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Can Homosexuality Be Healed?
Too often, especially in the church, the subject of homosexuality causes deep misunderstanding and painful rifts. Is it really possible to believe that homosexuals did not choose that lifestyle, and yet maintain biblically that the behavior is sinful? Yes, says author Francis MacNutt, and the prayerful result leads to a new Jesus Christ can transform the homosexual's orient-ation so that he or she can actually become heterosexual.
The striking clarity and practicality of this book will guide the compassionate reader who feels intuitively (and biblically) that homosexuality is wrong but fears being labeled ignorant or "homophobic." And homosexuals who want to change will find that specific prayer brings extraordinary results.
The striking clarity and practicality of this book will guide the compassionate reader who feels intuitively (and biblically) that homosexuality is wrong but fears being labeled ignorant or "homophobic." And homosexuals who want to change will find that specific prayer brings extraordinary results.
108 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
3 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 5, 2013
Another stupid book trying to convince the reader that being gay is an affliction that can be healed through faith. Which is utter bullshit, of course.
May 29, 2012
This book really opened my eyes to the truth that homosexuality is not something a person is born with and at the same time people cannot help how they feel. The greatest teaching is that unconditional love is what will help anyone struggling with homosexual feelings to find healing. MacNutt has great examples to show how true this is! Very good read!!
September 20, 2024
CAN JESUS "TRANSFORM THE HOMOSEXUAL'S ORIENTATION" TO HETEROSEXUAL?
Francis Scott MacNutt (born 1925) is a resigned Catholic Dominican priest most associated with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, and has written many popular books such as 'Healing,' 'The Power to Heal,' 'The Nearly Perfect Crime: How the Church Almost Killed the Ministry of Healing,' etc. In 1980 he left the priesthood to marry a younger woman [they received a dispensation to marry within the Catholic church] who was a psychologist who assisted in his healing ministry, which they now run jointly.
He wrote in the Introduction to this book, "I am writing this little book simply because there seem to be so many ordinary people---non-Christian as well as Christian---who intuitively, instinctively feel that homosexual activity is wrong, but are confused because the culture, and even some church leaders, approve of such activity... They do not have time to read a long book about homosexuality, yet they want to learn more about the topic... Is it possible to be loving and compassionate while upholding the traditional Christian position? I think it is, and that is why I am writing this little book." (Pg. 7-8)
He asserts, "My experience, and that of many others, has been that homosexuality can be healed through prayer. This... position... incorporates what is true in (1) the traditional position (that homosexual acts are sinful); and (2) the deepest needs of the homosexual to be accepted as a human being and not to be condemned for his or her sexual orientation. Most Christians do not know ... that Jesus Christ can transform the homosexual's orientation so that he or she can become heterosexual." (Pg. 8-9)
He states, "I think it is fair to say that the texts themselves [e.g., Rom 1:26-27; Lev 18:22 & 20:13]... will admit only to the traditional understanding that homosexual acts are wrong. The more recent interpretations are not found in the texts themselves but are a reinterpretation of morality based on the homosexual experience, not on the texts." (Pg. 25)
He contends, "Because the roots of homosexuality are complex, we make a mistake to suppose we could lay out one method that would be universally successful. Nevertheless here are some general guidelines that should help. First, anticipate that the chances of prayer changing the homosexual's orientation are extraordinarily good. I expect that, ideally, it should be close to 100 percent, although because of our human limitations, the results are not that perfect. Nevertheless you can expect wonderful things to happen.
"Next, as I have said, the physical, sexual aspect on the surface of same-sex orientation stands in contrast to its complex roots. So you should expect that, ordinarily, change will take place gradually over a fair amount of time. How much time? An ideal situation would be to allow for talking and praying for an hour or more once a week until the change has taken place. This might take six months (more or less). With counseling but without healing prayer, the process may take three years." (Pg. 59-60)
MacNutt is admittedly a controversial figure. After his marriage, he was initially defrocked and kicked out of the Dominicans, although his excommunication has since been lifted and he was granted the dispensation to marry in the Catholic church. His picking up of charismatic gifts under the influence of Protestant Pentecostals originally raised eyebrows, although his healing ministry while he was still a Catholic priest was very popular.
As will be seen from the preponderance of 5-star and 1-star reviews of this book (I wonder how many reviewers have actually read the book?), people disagree strongly about MacNutt’s views on this issue. I would only suggest that one read him with an open mind; one need not agree with his views, and one can certainly vehemently reject them, but one should first learn what they are.
Francis Scott MacNutt (born 1925) is a resigned Catholic Dominican priest most associated with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, and has written many popular books such as 'Healing,' 'The Power to Heal,' 'The Nearly Perfect Crime: How the Church Almost Killed the Ministry of Healing,' etc. In 1980 he left the priesthood to marry a younger woman [they received a dispensation to marry within the Catholic church] who was a psychologist who assisted in his healing ministry, which they now run jointly.
He wrote in the Introduction to this book, "I am writing this little book simply because there seem to be so many ordinary people---non-Christian as well as Christian---who intuitively, instinctively feel that homosexual activity is wrong, but are confused because the culture, and even some church leaders, approve of such activity... They do not have time to read a long book about homosexuality, yet they want to learn more about the topic... Is it possible to be loving and compassionate while upholding the traditional Christian position? I think it is, and that is why I am writing this little book." (Pg. 7-8)
He asserts, "My experience, and that of many others, has been that homosexuality can be healed through prayer. This... position... incorporates what is true in (1) the traditional position (that homosexual acts are sinful); and (2) the deepest needs of the homosexual to be accepted as a human being and not to be condemned for his or her sexual orientation. Most Christians do not know ... that Jesus Christ can transform the homosexual's orientation so that he or she can become heterosexual." (Pg. 8-9)
He states, "I think it is fair to say that the texts themselves [e.g., Rom 1:26-27; Lev 18:22 & 20:13]... will admit only to the traditional understanding that homosexual acts are wrong. The more recent interpretations are not found in the texts themselves but are a reinterpretation of morality based on the homosexual experience, not on the texts." (Pg. 25)
He contends, "Because the roots of homosexuality are complex, we make a mistake to suppose we could lay out one method that would be universally successful. Nevertheless here are some general guidelines that should help. First, anticipate that the chances of prayer changing the homosexual's orientation are extraordinarily good. I expect that, ideally, it should be close to 100 percent, although because of our human limitations, the results are not that perfect. Nevertheless you can expect wonderful things to happen.
"Next, as I have said, the physical, sexual aspect on the surface of same-sex orientation stands in contrast to its complex roots. So you should expect that, ordinarily, change will take place gradually over a fair amount of time. How much time? An ideal situation would be to allow for talking and praying for an hour or more once a week until the change has taken place. This might take six months (more or less). With counseling but without healing prayer, the process may take three years." (Pg. 59-60)
MacNutt is admittedly a controversial figure. After his marriage, he was initially defrocked and kicked out of the Dominicans, although his excommunication has since been lifted and he was granted the dispensation to marry in the Catholic church. His picking up of charismatic gifts under the influence of Protestant Pentecostals originally raised eyebrows, although his healing ministry while he was still a Catholic priest was very popular.
As will be seen from the preponderance of 5-star and 1-star reviews of this book (I wonder how many reviewers have actually read the book?), people disagree strongly about MacNutt’s views on this issue. I would only suggest that one read him with an open mind; one need not agree with his views, and one can certainly vehemently reject them, but one should first learn what they are.
October 6, 2020
Very basic
Would require further reading in the subject to grasp more information. Short book glazing though compassion and prayers with finding the right kind of help in USA.
Would require further reading in the subject to grasp more information. Short book glazing though compassion and prayers with finding the right kind of help in USA.
October 6, 2020
Real basic but filled with Compassion. The key is to finding the right support group and prayer ministries to help, but this applies in the USA and Canada, as covered in the book
April 14, 2023
Yet another attempt to whitewash bigotry in the name of Christianity.
February 24, 2016
As a person of faith, I found this book gave me great insight and value in regards to my own journey with gender issues. If you have read this book, you will understand more fully the journey of healing which doesn't necessarily 'change' the struggle. This puts in perspective a life submitted to Jesus Christ.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews