AntiGay Scientist Thinks Slaves Were "Better Off" in America
Frederick Clarkson printable version print page     Bookmark and Share
Wed Jan 17, 2007 at 02:30:56 AM EST
As if the ex-gay therapy movement was not controversial enough, Gerald Schoenewolf a member of the Science Advisory Board of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) widened the controversy last fall when he claimed in a NARTH-published essay, among other things, that Africans kidnapped and sold into slavery in America had been "better off."  The matter caused two other science advisors to resign in protest. And while NARTH has distanced itself from Schoenewolf's views, he remains a NARTH science advisor.  Meanwhile, the silence of organizations on the religious right that promote Christian ex-gay therapies, such as Focus on the Family, has been deafening.
There is a detailed article on the flap in the winter issue of Intelligence Report, the magazine of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Excerpts from the article:

A prominent member of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) is under fire for publishing an essay in which he argues that Africans were fortunate to have been sold into slavery, and that the civil rights movement was "irrational."

"There is another way, or other ways, to look at the race issue in America," writes Gerald Schoenewolf, a member of NARTH's Science Advisory Committee. "Africa at the time of slavery was still primarily a jungle... . Life there was savage ... and those brought to America, and other countries, were in many ways better off."

Schoenewolf, a psychotherapist who lives in New York City, is the director of The Living Center, an online therapy center for people in the arts. He has authored 14 books, among them The Art of Hating, in which he writes that, "Many people talk about hate, but few know how to hate well."

When interviewed for this article, Schoenewolf stood by his comments on the intellectual inferiority of civil rights movement supporters. "The civil rights movement has from the beginning and today seen itself as good and others are evil, like slaveowners are evil," he said.

During the interview, Schoenewolf lambasted civil rights, women's rights, and gay rights. "All such movements are destructive," he said. He also claimed the American Psychological Association, of which he is a member, "has been taken over by extremist gays."

Read the whole article here.

It's bad enough that Schoenewolf's despicable views were published (later withdrawn by NARTH). What is amazing is that NARTH has retained him on its science advisory board. The entire matter warrants much more attention from people concerned about the religious right. Here we have a signficant orgnization seeking scientific respectability -- and this is how they operate.




Display:
I remember the controversy over Douglas Wilson's apologia for slavery - Southern Slavery, as it Was - which Steve Gilliard blogged against here in 2004.

There's also a book by an African-American pastor named Earl Carter, called No Apology Necessary, which argued that slavery was the only way for God to overcome the demonic power of African traditional religion.

by Richard Bartholomew on Fri Jan 19, 2007 at 01:33:10 PM EST

did an detailed report on Wilson a year or two ago. He is a Christian Reconstrucitonist who runs a school in Idaho, and whose books are in circulation in Christian schools and homeschools.

by Frederick Clarkson on Fri Jan 19, 2007 at 01:57:28 PM EST
Parent


Schoenewolf is not a fundamentalist preacher from Texas.

He is a psychotherapist with offices in Manhattan.

by Frederick Clarkson on Wed Jan 17, 2007 at 03:39:55 AM EST


This guy would be considered extreme even by most evangelicals.  Just out of wisdom, even if they don't mind this guy harboring such ideas, they should remove him.  In fact, he should remove himself.

The lack of buy-in on ex-gay therapy from other evangelical organizations IS deafening, I never considered that. 



by devilsadvocate on Fri Jan 19, 2007 at 07:09:38 PM EST
What I meant was the Focus on the Family, and other religious right groups, that do in fact promote conversion therapy,and are supportive of NARTH have been silent on the twisted views of this NARTH science advisor.

by Frederick Clarkson on Fri Jan 19, 2007 at 08:25:45 PM EST
Parent
OK, I see.  Well, I would expect them to be quiet, I mean, why shine the spotlight on someone shameful.  I'm sure they hope narth will just deal with it, or the crazy guy will go away.


by devilsadvocate on Sat Jan 20, 2007 at 01:40:10 AM EST
Parent



.............. hinges any truth on psychotherapy UNLESS Biblically based. They probably would find a way to support this tripe.

As for "Schoenewolf, a psychotherapist" perhaps Schoenewolf could use psychotherapy himself.  

by williambrandes on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 05:14:13 PM EST



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