Beddy Teddy has been vindicated! All that romping around with 200 coed's, the stewardesses on the three WCG Corporate jets and that hot masseuse, was NOT his fault! Hallelujah and pass the collection plate! COG leaders take note! You now have an excuse!
Thrill-Seeking Gene Can Lead to More Sex Partners
SUNY Scientists Find Longer DRD4 Gene Can Lead to Double Risk for Promiscuity, Infidelity
Dec. 6, 2010John Coleman, a 22-year-old from Syracuse, N.Y., has been engaged for the last two years and cannot fathom having sex with anyone other than his girlfriend.
"I find cheating appalling," said Coleman. "There's got to be something going on in your head to cheat."
It turns out Coleman is right.
In what is being called a first of its kind study, researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York (SUNY) have discovered that about half of all people have a gene that makes them more vulnerable to promiscuity and cheating.
Those with a certain variant of the dopamine receptor D4 polymorphism -- or DRD4 gene -- "were more likely to have a history of uncommitted sex, including one-night stands and acts of infidelity," according to lead investigator Justin Garcia.
Read the article here: Thrill -Seeking Gene
The more we learn about the fine tuning of the body, mind and spirit or at least the chemistry of the brain, the more we may at least have to see that lacking something physical can be the reason why "the little man in the head" struggles where others don't.
ReplyDeleteWe all are guilted, shamed and made afraid to be or do this or that by those who don't filter their world the same way others do. Remember the Apostle Paul is said to have noted his own inexplicable struggle with stuff by saying, "the things I should not do, I do and that which I should, I do not." I'm not a big fan of "should" or "must", but we know what the author meant.
I have my own challenges with a "disorder" that I have known about or at least was suspicious of having seen it referred to in an offhanded manner by a counselor who never went on to explain it. So I dismissed it. Perhaps I should not have, I don't know.
But while I know how many mock such chemical or genetic realities and equate it to denial, or sin or a lack of overcoming and trying, I believe it is real.
I've done the meds thing even when pastoring. It made me indifferent and ultimately stopped "helping." It masked facing some things as well, which were and are still there to be faced at times.
I haven't figured it out but serotonin is an issue with me as the chemistry of the amgdala in the brain.
Of course we have to be and act responsible. Ted Armstrong never wanted to be a minister I feel but got stuck in it to replace his brother who was more suited to it.
The character of the Apostle Paul seemed to be such a torn man as well. Perhaps deeply stricken with some form of guilt or rage unresolved. He said once, "when cursed, we bless" then turned right around and cursed anyone who didn't follow the Gospel he came up with. Paul may have been dealing with some form of rejection in life or issues of sexuality. We don't have much of the story and it would have been nice if Paul has said..."for instance...I do or think.." this or that and know I "should" not. We don'thave his-story.
At any rate, we do know there is a genetic leaning towards being too adventurous and even reckless in adventure, so why not everything else? My own hardwired ENFP personality is spot on as well as the symptoms of what I wish had been at least talked about by my counselor to me years ago. While not very treatable, cognitive skills can help one knows what they are.
amen I guess
I don't make excuses for anyone or myself either anymore, but I don't sell the brain/mind chemistry equation short either.
as Alan Watts noted, we tend to dismiss the antics, idiosyncricies and behaviors of artists and such because it's what makes them artists. However, we do not overlook them in a minister. The artist doesn't care what you think while the minister should and does. The artist doesn't have to act a certain way and is not saying you should as well.
ReplyDeleteI believe making a man or woman a minister, much less a Christian, where you feel you absolutely have to get the truth right, puts them in a precarious situation. Not normal really
I have seen that when the member makes mistakes or misses the mark as we say of sin, they expect to be forgiven and know all the scriptures you should remember in counseling them. However it is not so with a minister who tends to be the person the congregant has no intention of becoming. Let the minister be the sacrificial person. When the minister makes mistakes, he is crucified and sent on his way (or maybe the other way around:) Ministry makes humans wear masks while they try to figure it all out. On top of this, don't ever let the folks find out you tried to get help. They use it against you and you can't win.
So what's the point? We are all human and all the result of our chemistry and neuropeptides at times. IMHO, you can be genetically disposed to just about every "evil" under the sun, as well as to a high spirituality. Injury to the brain has turned the non religious into the super religious as has been proven. But it is still a physical excess or lack in the brain or and extra or missing gene in the body.
Forgive the blather, snowed in :)
I know that chemical imbalances do create disorders in people. I deal with that in people I see all the time. Many are helped with med's.
ReplyDeleteThe sad thing is that in Armstrongism we mocked and ridiculed therapy and medication as beneficial and told people to just "pray about it." What an incredibly cruel thing to do to people!
The wise one's ignored the ministry and went and got treatment and took med's and they have lived productive lives. Sadly though, many I know refused to go get help and today are mentally imbalanced or mentally ill.
It's easy top mock GTA and HWA for their incessant sexual behaviors only because of who they were and who they claimed to represent. When they set themselves up as God's only end time representatives and then led lives of debauchery and excess then they deserve all ridicule dumped upon them.
The common defense for GTA, evangelists,and ministers was, "The David Defense". That was Armstrongism's excuse around every indiscretion.
Armstrongism is filed with ministers with personality disorders. Narcissism is the biggest. Just look at Meredith, Flurry, Pack, Cox, Hulme, Pinelli, Rhodes, etc. These are not balanced men. They are bankrupt in ethics and morality. Oh, they think they are the most perfect creatures that have walked the earth, but they are not.
When you have Meredith boldly boasting in a sermon that he has never committed a major sin since baptism you know the man is a liar. Plus, when he bragged during a sermon at a Feast site that he spanked his wife when she was rebellious tell us he has deeper mental health issues that has has not dealt with.
If these men that lead all the 700 some splinter personality cults of Armstrongism were truly ethical, moral and well trained then Armstrongism might live into it's glory days. However, since none are ethical, moral or well trained Armstrongism is destined for the trash heap (where it belongs!)
I totally agree. I once talked to Joe Tkach about giving ministerial candidate types and the existing ministry some personality tests just to inform the men of areas of strength and vulnerablility.
ReplyDeleteWell that went over like a lead balloon. No way... The narcissists tend to climb to the top of the heap at the expense of everyone else and because they have no conscience or soul, they don't give it a thought.
I am glad that I did advise many to get professional help when needed and that meds were just fine and really no one's business. I remember endeavoring to get a member in the throes of a gallstone attack to get to the ER and get some help. Nope...wouldn't do it as God would heal. I taught people that if they choose to not get help and exercise their personal faith, that was fine, but had no right to express the faith for their child who had none and needed help and that they needed to get them the help needed.
I do remember wincing when I was 18 in freshman bible class where RCM was telling us that God's government was God/Jesus/Mr. Armstrong/Garner Ted/Himself and "a few other leading evangelists" who were unnamed. Yikes...I should have gone with my gut feelings and left to head back to NY!
It's been a weird trip....