Abstinence Only? Does it Really Work?

[Dan And Jennifer]

Shelby Knox is one of my biggest heroes! Who is she? She was a Lubbock, Texas high school student (she’s now in college as of this writing), a church attendee, and comes from a conservative home. Knox was also the subject of the PBS series “P.O.V.” called “The Education of Shelby Knox” where she is [...]

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[yesvirginia]

(I'm guessing this is the thread you were talking about)
I actually did a research paper on this for school (My health teacher gave me a D and then conveniently "lost" the paper and all the markings so I have no idea why. but anyway)

our culture in the united states is a lot more conservative (sexually atleast) than that of europe (because of our puritanical heritage). I went to public school, and even there they teach with the mindset of don't have sex until you're married (and they don't even touch on homosexuality). They didn't teach me about how to do it safely, or about what I should do to not get an STD or a pregnancy. In europe, the education is very much like that of my church: Do it, its really healthy, just wear a condom, and make sure that the other person wants to too (I'm Unitarian Universalist. we're...a little different lol).

The interesting thing though, is that the numbers show (teen pregnancy and STD-wise).

Advocates for Youth

Also, because we are telling kids that its off limits, it suddenly becomes a novelty.
And with homosexuality, so many people could lead happy lives if they were only allowed to. Like, Mark Foley and his scandals... if our society was more open, he wouldn't have to live like he does, and go behind everyone's back to get satisfied.

[Exavion]

We tell our kids not to do something in our base genetics, one of our most primal and potent urges, and then tell them nothing about it in regards to real safety, and we absolutely are disgusted if they do it anyhow as after all, sex is a horrible thing and we must protect our kids from its sinful nature!

Honestly, as long as a teenager uses a condom, and isn't as dumb as a rock, I see no reason at all why they shouldn't be having sex. Their odds at getting pregnant or receiving and STD don't decrease as they get old, as long as they follow the simple protocol to stay safe.

It's funny but we frown more over a kid hearing or seeing sex than we do over him seeing a full-on gore movie complete with exploding guts and heads.

[SamIAm]

I grew up thinking it was evil for me to be thinking about sex until I was married. No kidding. So every once in a while when I messed around with parts I'd feel HORRIBLY guilty. Just awful. Especially since I always had a kind of kinky nature and was inexplicably attracted to being tied up and forced into things. Seriously, I never told anyone, tried to control it alone, and had a horrific guilt complex.

I'm still a virgin...I've been studying the bible and I think that the principle God's teaching in it about sex is that for us, it should be something reserved for that special relationship between two people, each woman with her own husband and each man with his own wife (I'm referring to 1 Corinthians 7). So until my boyfriend and I are really sure we'll be together forever and are prepared to make a life-long commitment to each other, we don't want to have sex.

However, the bible doesn't ever say that thinking about sex is evil, nor does it say that expression of your sexuality (which, I've discovered, is actually a really big and important part of who you are) is evil. I think that our society is so afraid of going outside the principles God set that they add a bunch of rules to try and be safe from it. But really they're just smothering part of themselves, and all that happens is that people do it anyway, rebelliously, and feel awful about it.

That's what I have to say. I think it's dangerous to pendulum swing and go so far as to say sex should be open and with whoever comes along, I really do. I've seen people respond to a strict upbringing by swinging too far the other way, and it's sad. But honestly, I'm studying like crazy trying to find myself sexually, and to figure out what God really wants me to do with regard to it all. Actually, if anyone has any input, that would be wonderful.

I think I sort of strayed from the topic...sorry guys.