Torrey Blog

Ashley Guerriero
Torrey Blog
Word count: 500

A sin is a sin right? And aren’t we as humans born as sinners due to the fall of man? Most churches put homosexuality on this pedestal above all other sins, such as stealing, alcoholism, gambling, or lying, when really God sees homosexuality as sinful as all of the other sins. Mike Haley, a former homosexual who turned straight after college and who also spoke at the Torrey Memorial Bible Conference, stated that he does not believe homosexuality is a genetic problem and believes that if you are willing to put your homosexual desires aside, you can become heterosexual. But does scientist agree with Mike Haley? Do scientists really believe that homosexuality is a genetic problem or that there is such thing as a “gay gene”? According to Dr. Dean Hamer, who is gay, homosexuality is not biological and that “sissy boys will become gay”. The American Psychological Association, also known as the APA, has the same view as Dr. Hammer. The APA lays out symptoms of Genetic Identity Disorder for kids. Some of these symptoms include wearing the opposite sexes clothing, wants playmates of the other sex, and the preference of playing the opposite gender in make believe. The APA also states that if left untreated, the child has a 75% chance of becoming homosexual. However, if scientists do find a link between genetics and homosexuality, Mike Haley still would hold to the belief that homosexuality is the same sin as alcoholism. It has been found that some people are genetically prone to alcoholism or the addiction gambling, yet are still able to live “normal” lives and not give into their desires. If homosexuality is a genetic disposition, then they should be able to get over their desires just like an alcoholic would. I personally have mixed feelings about the issue. In high school I took a genetics class and saw a documentary on two twin boys who were the age of 5. One of them enjoyed playing with boys and cars, while the other boy just wanted to play with girls and Barbie dolls. One could say that maybe they were treated differently and the more “girly” boy was treated with more sensitivity than the other, making his gay disposition more of a nurture issue than a genetic one. However, the documentary made me think that there was something genetically wrong which made him predisposed to having a homosexual character at such a young age. How could two twin boys, who have been raised in the same exact home, become so different? I think that a lot of Christians, even those at Biola, are very condemning of those who are homosexual, when they do not even seem to raise their voices at theft and alcoholism. When it comes down to it, homosexuality is a sin just like any other; no better, no worse. And just like any other sin, one should be able to conquer it. It is possible and Mike Haley is obviously living proof of it.