An interesting phenomenon related to homosexuality is the religious homosexual who is in denial about his or her true feelings. These people have natural urges that are homosexual in nature, but feel the need to repress them. This repression is a necessity because of the religious backgrounds that have taught that these feelings are unnatural and against the laws of the organized church.

The type of religion a person practices makes a difference in the way a person sees himself or herself in relation to god. Erich Fromm describes that religion can be authoritarian and humanistic. Under the authoritarian model, people are seen as worthless and can only retrieve their ideal qualities through belief in god. In regard to the repressed homosexual, belief in god helps make them think they will be able to change their sexual orientation to heterosexuality, which is considered ideal. This religious representation leaves the individual feeling bewildered and anxious and that god is willing to punish them because of the homosexual impulses they feel. In the humanistic view of religion, the aim is to improve the lives of followers using god as a reference. The humanistic view of religion does not provide relief for the homosexual because god or the church does accept homosexuality. Becoming a better person in a humanistic sense is to act more like god, which is a way that minimizes sin. In this way, the person feels far from god because he or she does not represent what god was. A person can pretend or repress natural feelings, but can never reach the status that they want. The unhealthy actions that people take to hide natural urges cause them to become psychologically unstable because it is impossible to adhere to the laws of the organized church and be an open homosexual.

Freud had many theories regarding repression of desires especially ones of sexual nature. Freud believed that all human behavior is motivated by the drives or instincts, which in turn are the neurological representations of physical needs. He also was aware of the tremendous role that sex plays in human life. Freud described many different types of anxiety, two of which are applicable to the repressed homosexual. The first is moral anxiety. This is what we feel when the threat comes not from the outer, physical world, but from the internalized social world of the superego. It is, in fact, just another word for feelings like shame and guilt and the fear of punishment. The other kind of anxiety that would arise is neurotic anxiety. This is the fear of being overwhelmed by impulses from the id. It is this kind of anxiety that intrigued Freud most, and we usually just call it anxiety, plain and simple. If a person cannot act on their impulses, they will eventually no longer be able to handle the burden of repressing them.

There is an interesting phenomenon that takes place as a form of neurosis in some repressed homosexuals. It takes place in the form of hateful, homophobic actions toward openly gay individuals by repressed homosexuals. For the repressed homosexual, acting violently toward gays and gay behavior helps maintain their moral universe and false identity. (Freedman, 57) Hateful actions can also serve to relieve the dissonance that is experienced by a repressed homosexual who is religious. The religious heterosexual who is devoted to the organized church is supposed to be adamantly against homosexuality and act as a protector of society. An enormous amount of dissonance is experienced with this contradiction and a neurosis can take place involving violent, homophobic actions against open homosexuals (Churchill, 196).

All homosexuals are not psychologically unstable. It is the homosexual individuals who are devoted to organized church that experience problems. There is no alternative for homosexuals in the eyes of organized religion. The options are to live a life of celibacy or a life of sin. This lack of options causes repression, which leads to actions that are dangerous to society. A life of repression and guilt dies not help create people who are happy with their existence and only creates more problems. According to Eric Fromm, people should be more concerned with living love and thinking truths. Maybe if society were more concerned with this idea, the world would be an easier place for a homosexual to fit in and be content with life.

Loraine, J A. Understanding Homosexuality. New York: American Elsevier Publishing. 1974. In this book, Dr. Loraine examines the relationship between the church and the homosexual community. It was important to understand how homosexual relationships were viewed and treated by church officials.

Freud, Sigmund. Inhibitions, Symptoms, and Anxiety. New York: W.W Norton and Company. 1977. This work explored the effects of trying to repress urges. Freud pointed out that repressing urges causes many types of anxiety, which relates directly to homosexuality.

Freedman, Mark. Homosexuality and Psychological Functioning. Belmont, Florida: Brooks/Cole Publishing. 1971. Mark Freedman examines the effect of homosexuality on the mind and on functioning as a stable person. It was important for my research to understand the possible psychological problems that could occur with repression of homosexuality.

Churchill, Wainweight. Homosexual Behavior Among Males. New York: Hawthorn Books.1967. The focus of this work was to look at the relationship society has on homophobic behavior and the pressure it puts on males to adhere to its rules. In America, men are forced to avoid behavior that could be interpreted as gay and protect society from a homosexual invasion. It also points out the duty that men have to enforce the rules of the church and society.