tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37507520.post3601090951958722607..comments2023-09-26T08:20:15.098-05:00Comments on Criss writes...: Side effects of abstinence-only programsCriss L. Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04664903417376487387noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37507520.post-243091335109570812009-02-21T02:27:00.000-06:002009-02-21T02:27:00.000-06:00Thank you so much for the suggestion, Criss - that...Thank you so much for the suggestion, Criss - that seems like an awesome site and I'm definitely going to pass it along to my friend.In the Meantimehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18249361142127424403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37507520.post-50004731678800890312009-02-18T22:36:00.000-06:002009-02-18T22:36:00.000-06:00@In The Meantime: I'm sorry about your friend, but...@In The Meantime: I'm sorry about your friend, but I'm not surprised. Sadly, I'll bet her experience is very common.<BR/><BR/>(Have you heard of Heather Armstrong, who blogs at www.dooce.com? Maybe reading her stuff might help your friend. She's a Mormon, but talks very openly about sex and the slew of other things the Mormon church would disapprove of...)Criss L. Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04664903417376487387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37507520.post-33960213961757438352009-02-18T01:00:00.000-06:002009-02-18T01:00:00.000-06:00I have a dear friend who grew up in the LDS church...I have a dear friend who grew up in the LDS church and abstained from sex until marriage. Now she has the most horrifying intimacy issues, all because she feels overwhelming guilt that sex is just plain bad, and that the only way in which it becomes a good thing is if it produces children (within marriage, of course). Needless to say that's not really doing a lot of good for her marriage, or her psyche. Sex is wonderful and natural in a safe environment, and everyone has sexual desires, so it's inevitable that women will feel massive guilt for those desires if they've been taught that abstinence before marriage is the only way to live a virtuous life. <BR/><BR/>I, on the other hand, was lucky enough to grow up with liberal parents in liberal church, all of whom affirmed that sexuality is a healthy and wonderful part of life, as long as you're careful. I think it's served me incredibly well - I was able to wait until I was comfortable to have sex, and once I was ready to do so, I was really able to enjoy it and make it a positive part of my life.<BR/><BR/>I honestly don't understand how anyone can believe that abstinence is a realistic or effective way to teach young people about sex. It might be preferable in avoiding teenage pregnancy and STIs, but it is completely unrealistic. The best thing society can do is make sure that when young people DO have sex they do so in positive relationships and with appropriate protection.In the Meantimehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18249361142127424403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37507520.post-32007738464699081432009-02-17T11:12:00.000-06:002009-02-17T11:12:00.000-06:00Oh god. I just read the post you linked to. HORR...Oh god. I just read the post you linked to. HORRIFYING.Marcyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00792375260633790983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37507520.post-62280138355674684002009-02-17T10:58:00.000-06:002009-02-17T10:58:00.000-06:00Not to mention that a lot of the abstinence-only p...Not to mention that a lot of the abstinence-only programs teach outright WRONG information, like that condoms don't work. They may not be the best option out there (uh, except for protecting against STIs they are.. b/c they're pretty much the only option) but it's much better to have SOMETHING than NOTHING.Marcyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00792375260633790983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37507520.post-41666914871650117272009-02-17T10:14:00.000-06:002009-02-17T10:14:00.000-06:00You are overlooking that when teaching girls SEX I...You are overlooking that when teaching girls SEX IS BAD, you are giving boys the best tool possible to get some action. Girls love bad boys.Clever Idea Widgetryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11224068405843575576noreply@blogger.com