Love in Action... or not?

[Retribution]

[SIZE=4][B][URL=http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendID=7428306&Mytoken=20050609002410]Click here for the story.[/URL][/B][/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Sorry about the poor title for this article. I couldn't really think of much else in this shocked/disgusted state I'm left in after reading their rules. Please, click the link -- it's a boy named Zach's blog. It contains the rules for this ... Love in Action camp he's attending. He's homosexual, and his parents wanted to change that, and sent him to this camp.

You don't need to scroll too far down to see the rules laid out by the camp, and after those you can read his parent's reaction to his coffession of being gay.

Now, this topic is here to not only discuss if being gay is right/wrong or whatever, but also to draw a reaction from people here. Do you think these people are doing the "Christian" thing to do, or are they just over the top?

Personally, I think it's sickening his parents would do this to him, and horrible how the camp is set up.[/SIZE]

[Kitty]

[COLOR=Blue][SIZE=1]Holy ****. O_O

Who's idea was it to come up with this camp? Hitler?! I mean, jeez! It's like they're trying to erase all traces of the kids' individual identity, preferences, and personality! Isolating them from society isn't going to help them, it's just going to **** them up. It's insane! But poor Zach.. Poor [i]anyone[/i] who has to go to that shithole. I mean.. Who would send a kid somewhere so horrible? It's ridiculous! His parents [i]really[/i] need to go shove it.

The "Christian thing to do", eh? I'm damn glad I'm athiest then.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Goodbye, Face]

It didn't take me long to X out of that. That is not the Christian thing to do. I have two problems with this predicament... One being that I support gay rights, and two being that I'm a little on the anti-Christian side (I'm athiest). I've had some horrible things happen to me "In the name of God," but nothing like what that guy's going through. I wish him good luck.

[Ezekiel]

[SIZE=1]
Kitty, I am with you all the way. Now, I'm not going to let out my true feelings on this, because I may get flamed by some Christian people, and while I do respect everyone else?s religion (while not agreeing with most of it) things like this just make me sick and in my opinion, Christians do it far too often.

I had an argument with my friend a while ago because she was saying, while she has nothing against being gay, it is wrong. I was like: "No....you're totally contradicting yourself there." But she's the kind who never understands when someone is pointing out what she done wrong and she goes off on this big "It's not right because the Bible and God didn't make it that way."

I almost slapped her and walked away.

Back on topic. Making a camp for this kind of thing is sick, and yes, it is actually something Hitler did. He sent a large number of them into camps to have them eliminated...I can't find the actual figure right now, but it was more than just a couple.[/SIZE]

[DeadSeraphim]

[COLOR=Indigo][SIZE=1][FONT=Arial]...wow. Just wow. I could [i]never[/i] do this to a person, it's morally corrupt and is forcing them to become something they're not. Like James just said to me, it's comparable to what they thought mental illness was way back in days of old, back when they still thought it was just demonic posession.

News flash: People can't help it if they're gay. It's not just some superficial thing they've conjured up, it's a [i]part of them[/i]. Just because an out-dated religion says it's wrong, doesn't mean it is. Before Christianity homosexuality was an accepted (and encouraged) part of many societies. I honestly don't know where things changed.

It's a reaction like his parents that took me [b]six years[/b] to tell my Mum I'm a cross dresser. The thought of being violently shunned, and nigh on hated by my own family scared me right into submission (and it would be over something as insignificant as clothes, too, which makes it even more pathetic). I still can't tell my Dad cause I can expect that reaction from him.

Fortunately my mother is extremely liberal, and took it in her stride. I wish Zach had been blessed with comparable parents. =/[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Hevn]

[COLOR=#DC9B99][SIZE=1]Bulls_hit.

No one can make me do that. If someone forced me there I'm gonna break each and every ******* rule they have no matter what and I'm taking everyone there with me. *rebels*

There are Christians who are allowed to be gay, *** holes. :animeangr [/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Retribution]

[SIZE=1]Now... not all Christians are like this, nor do most support this kind of treatment. While most of you may be athiest, don't let people like these determine your feeling on the religion. They're bending scripture to fit their message. Like Hitler making Jesus aryan and saying Jews killed Christ and need to be exterminated.

I'm Christian (as you probably have guessed), but I believe gays and lesbians should be able to marry and live happy lives, and don't deserve to be looked down upon by people. Something as intolerant as what they did to Zach is just ... I can't exactly put it in words how terrible this is. I wonder why he's not rebelling, if he hasn't already. I'm basically with Hevn on the reaction.[/SIZE]

[Sapphire Flare]

Yeah all christians are DEFINATELY not like that... I'm christian, or used to be christian before I kind of went Agnostic, but I still have a lot of christian friends and camps like those don't truly understand what it means...

[quote='kitty']Holy ****. O_O

Who's idea was it to come up with this camp? Hitler?![/quote]

I agree definately. That isn't no christian camp, its a devil worshipper camp DISGUISED as a christian camp. YOU CAN'T FREAKIN HUG ANYONE? a "brief handshake"? Well jebus I guess their theory is "If you can't love right, don't love at all!" dang... I feel sorry for that kid that his parents are so misunderstanding...

I mean he can't control his genetic make-up or his hormones. :/

(Yes there are numerous articles saying that homosexualtiy can be a cause of specific genes that react to different hormones even though they are not 100% sure I think it makes sense.)

[Minako]

Oh. My. God. That is just SICK! I'm a Christian, and that is NOT a Christian thing to do! That's borderline CULT activity! The one part where [SPOILER]they're not allowed to SPEAK or COMMUNICATE "verbally, or by handsignals, or by eye contact" to ANYONE! They're supposed to be totally SILENT and can only WRITE something when ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY![/SPOILER] This is an outrage! I am personally APALLED at this. They are basically, brainwashing these poor kids into becoming "straight." They are RUINING the already poor reputation of Christians. I can't believe that his parents have the NERVE to send him to a camp like this. They're not even allowed to go to school unless they're homeschooled!

It makes me wonder what this world is coming to.

(Sorry for all the words in Caps. This just sickens me.)

[James]

[font=franklin gothic medium][color=#332E1D]As has been said, I think even many devout Christians would have a problem with this insane behavior.

It's like being born with black hair and blue eyes...and then having your parents send you to a doctor for shock therapy because you happen to have slightly unusual physical features. Articles like these make me wonder how far we've come from the dark ages, honestly.

Oh well. Things like this do unfortunately happen. It reminds me of a documentary I recently saw about the concentration camps in North Korea, for people who speak out against the government. It's kind of amazing to think that such things continue to occur in today's world. What's particularly bad about this thing, though, is that it's happening in a country where you'd think people are generally more sane and educated.

But yeah, as has been said, one can't judge all Christians based upon something like this. Obviously, you have varying degrees of fundamentalism going on. Most Christians - at least the ones I'm friendly with - are reasonably tolerant people. It's usually only the highly vocal ones and those in the minority who are extremely predjuce and backward. I guess that at the very least, this should be a good reminder about tolerance...and that in many cases there's still a long way to go.[/color][/font]

[Pumpkin]

[SIZE=1][COLOR="#CC3366"][b]This happens in a lot of strong religious families especially in Mormon or Christian ones. I'm not saying all Christians/Mormons act like that, only those that take thing WAY too serious and to the extreme. Obviously, his parent's are ashamed of his homosexuality and feel this camp is somehow going to change that? They are going to be very dissapointed when they find out that this plan is not going to work. I agree it's like a Hitler camp. What they think they are doing for the "Holy" cause, is really a disgusting way of trying to change someone's personality.

I once knew a boy that was mormon named Tony. He came from a religious family and loved going to church. Only problem was that he ended up being gay. His family didn't accept him and sent him to one of these camps. It's disgusting. He ended up being practically disowned and banned from his own church because of his sexuality. It's not his fault and no not all religious people view gay as being wrong, I know my gradmother who is the most religious person in the world, feels that being gay is something that can't be changed and isn't wrong. So no not everyone that's religious feels that way, only the arrogant ones. Those are the type of people I cannot stand. I hope this boy can find his way out of the camp and wish him luck.
[/SIZE][/COLOR][/B]

[celestialcharm]

My eldest sister ask my second eldest sister and I what would we do if our kids (if we have kids) told us they were gay or a lesbian. I answered that it wasn't my business what their preferance is, but my sister(2nd eldest) said that she would send her child to one of those camps!! She said something that they choose to be gay or whatever! But, she's a pretty hardcore Christian. :animesigh

Personally, I as a Christian think it's their own business. But, why do people even care if people are lesbians or gay?! It's like people need a new hobby instead of persecuting(sp?) the gays and lesbians!!

That poor teen is gonna have some major psycological issues! Maybe we should rescue him???

[shinji172]

This is sickening...

How can anyone do this to anyone. Im ashamed at these people for calling themselves christian. I pity anyone who has to go through this hell on earth. I'd die before my children (if i have any) were sent to one of these places.

not only is this psycologically damadging and just plain wrong, these people are manipulating the religious texts. for example, in one of the passages mentioned it says that those who are guilty of...

[QUOTE]adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness[/QUOTE]

will not inherit the kingdom of god. Anyone else notice the inconsistencies...

First off, those sins apply to ANYONE.Its not a preach against homosexuality. uncleanliness and sexual immortality are far too vague to be linked to homosexuality. Like hitler and the Nazis, they are exaggerating points to try and make their ideal dominant (remember hitlers aryan beliefs?).

This next point, im almost 100% certain about (its what ive been taught at school for the last two years)

a major misconseption made by many people is that (in the eyes of the catholic church) being homosexual is a sin...
that my friends... is not exactly true
the majority of christian officials will not marry homosexuals and do call them to chasity (sp?). However, it is [B]not[/B] a sin to be homosexual.

these extremists are completly out of order. I hope that whoever is forced into it doesnt fall to the evil of their brainwashing.

p.s. Im preaty certain that what ive said (regarding christianity) is 100% accurate. If anyone finds that i am wrong and/or is offended then i apologise

[Momiji Love]

[SIZE=1]Holy cats.I'm a Christian but thats fricken crazy.

I don't have a problem with gay people. Its not like they can help being gay.There is no way you can change a persons sexuality.

Some of the dress and hygiene regulations were absurd.No Abercrombie and Fitch I can understand.But who actually wears Calvin Klein stuff anymore. :p

But goofiness aside. [QUOTE] Women: Women must shave legs and underarms at least twice weekly.[/QUOTE]

Is that possible without wasting shaving cream?

[QUOTE]Refuge clients must be accompanied by a parent during any trip to a public restroom.[/QUOTE]

I would seriously be angry.What does this have to do with anything?

This camp is borderline Hitler's "Final Solution" and cult-like thrown into a blender and combined.[/SIZE]

[Delta]

[COLOR=#7C0201][SIZE=1][b]*raises hand*[/b]
No booze, smokes and spandex? That's gotta hurt.[QUOTE=shinji172]a major misconseption made by many people is that (in the eyes of the catholic church) being homosexual is a sin...
that my friends... is not exactly true[/QUOTE]Quoted for Truth.
The Seven Capital Sins and Ten Commandments got nothing against homosexuality. Notice that nowhere in the verses LiA quoted was homosexuality even [i]remotely[/i] mentioned? It being a sin is just something the institution cooked up for followers willing to ingest any crap they offer without even checking what's in the soup. Like the guys at LiA.
[QUOTE][SIZE=1]Women: Women must shave legs and underarms at least twice weekly.[/SIZE][/quote]My, my. Guess them camp coordinators don't know jacksquat about skin care. I mean, shave? That's like skin suicide. Soooo wrong.

[b]I love you, LiA.[/b][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Sapphire Flare]

Yes, you'll see in the OLD TESTAMENT of the bible that any man caught sleeping wtih another man as if he was a woman should be stoned. But thanks to jesus dying and the fact that we are more civilized means that we don't have to stone them -.-

Besides, you can't sleep with a man the same way you sleep with a woman due to lack of holes. Unless he means like a sleepover in which I should be stoned because I had several when I was 6...

Not to mention I'm Agnostic so I could care less what the bible says... :animesigh

[Quote]Men: Sideburns cannot go past the tip of the ear, this mean where the ear meets the side of the head under the temple[/quote]

Wtf? Those aren't sideburns then! They're... they're... Not sideburns.

[Retribution]

[quote name='James][font=franklin gothic medium][color=#332E1D]I guess that at the very least, this should be a good reminder about tolerance...and that in many cases there's still a long way to go.[/color'][/font][/quote][SIZE=1]Tolerance, hm? Whatever happened to [i]accepting[/i] human beings? Ahh, I'll stop preaching now.

Actually, the New Testament (Paul, I believe) says expressly that homosexuality [i]is in fact[/i] a sin. But Christians now adays narrowed it down to if you [i]act upon[/i] your homosexuality (having sex with another man), that it's a sin. I don't believe either. I think the Bible was written by a man. Inspired by the Holy Spirit? Maybe, but the human author is speaking as well, and he carries his own opinions and knowledge of his current times. We see that things change, and we no longer stone people and the like, so why not this? Hehe... I know this gives rise to a bunch of Bible-is-nothing-but-a-book arguements, but whatever. The Bible is a historical book, recounting history. I'm not exactly sure if it's inspired by the Holy Spirit. [/religionclass][/SIZE]

[shinji172]

This is what my older brother had to say on the matter,

"God damn extremeist Christians, i dont want to offend anyone but im sorry, you cant take the bible at face value because its been manipulated so many times!! Its this type of thing that made me renounce my christian faith :mad: Someone earlier said that its something the institute added and their correct, the evils of homosexuality is an outdated concept that was added during the early days of the church to attract people from religions that already maintained that belief. Christianity is the evil, not homosexuality!!!! :mad: :animeangr "

[Jim_Hawking]

[font=Tahoma]Ugh...what I want to know is far deep in the closet is the person who came up with this? And come on, if I read the rules correctly they can't even listen to Classical Music? Since when has Beethoven or Bach or Mozart ever been considered "gay music?" [/font]

[font=Tahoma](Sure they may haved dressed a little fruity, but that was the style back then. All joking aside, back to the point.)[/font]

This is just mind-boggling that parents would actually send their children to a "camp" like this. It's not possible for someone to "learn" to be straight. It's just un-natural.

(Then again if Michael Jackson can go from successful black man to freakish white girl, anything is possible. Sorry, it was there for the taking. No offense meant.)

[Godelsensei]

See, this is why no one should be allowed to reproduce without first passing an exam to determine whether or not it would be better for the world to just break their ovaries/testicles and be done with it.

Honestly, if I ever met some one in charge of a camp like this or some one who had sent their child to one, I would give them the beat-down with a cattle-prod and a rolled-up porn mag.

[Brasil]

I say we bust him and the other prisoners out.

[Retribution]

[SIZE=1][quote name='Siren']I say we bust him and the other prisoners out.[/quote]I second that.

Godel, the porno mag was utterly hilarious.

I wonder what I would do if I were to meet the jailors. I doubt I'd actually take the path of physical violence. More like sabotage... somehow, and be very sarcastic.[/SIZE]

[Morpheus]

I've got a better use for the porno: Throw it in the center of a bear trap and we could catch every single one of the sex-deprived counselors.

[Sara]

[color=#6699CC]I cannot comprehend that any parent would send their child to a place like this. [/color]

[Godelsensei]

[quote name='Lore][color=#6699CC']I cannot comprehend that any parent would send their child to a place like this. [/color][/quote]

It should be grounds for legal insanity and, therein, incompetence. It's abuse, plain and simple.

They should have their children removed from their custody, since they've clearly demonstrated they don't love them enough to treat them like human beings.