It sounds like you are implying that abstinence is a form of ignorance.
When people are only taught "Do not have sex until you are married" and know nothing of safe sex, then, yes, abstinence is a "form of ignorance", as people are ignorant of any other options and do not have any actual education on the topic.
Originally posted by Lana
When people are only taught "Do not have sex until you are married" and know nothing of safe sex, then, yes, abstinence is a "form of ignorance", as people are ignorant of any other options and do not have any actual education on the topic.
Touche. The difference between blind abstinence and educated abstinence is an important distinction. I must say though, I feel equally comfortable calling Mark's post a form of apathy.
Originally posted by Mark Question
Abstinence is not realistic.
If it is a form of ignorance to rule out all other options, it is also a form of ignorance to rule out abstinence as unrealistic option.
Originally posted by Quark_666He obviously meant abstinence only. And to rule out abstinence only for every teenager until marriage as unrealistic....is spot on, not ignorant.
Touche. The difference between blind abstinence and educated abstinence is an important distinction. I must say though, I feel equally comfortable calling Mark's post a form of apathy.If it is a form of ignorance to rule out all other options, it is also a form of ignorance to rule out abstinence as unrealistic option.
Originally posted by Quark_666
You aren't very religious, so I can understand why you don't believe it...but the concept isn't actually that weird. God's works are of perfection in every other aspect of life. Why not marriage? It's one of the most important parts of his plan.
Originally posted by Tim Rout
I believe Mary was a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus. She was impregnated by the Holy Spirit [Luke 1:35]. It was a miracle. That said, I do not hold the Roman Catholic view that Mary remained a virgin thereafter. She and Joseph had other children [Mark 3:32].Now then, what does this have to do with sex ed?
You claimed that abstinence was 100% effective. But you also believe a virgin became pregnant.
Originally posted by Shelbert Lemon
Indeed and that education needs to begin at home with the parent or guardian.
In an ideal situation where the parents are open and comfortable with talking about the subject, I'm in full agreement with you, shelbert. Unfortunately, many parents, even good ones, don't know how to educate their children about sex, afraid that if they talk about it, it will just make their children want to go and have it. There are even some that just don't believe it's a topic to be discussed, even in the form of a father/son, mother/daughter conversation.
Just my own personal story, I had a great school system that believed in teaching health in general, and this included learning what the sex organs do, reproduction, and the diseases that can be passed on from person to person through sex. They made it abundantly clear what the forms of protection do, how well they work, and that the only thing that was 100% guaranteed to not cause pregnancy or disease (or a horrible sexual experience that would traumatize you) is abstaining from the act. However, the classes I took were not so graphic as to explain the act of sex in a how-to format. By the age of 15, 16 or so, I still had no idea just what sex really was.
I felt uncomfortable asking my parents about it because in the past, when I would come home and tell my mom we learned about menstruation and things, she would just ask if I had any additional questions, not seeming to want to talk about it. She is a great mom, but this was a weakness of her parenting. I would watch primetime tv shows with her and ask what a sexual innuendo meant or what terms like "orgasm" actually were, and got vague answers. When it came time for my first annual exam, I asked if sex would hurt as much as that did. All she told me is that it wouldn't be as bad and then she shut up about it.
Kids are curious and I was no different. I worked at a library, thank God, and I recommend if kids really want to know about sex, instead of asking their uneducated, immature friends, to read about it from an accredited source. I had at my disposal medical doctors and psychologists that explained to me through the written word what happens to the human body when one becomes "horny." It explained why certain positions exist and are popular, and once I was ready to have sex with the man that became my husband, I wasn't terrified and knew I could trust him and myself.
What I suggest, and I know this post has been long, sorry, is an OPTIONAL sex education class. Kids who have parents who are willing to discuss the issue in an open, educated format don't have to take it, but kids who are curious and maybe aren't getting that information anywhere else can sign up for a class that would be called "General Health" and a large unit would be sex. The teachers would be qualified health professionals, not the dumb ones that can't even teach history or English correctly. So that's what I feel should happen. That way the kids don't have to bring home their report cards saying they got an A in sex and they still get all the necessary information.