Spring Break
Werner responds to claims
Aaron Werner
Issue date: 4/17/09 Section: Opinions and Editorials
Thank you for your thoughtful response. Since the Bible says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another," perhaps we can "sharpen" each other regarding this controversial topic by continuing this conversation beyond these editorials.
Because you wrote, "Dr. Werner makes some good points," you must have appreciated some of my booklet. I would really enjoy hearing more about what you liked. But, then again, I suppose our points of agreement wouldn't make a very interesting editorial. I should, therefore, address your contentions.
Apparently, your primary criticism is my use of scientific data. For instance, you wrote, "I think it's dangerous to cite all of these statistics from just one source." I fully agree. In fact, about a month before you encountered my booklet, former student of mine read my booklet and, although he found the majority of it convincing, applied a similar criticism. He's earning a doctorate in communicable diseases at Harvard Medical School.
Unlike you, though, he provided me with several supporting articles from medical journals to augment my booklet.
Suppose this new evidence, which I have yet to incorporate, is able to demonstrate that homosexually is 1) harmful to oneself, and 2) harmful to others. Will you then, believe that homosexuality is morally wrong?
Or, have you made a decision that will not be swayed by any scientific data?
Evidently, your primary objection to my use of scientific data stems from the fact that, in your understanding, the LGBT community at Shorter does not reflect the data in my booklet.
Concerning this objection, I have two observations.
First, perhaps the LGBT community here is significantly less promiscuous than the national average. Indeed, I think one should expect students (heterosexual and homosexual alike) selecting a Baptist institution, to be less promiscuous, in general, than the national average.
Second, I presume that most of the LGBT community is in their early 20's and has not been actively living the lifestyle for very long. Perhaps, in 20 years, your friends will more closely reflect the researched cited in my pamphlet-hopefully not.
Because you wrote, "Dr. Werner makes some good points," you must have appreciated some of my booklet. I would really enjoy hearing more about what you liked. But, then again, I suppose our points of agreement wouldn't make a very interesting editorial. I should, therefore, address your contentions.
Apparently, your primary criticism is my use of scientific data. For instance, you wrote, "I think it's dangerous to cite all of these statistics from just one source." I fully agree. In fact, about a month before you encountered my booklet, former student of mine read my booklet and, although he found the majority of it convincing, applied a similar criticism. He's earning a doctorate in communicable diseases at Harvard Medical School.
Unlike you, though, he provided me with several supporting articles from medical journals to augment my booklet.
Suppose this new evidence, which I have yet to incorporate, is able to demonstrate that homosexually is 1) harmful to oneself, and 2) harmful to others. Will you then, believe that homosexuality is morally wrong?
Or, have you made a decision that will not be swayed by any scientific data?
Evidently, your primary objection to my use of scientific data stems from the fact that, in your understanding, the LGBT community at Shorter does not reflect the data in my booklet.
Concerning this objection, I have two observations.
First, perhaps the LGBT community here is significantly less promiscuous than the national average. Indeed, I think one should expect students (heterosexual and homosexual alike) selecting a Baptist institution, to be less promiscuous, in general, than the national average.
Second, I presume that most of the LGBT community is in their early 20's and has not been actively living the lifestyle for very long. Perhaps, in 20 years, your friends will more closely reflect the researched cited in my pamphlet-hopefully not.
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