kind who says,
"God made me this way, and that is that" then Satinover's book won't
be for you. His reasoning, his examination of the studies, his
positions are going to be too complex for you. If, on the other
hand, you have an interest in this topic, no matter what your
presuppositions are, you are going to find this book to be a
fascinating read.
Now Satinover does deal with homosexuality
and the Bible in some chapters. If this is not your cup of tea, then
you can skip over these chapters and still not lose his train of
thought or his reasoning. On the other hand, Satinover does touch on
passages in the Bible which, in times past, have not been
well-explained, and his approach is quite enlightening on certain
passages of Scripture (e.g., Rom. 1:24).
I have done a lot
of reading in this area and have several books which deal with
homosexuality. I have visited several websites, both pro and con
homosexual behavior, and have read their reasons for their
positions. None of those logical excursions really resulted in me
feeling as though I understood what was going on and what the issues
are. Satinover's book is quite the opposite. Now I feel as though I
have a much better understanding of my homosexual brethren.
One final point: Many "Christian" websites which deal with
this issue leave you with a vague feeling of moral superiority over
homosexuals (if you are not a homosexual) and the feeling that, if
you are a homosexual, "It's too bad for you, but we will pray for
you anyway." Satinover does not leave this sort of taste in your
mouth at any point in his book, even when dealing with the Bible.
In an arena where there are high stakes and tremendous
emotional issues involved, Dr. Satinover presents the most objective
book that I have ever read on this subject.
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7 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
Gay and Lesbian rights have made a quantum
leap from the unspoken negative Victorian value judgements by
keeping this issue in the closet to the positive social activism
inspired by gay men like the late Bill Kraus, Paul Popham and
numerous others. We have a tendency to forget our humanity when we
examine these contentious issues. Dr. Satinover clearly reveals the
physiological hazards gay men expose themselves to in the acts of
"gay intercourse". Rather than being homophobic he makes a very
plausible clinical basis for the septic hazards of male
homosexuality. These points are re-affirmed in a medical text edited
by none other than Dr. David G. Ostrow. Dr. Ostrow is in a key
position to make valid observations about this horrible disease
because he was one of the first "gay Doctors" to take up the fight
against AIDS for gay men. His participation is clearly documented in
the book by the late Randy Shilts "And The Band Played On". HIV
infections are increasing again. The HIV virus is capable of very
rapid mutations. A magic bullet is not on the horizon, some doubt
there ever will be a cure. More young men will die needless horrible
deaths. Larry Kramer (A co-founder of the GMHC) once stated that the
young men in intensive care would give up sex forever if they could
just have their lives back. Homosexuality is not an equal or viable
lifestyle with heterosexuality no matter what its political pundits
claim. Gay Pride parades are fun, but lets not forget that
homosexuality kills young men at an alarming rate. No doubt I will
be branded as a psychotic homophobe by the Gay & Lesbian
political movement. I am equally surprised that Dr. Satinover's book
was never mentioned in John-Manuel Andriote' excellent book "Victory
Deferred". As a parting comment, I watched one of my best and
dearest friends succumb to this horrible life sucking illness.
People should be all to careful for what they wish for...they just
might get it!
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36 of 58 people found the following review helpful:
"Gay change" therapy is just spiritualized denial., October
1, 2005
Whether drawing from my own very personal
journey into, and then out of, the Evangelical Christian closet...OR
from five years of doctoral studies in clinical psychology (Psy.D.)
and theology (M.A.)...OR from conducting over 30,000 hours of
psychotherapy with my clients, I could passionately and
authoritatively write volumes to repudiate the many sad layers of
ignorance in this book.
However, I want to make just one
point very clear:
No "gay change" therapy has ever changed
any gay person's sexual orientation. If any group claims to have
succeeded in this bogus "therapy", it's due to one or more of these
three reasons:
1) they have not defined sexual orientation
beyond mere behavior patterns to include all facets of sexual
orientation (such as interest, attraction, arousal, and emotional
bonding).
2) they have not done detailed (see #1), long-term
follow-up beyond one year following their "therapy."
3) they
are lying due to religious/political motives (and probably due to
lying to themselves via projecting their own unresolved sexual
orientation issues).
A recent magazine article highlighted
this point. It told of a gay man who had been brain-washed into
thinking he'd changed from gay to straight, but who finally accepted
nothing had changed after five years of pretense. Several years
later, comfortably at peace with himelf as a gay man, this man was
shocked to see an old photo of himself included with others who were
proclaiming in a "gay change" ad, "We changed and so can you!"
Outraged, he pointed out that if these organizations really had a
steady stream of success stories, they wouldn't be digging back into
the archives for 7-year-old photos of those who had long-ago had
seen through all the distorted theology, false promises and bad
science offered by the "gay change" therapies.
"You will
know the truth, and the truth will set you free" -- Jesus
"I don't judge people--if you judge people, you don't have
time to love them!" -- Mother Teresa (responding to a question
about gays)
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The truth, not the propaganda, June 13, 2001
"Gay change" therapy is just spiritualized denial., October
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