Evangelical Pastor Ted Haggard Accused of Gay Sexual Tryst

Evangelicals have for some time preached a version of morality that is unattainable for most people. They often teach that sexual thoughts are unnatural. Homosexual urges are evil. Because of this approach to dealing with complex human feelings and thoughts, evangelicals often do not know how to work through such sexual feelings. If a young person raised in an evangelical environment has homosexual thoughts, to whom can he or she turn without receiving condemnation?

In psychology, we have a term called "reaction formation." This is a psychological defense mechansm in which we "protest too much" against things that are threatening to us because inside we are experiencing this same thing.

A recent psychological study demonstrated that the more homophobic young men were, the more aroused they became when they watched gay pornography. Hmm, makes you think doesn't it.

We need to take a benevolent approach to our own sexual feelings. Maybe would could avoid creating more Teg Haggards who have probably struggled with gay sexual feelings for some time, but was never able to work through them given his religious beliefs.