Truths4yer
New member
It isn't. Homosexuality, like heterosexuality, is characterised by persistent romantic and/or sexual attraction to one biological sex. To call it a lifestyle is to suggest homogeneity and that is as inaccurate as to suggest the same for heterosexuality. How are the "lifestyles" of a heterosexual billionaire and a heterosexual impoverished welfare recipient comparable? Even if you want to pretend that "lifestyle" refers purely to sexual exploits, how are the sexual exploits of a celibate heterosexual and one who is "up in da club" every weekend comparable? In summary, the use of the term "lifestyle" is a gross and inaccurate oversimplification for simple-minded people.My point is if homosexuality is just another lifestyle, why aren't more people coming forward and admitting it?Originally Posted by Truths4yer
It's not clear what a "practising homosexual" is but the personal attributes of those who you debate with are irrelevant to whether or not they identify flaws in your claims.
Is your "lifestyle" similar to every other Christian on the planet?Heck, I'm proud of being a follower of Christ and wouldn't denounce my faith even in front of a B. Hussein Obama firing squad.
Not ashamed to discuss sexuality but rather disinterested and it is inadvisable to share too much personal information of any sort online. It is also a needless distraction from debate.You're even hesitant to talk about your homosexuality, surely you're not ashamed of it are you T4y?
The refutation of spurious claims is to point out that they're presenting unsubstantiated claims, though this should be accompanied by a demonstration of some sort. Some sources are reliable, while others are not. Whether or not the researchers are likely to have a bias, whether or not they have a good reputation to loose and the rigorousness of their methodology are key.There are two words that I use frequently when someone is claiming that the information that I'm providing is false or not entirely accurate:
Refute it.
- If I say John down the road, who hates religion, states that "there are no gods" for instance, this adds no weight to my claim. WLCraig often like to quote people as if that makes their claims true.
- If John is able to present evidence for his claim however, where he lays out a coherent methodology, with data which can reliably lead to the conclusion he has drawn, then he may well be a good source.
- If John is likely to have a strong bias and his findings aren't peer-reviewed but are highly controversial, it may be more likely that he's made up data or drawn unjustified conclusions from it.
- If John's findings are not reproducible and/or are contradicted by better research then it is likely that they're either falsified or anomalous.
- Alternatively, if John is an expert epidemiologist in a reputable epidemiological institution, which is concerned with epidemiology and indifferent to homosexuality... then when you make an epidemiological claim, John (and his institution) are likely to have relevant contributions. There is a distinction between claims about homosexuality and claims about a given disease disproportionately affecting those who happen to be homosexual however.
1) Peer-reviewed studies,
2) Reputable national organisations with no clear bias,
3) International/long-standing pollsters (E.G. Pew/Gallop).
This does not mean that such sources are always reliable. The reliability of a peer-reviewed study for instance can be gaged by factors such as its journal's impact factor, its methodology and how that relates to its conclusion(s) and the findings of related research.
- A Christian website on archaeology or evolutionary biology is unlikely to be reliable, particularly compared to scientific websites on the same subjects.
- A Christian website on Christianity (Christian beliefs) is likely to be reliable, at least for that denomination.
- A scientific website may also be reliable on some subtopic of Christianity because the only bias of science is towards the truth and this relevance is usually the result of Christianity making scientific claims.
You think anal cancer isn't :s? Every factor you listed is basically related to HPV so applies to anal cancer too. Here are some others.As you said, most anal cancer in men is predominately caused by anal sex. However cervical cancer in women is brought on by numerous factors:So it is as I said, just a change in location which is affected (mostly cervix for heteros, mostly anus for MSM). The only disparity here is one of healthcare provision...
- "The social stigma that anal cancer carries with it prevents fair and equitable conversation, awareness, and funding that could support research and care for people with the disease.
- Organ transplant recipients,
- and people taking medications for autoimmune disorders, often are immunocompromised and also are at higher risk for developing anal cancer.
- Anal HPV infections are also present in healthy, heterosexual men. For example, a 2008 University of Arizona study showed that 16.6% of asymptomatic heterosexual men tested positive for anal HPV on their anus, a third of which were cancer-causing.
- This highlights that HPV is nearly an unavoidable infection in sexual active people and can easily infect the entire anogenital region.
- Every year people who do not have any of the above risk factors also are diagnosed with anal precancer and cancer. This is a simple consequence of the fact that the HPVs that cause this cancer are so ubiquitous in the human population."
I love how you slided from one cancer in to a relatively unrelated one. Lesbians aren't overrepresented when it comes to HPV or cervical cancer as far as I recall. Hetero women may even be with HPV. Lesbians are disadvantaged by people like you however of course when it comes to cervical cancer. Again, you're a modern-day pharisee.Keep in mind that cervical cancer isn't confined just to heterosexual women, lesbos contract it too (in fact, lesbians are over represented when it comes to breast cancer
Mcintre et al. 2010, Culture, Health & Sexuality, DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2010.508844:
"Lesbians are said to feel excluded by sexual health messages that presume heterosexuality, a finding linked to lower levels of Papanicolaou (Pap) testing."
Tracy et al. 2010, Journal of Women's Health, 19(2), 229-237:
"Many lesbians do not screen for cervical cancer at recommended rates. Nonroutine screeners perceive fewer benefits, more barriers, and more discrimination".
You'll be pleased to hear that the same conclusion can be drawn from your own source concerning breast cancer:
http://www.cancer.org/healthy/findc.../cancer-facts-for-lesbians-and-bisexual-womenLow rates of health insurance: Many health insurance policies do not cover unmarried partners. This makes it harder for many lesbians and bisexual women to get quality health care.
Fear of discrimination: Many women do not tell their doctors about their sexual orientation, because they don’t want discrimination to affect the quality of health care they receive. This can make it harder to have a comfortable relationship with a provider.
Negative experiences with health care providers: Fear of having a negative experience with a health care provider can lead some women to delay or avoid medical care, especially routine care such as early detection tests.
The 2 biggest risk factors for breast cancer are being a woman and getting older.
How moronic. Every precaution I mentioned applies to both homo and heterosexuals. We've been discussing cervical cancer for instance, which is now massively reduced in hetero women due to routine pap tests. Have you been asleep?OR, you could abide by God's plan for human sexuality and marry a woman and be faithful to her all of your life and you wouldn't have to get vaccinations, get screened regularly or avoid serodiscordant partners, etc. etc. etc. (my my, there are so many precautions that homosexuals have to take in order not to get "sick").
1) Prove a deity exists,
2) Prove it is your one,
3) Prove that we should do what it wants.
You're several steps removed from even beginning to make a justified claim about a god.
Here you assert the objectivity of purpose. Demonstrate that purpose is objective. When you've done that you can start lecturing your hetero compatriots about anal sex and why YOU should get to dictate THEIR sex lives.Plain and simply put T4y: Whether or not I approve of your buggery, the anal sphincter muscle wasn't meant to be penetrated, and bad things happen when it is.
D. T. Haplerin, 1999, AIDS Patient Care STDS, 13(12), 717-730:
"In terms of absolute numbers, approximately seven times more women than homosexual men engage in unprotected receptive anal intercourse."
Bruce Voeller, 1991, Archives of Sexual Behavior, 20(3), 233-276:
"Considerably more heterosexuals engage in the act than do homosexual and bisexual men, not all of whom participate in anal coitus."
I'll happily acknowledge it when you demonstrate it though it has no apparent relevance. IDU is an entirely separate transmission category and your point 3 is resultant from your hypocritical condemnations.If you're talking about HIV/AIDS infection by heterosexuals you better acknowledge that those who are contracting it either are:
1). Intravenous drug users (needle using junkies)*
2). Prostitutes*
3). Women who have sex with men "on the down low".
Heavily biased anecdotal evidence with no longitudinal observation you mean? They don't know in their "heart" that something is wrong. They're indoctrinated to believe that it is from infancy. This is why people in many societies may find public nudity immoral, while in other parts of the world, people live naked and others still they wear burkas. You really don't have a leg to stand on.Sorry T4y, but the reason the vast majority of people leave homosexual behavior (and often times desires) behind is because they know in their heart that they're doing something very wrong. Refer to the numerous testimonials throughout this 3 part thread.
Founders, leaders and prominent advocates of the ex-gay movement:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDiYeJ_bsQo
1) A video of over 30 former "Ex-gays", many of whom would at one time have given an "ex-gay" testimony:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QntMgewZ90Y
We also know that some prominent cases are fictional:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioQ0JP8Cgy8
The American Psychiatric Association:
"There is no published scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of reparative therapy as a treatment to change ones sexual orientation."
John Paulk, "Love Won Out" founder and former chairman of the board of "Exodus International", who appeared on “Oprah” and “Good Morning America" in support of ex-gay therapy. He has since issued an apology for his involvement in the ex-gay movement:
"For the better part of ten years, I was an advocate and spokesman for what’s known as the "ex-gay movement"... I do not believe that reparative therapy changes sexual orientation; in fact, it does great harm to many people."
John Smid, former Executive Director of one of the oldest ex-gay ministries, "Love In Action", which he was involved with for over two decades has since claimed the following:
"I've never met a man who experienced a change from homosexual to heterosexual."
Like Jesus then. As I said, you know almost nothing of my lifestyle. You seem to be a lonely old man with nothing to live for but spreading demonstrably unjustified hatred on this website. You are an archetypal Pharisee.Here's what your lifestyle brings: death.