Battle for Normality

by Gerard J.M. van den Aardweg

Battle for Normality This book is primarily for those persons drawn towards homosexuality and who seek practical advice in order to change, or, at least, to deal with it constructively and responsably.

170 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1997

About the author

Gerard J. M. van den Aardweg is a Dutch psychologist, and psychotherapist in private practice. He has spoken and written on homosexuality, parapsychology, near-death experience, and anti-abortion matters.

Reviews

[Faris Al Khalaileh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so deep, just finished it and I am amazed, if all people are calling for open minded mentality, I would say please be open minded and take a look, mostly you are going to change your mind,

[Peter Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book laid out the moral choice to walk away from homosexuality aftet 25 years. it wasn't easy to be battered by the truth but i am a much better man for it. to recognise your own simple manhood based on your sex, amongst other men, is such a joy - after a life time of hurt. authentic freedom.

However feelings are not magically erased. The soul may choose to arrive homosexual. No one knows for sure as this is spiritual not material science.

[Brandon Miranda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to give this book one star but his discussion on virtues redeemed a minuscule portion of his book. Otherwise, I thought his findings were harsh and hurtful, not to mention inaccurate as research develops. I would be very curious to see how his ex-homosexual clients turned out today.

Honestly, I think the book is a product of its time. Gay rights was a big topic in the 1990's when this book was written and everyone was searching for explanations and clarifications. If read as a purely psychological text, it reads like an academic article with finding. Read a pastoral text, I would highly discourage it. Anyone experiencing same-sex attraction may feel like he sees them as diseased and mentally disordered people.

[Fr Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introductory guide to working with people with ssa.

[Jan]

I agree that homosexuality is immoral and that SSA is a disorder, but this book made me want to give up because the author makes femininity seem like something that is inherently weak, fickle, unadventurous, naive, saccharine, and inferior. I found this book to be unhelpful because the author's inaccurate perception of what causes SSA in women. He claims that it is caused by girls not feeling pretty and "feminine" enough, which I find to be unrelatable and insulting. (I am a woman in my early twenties. I have secretly struggled with SSA for several years, but have never been in a homosexual relationship.) The author also uses the words like "effeminate" and "old womanish" negatively to describe homosexual men. His attitude is similar to that of the sexist men in my life. Those men made me feel like I wasn't even a person. As a result, I grew up feeling uncomfortable in my own skin (literally) and having no attraction to men. My SSA is slowly diminishing, but I never would have made it this far if I had taken this book seriously. I do not recommend this book to women who wish to regain their self-respect.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Designed for men who struggle with homosexuality, I found this an equally informative read for those who have friends or family that feel they face homosexual tendencies.