I've heard of things such as this but am completely appalled by it. I grew up in a church and attended church since I was six years old. I had many circumstances happen to me to not doubt there was some kind of being above us, I know others have different beliefs than I do, and that's fine. I actually like to learn about other worldviews, beliefs, and perspectives.
I believe in God and Jesus but do not agree with people who try to condemn and judge others. They have no right to in the first place and if they are truly Christian they know that God does not hate homosexuals and loves all, that no one is perfect but that we should try to love one another. I've read the Bible many times and the teachings in it do not tell to go out and condemn people for their sexuality. With every belief and teachings there will be extremists; people who contort the teachings of a belief or religion for their own personal gain or views and which does not reflect the whole of the religion or belief. I mean, for example, the Koran, it's all about loving one another as well in its teachings and beliefs but here there are people doing genocide to their own people just because the views of where Muhammad came from or who is the heir to Muhammad varies from each region and instead of people trying to come to understandings or acceptance of different views in their beliefs, there are people out there slaughtering people. And this happens everywhere, there seems to be an endless occurrence of extremists in every belief and religion taking holy, biblical, sacred, whatever you want to call it words and using them against others to OK the condemning, punishing, and/or slaughtering of people.
And this all starts with people trying to force or change the views of one another, riling them and causing violent disputes. If people could learn to love and accept the way people are or to at least accept differences but do not take another's rights or freedom of choice away from them if in disagreeance, we could end this endless cycle of "religious wars" and constant fighting. But they say mankind is fickle, that we are creatures that must pursue knowledge, to know truth, to have to be right to justify our actions, decisions, and purpose in life. But I wish to defy this. What is there to knowledge or knowing all? What's its benefit? Why must we have to be right? Can we not accept the unknown? Can people not have differences? Can there not be uncertainty? Why must we try to make things our own way? Why do we have to step over others to prove a point or just because we want to be right and them wrong? It all puzzles me and I wish to learn more but not as a personal gain, but to understand more of what is really going on around us. How we affect ourselves and others.
Sorry for the rambling there. As to the "curing". I do not agree with it personally because many of those communities are trying to change people because they believe they are "flawed", "diseased", or "sinful" ect, not because the person them self wants to change but is being coerced to believe that they should change. Only the person has the right to change something of themselves, whether it's a belief, habit, addiction, talent, diet, sexuality, ect. If they want to change that is their choice. There is no need or reason for people to try to change others or try to "cure" them for there is nothing for them to cure or change if the person them self does not wish so or see as so. And it is simple as that. So these places where they "cure", if they must exist, should solely exist for only those who want to change, not because their parents, friends, family, or others want them to, only the person them self, and that's it. Otherwise, this "curing" is really only leading down to a road that has been repeated many a time with people trying to force people to convert beliefs or views, by people doing ethnic cleansing, by people doing genocide, by people having racial discrimination, ect.
Sure you can say that's a bit of a extreme stretch/view or circular reasoning, but when it boils down to it, it really is all part of that.
Of course these are my views and understandings, I know others may disagree with this, but I honestly do believe this to be the case in my opinion.
Anyways, done with the rambling. Hope it's an interesting read. Thanks for the interesting question.
Oh and I almost forgot to answer the other part. No, I would not seek myself to be "cured". I am happy the way I am and if it wasn't for the life experiences I had, I would not have been able to open my eyes and would still continue to ravage from uncertainty and trying to know the truth of who is right or wrong and only damage myself with constant confusion and misery, and would not be the caring and loving person I am today.
Until next time~
~Kumei
