Attitudes towards the presence of homosexuals in Adventist academies in Southwestern Philippine Union Conference

Abstract

There is an increasing presence of homosexuals across the globe that has caused division across countries, churches, and families. The sensitivity of this homosexuality issue poses a challenge to Adventist school leadership and to the existing policies. This study aims to address the issue of homosexuality and redemptive that reflects a unique worldview within Adventist education. Using survey research, 798 students and 172 teachers participated the study from seven Adventist academies in the Southwestern Philippines. Three attitudes were measured: positive, negative, and redemptive, along with their correlations with closeness with homosexuals, religiosity, religion, gender, and exposure to entertainment media. Findings indicate that statistically, teachers show more negative attitudes toward homosexuals than students, who show more positive attitudes toward alternative nonbinary genders. Consistent with global surveys, Adventist individuals and male participants show more negative attitudes toward homosexuals. Additionally, closeness with homosexuals emerges as the best predictor of attitudes toward homosexuals, alongside entertainment media identified as a positively significant correlated variable associated with positive attitudes. The study concludes that life relationships and the consumption of entertainment media are potent avenues to alter perceptions and attitudes toward homosexuals. In practice, Adventist schools are expected to be inclusive educational institutions that carry a redemptive direction toward all members of the school community. Teachers are expected to play a crucial role in establishing and modeling a redemptive perspective for all individuals in the school community.