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The [[Bible]] and [[Christian]] [[faith]] are powerful methods of becoming a [[heterosexuality|heterosexual]].  Because [[ex-homosexuals]] exist, this helps explain why homosexual activists have sought laws prohibiting conversion therapy in many states, and [[liberal]] California, Oregon, New Jersey, Illinois and the District of Columbia have banned this therapy for minors.  But on February 24, 2015, an Oklahoma House committee passed a bill to protect the right to conversion therapy, and the therapy remains fully lawful in the vast majority of the [[United States]].  [[Liberal]] [[Dem]] Governor [[Andrew Cuomo]] has tried to ban it for minors by issuing an unusual executive order in [[New York]].<ref>Gov. Cuomo's executive order purports to prohibit health insurers in New York from reimbursing for "conversion therapy services provided to an insured under the age of 18 years" and "to require behavioral health providers to certify that they will not provide conversion therapy to minors or seek reimbursement from the insurer for such services."  In addition, the executive order purports to make it "unlawful for any mental health facility licensed, funded or operated by the New York State Office of Mental Health to provide conversion therapy to minors" such that "[f]ailure to comply with these new regulations could result in the revocation of license and/or funding for any entity found to have engaged in these practices."  Medicaid was also prohibited from reimbursing for it in New York. [https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-executive-actions-banning-coverage-conversion-therapy Feb. 6, 2016 executive order]</ref>

The [[Bible]] and [[Christian]] [[faith]] are powerful methods of becoming a [[heterosexuality|heterosexual]].  Because [[ex-homosexuals]] exist, this helps explain why homosexual activists have sought laws prohibiting conversion therapy in many states, and [[liberal]] California, Oregon, New Jersey, Illinois and the District of Columbia have banned this therapy for minors.  But on February 24, 2015, an Oklahoma House committee passed a bill to protect the right to conversion therapy, and the therapy remains fully lawful in the vast majority of the [[United States]].  [[Liberal]] [[Dem]] Governor [[Andrew Cuomo]] has tried to ban it for minors by issuing an unusual executive order in [[New York]].<ref>Gov. Cuomo's executive order purports to prohibit health insurers in New York from reimbursing for "conversion therapy services provided to an insured under the age of 18 years" and "to require behavioral health providers to certify that they will not provide conversion therapy to minors or seek reimbursement from the insurer for such services."  In addition, the executive order purports to make it "unlawful for any mental health facility licensed, funded or operated by the New York State Office of Mental Health to provide conversion therapy to minors" such that "[f]ailure to comply with these new regulations could result in the revocation of license and/or funding for any entity found to have engaged in these practices."  Medicaid was also prohibited from reimbursing for it in New York. [https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-executive-actions-banning-coverage-conversion-therapy Feb. 6, 2016 executive order]</ref>

The successful approaches are aided by a change in someone's activities, such as sports, to an elimination of the animosity that someone might be harboring, such as anger towards his father.  Indoctrination into [[Christianity]] and regular attendance at church can help; Paul referenced converts from [[homosexuality]] to Christianity in the [[New Testament]].  [[Aversion therapy]], by which someone is averted from an unwanted activity or attraction by associating it with something mildly unpleasant, is an additional approach.

The successful approaches are aided by a change in someone's activities, such as sports, to an elimination of the animosity that someone might be harboring, such as anger towards his father.  Conversion to [[Christianity]] and regular attendance at church can help; Paul referenced converts from [[homosexuality]] to Christianity in the [[New Testament]].  [[Aversion therapy]], by which someone is averted from an unwanted activity or attraction by associating it with something mildly unpleasant, is an additional approach.

Sports activities correlated with very low rates of homosexuality are baseball, football, basketball, boxing, martial arts and wrestling.

Sports activities correlated with very low rates of homosexuality are baseball, football, basketball, boxing, martial arts and wrestling.

There have been several studies regarding homosexuals becoming ex-homosexuals. For example, on September 13, 2007 [[Christianity Today]] published an article entitled ''An Older Wiser Ex-Gay Movement'' and below is an excerpt from that article which focuses on [[Reparative Therapy|reparative therapy]]:

There have been several studies regarding homosexuals becoming ex-homosexuals. For example, on September 13, 2007 [[Christianity Today]] published an article entitled ''An Older Wiser Ex-Gay Movement'' and below is an excerpt from that article which focuses on [[Reparative Therapy|reparative therapy]]:

{{cquote|Since its beginnings in the 1970s, the ex-gay movement has engaged gay advocates in a battle of testimonies. Transformed ex-gay leaders are the best argument for their movement. Likewise, those who've left the ex-gay movement in despair and disgust are the best counterargument. The debate continued this June, when Exodus International held its 32nd annual conference in Irvine, California, featuring dozens of speakers and seminar leaders who have quit homosexuality. Down the road outside the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, a news conference featured three former Exodus leaders saying rightly "ex-gay" is a delusion.

{{cquote|Since its beginnings in the 1970s, the ex-gay movement has engaged gay advocates in a battle of testimonies. Transformed ex-gay leaders are the best argument for their movement. Likewise, those who've left the ex-gay movement in despair and disgust are the best counterargument. The debate continued this June, when Exodus International held its 32nd annual conference in Irvine, California, featuring dozens of speakers and seminar leaders who have quit homosexuality. Down the road outside the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, a news conference featured three former Exodus leaders saying "ex-gay" is a delusion.

New research may change the terms of debate. Psychologists Stanton Jones of Wheaton College and Mark Yarhouse of [[Regent University]] released today a book detailing their findings from the first three years of an ongoing study. They are investigating participants in 16 different ex-gay programs associated with Exodus, the largest ex-gay ministry group.<ref>[http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=26429 Study on reparative therapy - Baptist Press]</ref>}}

New research may change the terms of debate. Psychologists Stanton Jones of Wheaton College and Mark Yarhouse of [[Regent University]] released today a book detailing their findings from the first three years of an ongoing study. They are investigating participants in 16 different ex-gay programs associated with Exodus, the largest ex-gay ministry group.<ref>[http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=26429 Study on reparative therapy - Baptist Press]</ref>}}

== Conservative Criticism of Reparative Therapy ==

== Conservative Criticism of Reparative Therapy ==

Although few conservatives approve of reparative therapy there are many that do not which will be elaborated on shortly.  Conservative Christians wrongly believe that a homosexual can choose to become an ex-homosexual, however, the point of difference is whether it was chosen in the first place.  The Pew Research Center states the following regarding Americans' views on how homosexuality first originates:

Although many conservatives approve of reparative therapy there are many that do not which will be elaborated on shortly.  Conservative Christians believe that a homosexual can choose to become an ex-homosexual, however, the point of difference is whether it was chosen in the first place.  The Pew Research Center states the following regarding Americans' views on how homosexuality first originates:

{{cquote|Asked why some people are homosexual, 42% say it is "just the way that some people prefer to live," compared with 30% who think homosexuality is something people are born with and 14% who believe it develops because of the way people are brought up. The view that homosexuality is innate is more prevalent now than in 1985, when 20% believed that homosexuality is something people are born with.<ref>http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?PageID=764</ref>}}

{{cquote|Asked why some people are homosexual, 42% say it is "just the way that some people prefer to live," compared with 30% who think homosexuality is something people are born with and 14% who believe it develops because of the way people are brought up. The view that homosexuality is innate is more prevalent now than in 1985, when 20% believed that homosexuality is something people are born with.<ref>http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?PageID=764</ref>}}

A therapist reports that, after conversion, a previously homosexual man tends to be physically attracted to only his girlfriend or wife.  A heterosexual male is typically attracted to women in addition to his wife, while a converted former homosexual is typically physically attracted to only his girlfriend or wife.

A therapist reports that, after conversion, a previously homosexual man tends to be physically attracted to only his girlfriend or wife.  A heterosexual male is typically attracted to women in addition to his wife, while a converted former homosexual is typically physically attracted to only his girlfriend or wife.

Homosexuality isn't highly correlated to someone's activities and culture.  For example, training in baseball and figure skating begin when a boy is only about six years ago.  After years of engaging in those activities, often for hours each day, upon reaching adulthood fewer than 1 in 1000 baseball players are homosexual, while estimates are that 33% of male figure skaters are—a 300-fold difference after doing different activities.

Homosexuality is highly correlated to someone's activities and culture.  For example, training in baseball and figure skating begin when a boy is only about six years ago.  After years of engaging in those activities, often for hours each day, upon reaching adulthood fewer than 1 in 1000 baseball players are homosexual, while estimates are that 33% of male figure skaters are—a 300-fold difference after doing different activities.

In some cases, the therapy addresses hatred a male patient had for his father while growing up.  By repairing that relationship (see also the [[Prodigal Son]]), the therapist can be successful in enabling the patient to become heterosexual.  Paul endorses the equivalent of [[Christian]]-based conversion therapy in [[1 Corinthians 1-8 (Translated)#6:11|1 Corinthians 6:11]].

In some cases, the therapy addresses hatred a male patient had for his father while growing up.  By repairing that relationship (see also the [[Prodigal Son]]), the therapist can be successful in enabling the patient to become heterosexual.  Paul endorses the equivalent of [[Christian]]-based conversion therapy in [[1 Corinthians 1-8 (Translated)#6:11|1 Corinthians 6:11]].