A small Christian group has provoked a storm of criticism by publishing a book which claims Jesus can ”CURE” homosexuality.
Controversial ‘Where Is Your Brother?’ tells the tale of a man who leaves his wife and kids for a male partner – only to have a religous revelation and reject homosexuality.
The book, written by a Canadian author, is now due to hit shelves across the UK after a Christian literary firm decided to publish it and promote its message.
Its members have caused a stir by claiming the book can help ”cure” teenagers who have been ”misled” into homosexuality.
Eileen Mohr, 79, who runs Crossbridge Books, said: ”We wanted this to be a more high profile launch than we usually have because of the nature of the story.
”We are expecting it to be controversial because of its claim that Jesus can cure homosexuals and we are ready for the controversy.
”Although we believe some people are born with homosexual tendencies, a lot of teenagers are misled by all the hype in the media about homosexuality.
”Because their sexuality is not clearly defined they can be misled into it.”
The book, its title taken from a quote said by the Lord to Cain in the New Testament, was penned by Canadian writer Marion Heath.
The plot follows Ryan and Tony, friends who form a bond and make – according to the book’s description – some ”wrong choices”.
Tony leaves his wife Janet and their two teenage kids and moves in with Ryan, only to finally find the ”power” of Jesus and reject homosexuality – returning to his family.
It is billed as a ”powerful novel involving adventurous sport, life-changing experiences, redemption and compassion”.
Mrs Mohr said: ”We are expecting homosexual people to object to the idea that Tony can be cured of his homosexual tendencies.
”We want them to read the book and find out more about the healing power of Jesus.
”We are not belittling them – it is just showing that Jesus can help whatever their problems.
”A lot of people have been led astray and the present attitude is almost claiming that it is normal.
”Some seem to be born that way, but a lot of psychiatrists say it is a result of our environment.
”I know Jesus can heal them.”
The book is due to be launched at St Paul’s Church, in Worcester, next month by Crossbridge Books – run by retired teacher Eileen and her 80-year-old husband Gunther.
Marion Heath is travelling from Canada to be at the launch, on March 19, and publisher Eileen Mohr is also hoping to arrange book signings across the city.
Gay and lesbian groups have reacted with fury at the book.
Lesbian and Gay Foundation, a charity which campaigns for equal rights, claimed her comments would add to the ”myth” that homosexuality can be cured.
A spokesman said: ”Mrs Mohr’s comments are particularly worrying, and will come as no comfort especially to lesbian, gay and bisexual people of faith.
”Mrs Mohr states “a lot of people have been led astray and the present attitude is almost claiming that it is normal” inferring that homosexuality is abnormal.
”A number of recent cases have highlighted that psychiatrists, counsellors and psychotherapists have been trying to cure lesbian, gay and bisexual people, often on religious grounds.
”This kind of conversion therapy has been discredited by the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists, and British and American Psychological Associations.
”Maybe Ms Heath’s next book could highlight that sexual orientation and religion don’t always have to be at odds.
”Many lesbian, gay and bisexual people have happily reconciled their sexual orientation with their faith, and feel no need to be healed.
”In fact what we often hear is that people who are lesbian and gay merely want to be healed of the pressure to conform to other people’s expectations.
”They need to talk to someone who will understand what they are going through and recognise the need for them to be true to themselves without anyone trying to change them.
”It sounds like this book will do nothing to help these people, merely to promote the myth that sexual orientation can be altered.”
I wonder if it is possible to cure years of religious indoctrination.
No more than years of cultural indoctrination as we sit our children in front of anti-christian rhetoric broadcast on our airwaves. Shame-shame for buying in to brainwashing.
All religion is is brainwashing!
Hey everyone. The one thing we seem to have missed about this “new” book is that it is fiction.
don’t think that’s possible as long as the desire to control the masses exists.
Maybe not, but the two major ex-gay ministries have now admitted nobody changed from homosexual to heterosexual. They’ve apologized and closed down forever. At least that’s a step in the right direction. And for those (below) who say sexual orientation is a choice, try changing yours. You’ll see it is impossible.
Lol…. Jesus was gay!
I have struggled in he past. “Cure from” is a misleading word. “Coping with” is more accurate. Like many unhealthy addictions it comes down to impulse control. I love my wife and kids, and that is enough for me.
Interesting, isn’t it, if Christians say homosexuality can be rejected and people can change, all hell breaks loose but when homosexual activists say so the silence is deafening.
Peter Tatchell (UK), Graham Willett & Denis Altman (Australia) and too many in the US have said there is NO gay gene and that change is possible.
Tatchell says, how else do you account for bisexuals?
Dennis Altman, who wrote in 1986: “To be Haitian or a hemophiliac is determined at birth, but being gay is an identity that is socially determined and involves personal choice.
Willett said “I think the idea that sexuality is genetic is crap…It’s a great lifestyle and something everybody should have the right to experience. If you believe it’s genetic, how are you going to make the effort?”
“The effort to recruit” Clearly if people can’t change how could you recruit them?
If they can be recruited (changed toward homosexuality) they must be able to go the other way – just as Peter Tatchell says.
Helping people see the truth is never wrong however much some people do not like it.
Helping people change if they want to is never wrong even though some may fail.
Smokers are becoming ex smokers all the time despite many failing to do so. We do not say it is impossible to quite smoking just because some can’t do it. That would be madness. Why is the addiction to smoking any different to sexual addiction if both are a social choice?
By the way, I have friends who are now ex homosexuals they know change is possible.
why are you talking about homosexuality as if it is a disease or a bad habit?
why is it bad? is it only because it goes against supposed religious conventions? or is it because it threatens reproduction?
or is it because it threatens the position of power that the heterosexual male wields in our patriarchal society?
any of the reasons above, for dismissing homosexuality as a pathological deviance that ought to be “cured”, need to be re-looked in relation to oneself and the threat you feel from the presence of homosexuality.
there isn’t any “right” or “wrong” sexual identity. sexual identity may be a choice. but who’s to determine that a certain choice is “right” and the other is necessarily “wrong”?
Biology and anatomy, Geraldine, take a closer look at what fits and what doesn’t and you will see what is natural and what is not.
Statistics show that, especially homosexuality, but also lesbianism, are the cause of greatly increased levels of STDs like Gomorrah, Chlamydia, and Syphilis, and 80% + of HIV/AIDS in Western countries is the direct result of same-sex sexual relationships.
Surely, this must tell those who want to listen what is natural and what is unnatural and unhealthy.
But there is always Hope – as some of my friends have found – as they have left same-sex attraction behind and become whole in Christ.
WHEN DID YOU CHOOSE TO BE HETROSEXUAL?
DO YOU THINK IT IS POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO ‘CHANGE’ AND BECOME HOMOSEXUAL?
You have your own answer there…
@ Peter, you try to strengthen your unfounded arguement by including partial quotes taken out of context by well know gay and human rights activists like Peter Tatchel.
In fact you show your self up to be uneducated on this subject. Are you saying you have done more study and research and know better than the Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists, and British and American Psychological Associations?
I doubt it and I would say your post is motivated by bigotry.
Arn’t most priest gay anyway – hahaha
Those who think that one’s sexuality can be swayed by ‘the press’ obviously have a very fragile sense of their own sexuality. I knew that I was gay from the age of 5…and I lived in world where heterosexuality was by far the greatest influence and I experimented with women too before I was sure. No one made me this way… but God.
To be honest I think this is a lifestyle choice for most. There is so much homosexuality on tv these days, day or night and kids will be confused. I once had a crush on some girls some 15 years ago and know that I am so not gay. This happened as I met some gays for the first time and the idea was planted in my head. Most people think it is beautiful to see a romantic scene with a man and woman on tv. Who would want to see two men engage in sexuality activity – no thank you. Each to their own and I do not deny you your choice but as far as I am concerned being gay is wrong and unnatural I will never change my opinion. God created man and woman to be together for a reason. A man and man cannot procreate and a woman cannot procreate with another woman – thereby rests the case – it was not meant to be. I just hope that teachers etc don’t ever think they can normalise this to my youngest.
BIGOT!
It’s nice to see another faith based moraliser work out the whole universe, sum it up in a sentence and impose their morality on everyone else.
What gives anyone the right to tell anyone how best to live?
Surely you don’t live in a free country if someone has to define the conditions of your free life for you.
Especially someone spouting someone else’s beliefs, to which they have applied no critical thought of their own.
It’s nice to see another faith based moraliser work out the whole universe, sum it up in a sentence and impose their morality on everyone else.
What gives anyone the right to tell anyone how best to live?
Surely you don’t live in a free country if someone has to define the conditions of your free life for you.
Especially someone spouting someone else’s beliefs, to which they have applied no critical thought of their own.
It seems to me many people are basising their rationalisation that homoseuality is wrong because the bible says so, funny old thing the bible says it is wrong to be judgemental – so which is worse those judging people for being homosexual or those who are homosexual, its about time people grow up and mind their own business, because after all when judgement day comes they will be judged the same!!!!
See my previous posts to deal with evidence re homosexuality being wrong according to biology and anatomy – not just the Bible
The Bible does not say it is wrong to know what is sin and what will keep us out of heaven – it tells us very clearly.
Two thousand years is but a blink of an eye if you fall for the theory that this planet has supposedly been in existence ‘millions of years’. Not that I believe that but it seems we so often hear from people who do that 2,000 years is such a long time.
The NT books were written within 50 years or so of Christ walking this earth (an historical event) and often by people who personally knew Jesus.
Lol some people will belive anything! There are millions of different religions who says urs is the right one! Oh and how do u know these people personally knew jesus it was 2 million years ago! Jedi had not become a relkgion and people follow it! That religion cane from a fictional story! Where did christianity come from! Most likley the same place! A fairy tale/ bedtime story!
Christ teacher’s wisdom to the wise,Judge wisely and you will not be Judged,love all what ever the sin,he taught us to sacrifice our moral wrong doing,His words was wrote over 2 thousand years ago, but how up to date was he!!! I hope many more books are wrote,as there are confused people out there,for all different reason’s,and I believe Christ is there now to heal all,even to heal us from this evil world,I know I am one of them.Thank you, for book, Were Is My Brother.
So much ignorance.
Type your comment here.@ Peter, you may be surprised to find out that straights engage in anal sex as well as gays. The anatomy works out just fine.
just wow, It’s really a bit sad that in these times people are still judging and discriminating this way. If your gay fair enough, straight fair enough, somewhere in between, thats cool too. What happens between 2 (or more lol) consenting adults and isn’t hurting anyone seems like fair game and I’m certainly not a fan of discriminating due to biology and religion. The bible is way out of date for modern morality. I Don’t think the bible can cover what society has evolved into now, times have changed and the book certainly hasn’t. and homosexuality and bisexuality are biologically very natural, occurs in animals and people quite commonly. And the anatomy, if all you have sex for is kid production, damn your missing out and does the no kids no sex rule apply to everyone then? cause if thats the case then sex should be pretty much between one man and one woman, both fertile with no problems at the peak phase of fertility and then never outside that point. sounds a bit daft to me. very little sex unless you know ur gonna get a resulting kid from it and then once ur not adequately fertile your closed for business.
so I guess I’m saying, i don’t take 2000 year old rules invented by a church too seriously for modern day ethics. We have laws and ethics, I stick by them and whoever you love is fine as long as its safe, legal and mutually consenting. I think thats pretty reasonable.
Homosexuality is not a choice! I have grown up in a comunity where i wasnt exposed to homosexuality at all! I know verry few homosexuals even now that i am in university but i knew from the age of about seven that i was different! If its a choice as you people claim i would be able to ‘change’without any effort! I belive that you fall in love with who u fall in love with and nothing should stand in the way of that! If it wasnt for all the religious people saying that homosexuality is wrong there would be much more homosexuals for the sole reason that people wouldnt deny their feelings any longer the only reason people are straight is because they thing there is something wrong with being homosexual! You deny your feelings due to thinking its wrong! Homosexuals arent recruited this is a silly myth that religous nut jobs need to dismiss before things get out of hand! Why do people belive that because it says in the bible its wrong! How come more fuss isnt made about people stiking to the ten comandments if the bible is right! All you people who think homosexuality is wrong need to respect other people and not go on about it! If your children came to you saying they were homosexual you need to support them as its hard enough being homosexual without having your parents being against you also! I have been made to feel so ashamed of myself by religious dickheads wjo think that they know everything! I dont belive there is a ‘gay gene’ but i do belive it is conected to the amount of testosterone a baby recives in the whomb! If a girl has too much she will be lesbian if a boy doesnt have enough he will be gay! So to all you mothers out there who belive that you child is choosing to be gay and that you dont like them being gay just have a quick think that you are thereason there like it not because they chose it or were recruited but because your body didnt give them the right ingredients in the whomb to make the heterosexual! I respect that religious people have their belives but theres no need to write a book about it! Mobody wrote a book on how to cure black people when nobody acepted them but over time people have learned that skin colour does not make you any different to any other person! Anyone who thinks homosexuality is wrong and a sin and you should be punished should wach ‘prayers for bobby’ its based on a true story and this will make you think twice before you condem someone for being homosexual! To quote the film ‘ before you echo amen in your home or place of worship think….. A child is listening’!
Homosexuality is not a choice! I have grown up in a comunity where i wasnt exposed to homosexuality at all! I know verry few homosexuals even now that i am in university but i knew from the age of about seven that i was different! If its a choice as you people claim i would be able to ‘change’without any effort! I belive that you fall in love with who u fall in love with and nothing should stand in the way of that! If it wasnt for all the religious people saying that homosexuality is wrong there would be much more homosexuals for the sole reason that people wouldnt deny their feelings any longer the only reason people are straight is because they thing there is something wrong with being homosexual! You deny your feelings due to thinking its wrong! Homosexuals arent recruited this is a silly myth that religous nut jobs need to dismiss before things get out of hand! Why do people belive that because it says in the bible its wrong! How come more fuss isnt made about people stiking to the ten comandments if the bible is right! All you people who think homosexuality is wrong need to respect other people and not go on about it! If your children came to you saying they were homosexual you need to support them as its hard enough being homosexual without having your parents being against you also! I have been made to feel so ashamed of myself by religious dickheads wjo think that they know everything! I dont belive there is a ‘gay gene’ but i do belive it is conected to the amount of testosterone a baby recives in the whomb! If a girl has too much she will be lesbian if a boy doesnt have enough he will be gay! So to all you mothers out there who belive that you child is choosing to be gay and that you dont like them being gay just have a quick think that you are thereason there like it not because they chose it or were recruited but because your body didnt give them the right ingredients in the whomb to make the heterosexual! I respect that religious people have their belives but theres no need to write a book about it! Mobody wrote a book on how to cure black people when nobody acepted them but over time people have learned that skin colour does not make you any different to any other person! Anyone who thinks homosexuality is wrong and a sin and you should be punished should wach ‘prayers for bobby’ its based on a true story and this will make you think twice before you condem someone for being homosexual! To quote the film ‘ before you echo amen in your home or place of worship think….. A child is listening’!
why is it ok for gays to bad mouth religon but bad mouth gay is bigotry. Everyone has beliefs and should not be attaked because of them on both sides. until there is evidance that is fully scientificly proven it is all theory. I know of many gays who have changed and many straight men who change mid life to gay. love one another and be happy and if some one buys the book good for them and if they dont good for them. but stop putting down religon when most are just saying change is possible, and i do belive All things are possible through christ and i mean all. so i can become taller stronger what ever