This-essay is a9710011.htm which is available at the
web-site www.essayz.com. See more notes at the bottom.
Previous-Essay <== This-Essay ==> Following-Essay
By-Months By-Years By-Words
Webs of Like-&-Un-Like ESSAYS <==> Like-&-UN-Like This-One
==========================================================
%HOMOSEXUAL HOMOPHOBIA ABSOLUTE BEHAVIOR STANDARD+971001
%INTEGRITY LIBERAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION PEACEMAKING+971001
%FUNDAMENTAL RELIGIOUS AFFIRM POPULATE SURVIVE 971001
The enduring conflicts over the integration of
homosexuals into the full range of our communal dialogue
has many aspects to it. We will do well and be well when
we can recognize, name, describe and be in open and honest
dialogue about the many aspects of the many conflicts
associated with human sexuality.
1. What is the nature of homosexuality? Is
homosexuality the result of natural genetic diversity over
which many people have little or no control? Is
homosexuality an either/or condition --- or a spectrum of
a variety of conditions running the full range from pure
heterosexuality to pure homosexuality? Can homosexuality
be "cured" through behavioral therapy --- or does such
therapy overall engender more conflict and alienation than
it mitigates?
2. What is the nature of homophobia? Is homophobia
the result of natural genetic diversity over which many
people have little or no control? Is homophobia an
either/or condition --- or a spectrum of a variety of
conditions running the full range from pure tolerance to
pure homophobia? Can homophobia be "cured" through
behavioral therapy --- or does such therapy overall
engender more conflict and alienation than it mitigates?
3. What is the nature of fundamentalism? Is
fundamentalism the result of natural genetic diversity
over which many people have little or no control? Is
fundamentalism an either/or condition --- or a spectrum of
a variety of conditions running the full range from pure
liberality to pure fundamentalism? Can fundamentalism be
"cured" through behavioral therapy --- or does such
therapy overall engender more conflict and alienation than
it mitigates?
4. What is the nature of liberalism? Is liberalism
the result of natural genetic diversity over which many
people have little or no control? Is liberalism an
either/or condition --- or a spectrum of a variety of
conditions running the full range from pure liberalism to
pure fundamentalism? Can liberalism be "cured" through
behavioral therapy --- or does such therapy overall
engender more conflict and alienation than it mitigates?
5. Why do religious leaders have so little success
in formulating their affirmations, standards and religious
doctrines in ways which engender both personal and
communal integrity? Why is it that often religious
leaders lead their followers into endless religious
conflicts, violence and wars? Why are peacemaking and
conflict-resolution so far from the hearts, minds and
hands of religious leaders --- while either/or attitudes,
thinking and behaviors are so close to and dear to the
hearts, minds and hands of religious leaders? Are these
dispositions natural and genetically determined?
Predestined? Beyond therapy? Given that religious leaders
are so perpetually alienated from each other --- how can
the Kingdom of Heaven ever be "at hand" and forgiveness,
reconciliation, healing, peacemaking and conflict-
resolution occur?
Of course different people will approach questions
such as those above with different attitudes, assumptions,
genetic dispositions, family histories, convictions, etc.
Our practical problem is to find ways to live with
each other on a finite planet with an increasingly large
and diverse population of humans who are often intolerant
of crowding and diversity. If we cannot trust each other
and agree with each --- other we need to find ways to
minimize the disintegrative effects of our distrust,
conflicts and defensive instincts.
Do we want the law of the "survival of the most fit"
to favor the use of coercion, manipulation, dishonesty,
deception and violence? Or, will we seek to facilitate
open and honest dialogue by giving and receiving free
gifts of the freedom to be safely vulnerable in
integrative relationships --- which are intimate in
keeping with the needs and dispositions of the
participants within those integrative relationships and
within the communities of integrative participants? What
kinds of standards for integrative relationships can we
affirm and uphold as worthy of respect --- because doing
so can be shown to lead in practice to increases in
personal and communal integrity; rather than to personal
and communal disintegration?
(c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in
www.essayz.com Search for Integrity and Honesty
(On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)
==========================================================
Lines beginning with a percent sign are KEYWORDS for use
in ESSAY-System Searches. Their terminal digits are dates
of writing in the format @yymmdd#, where @ = a means 99,
@ = b means 20, and # = is a within-date essay-count.
Links to date-adjacent essays are near page top & bottom.
Find the following links by clicking on CENTER when CENTER
near the top or bottom of a web page of essayz.com
1. Go to HOME PAGE of essayz.com
2. Find brief-essays via keywords
3. Find brief-essay about ADDICTION
4. Search-Helps related to ABOVE-LINK
5. GoTo Action & Information Center
6. Find Regular-Essays via Year/Month
7. Find Regular-Essays via Word-Starts
8. Find Regular-Essay about LOVE
This-essay is a9710011.htm which is available at the
web-site www.essayz.com. These 5 lines echo top lines.
Previous-Essay <== This-Essay ==> Following-Essay
By-Months By-Years By-Words
Webs of Like-&-Un-Like ESSAYS <==> Like-&-UN-Like This-One