This Silver Ring Thing.

[justaman]

The Silver Ring Thing is being publicised as a health/safety movement, but really it seems to me as being run primarily by a Christian agenda. If you haven't heard of it, it is a program whereby teens specifically go to a seminar/trainnig session/whatever and learn about the evils of pre-marital sex, getting scared with all types of STD statistics (which, it must be said, are generally quite accurate and well sourced). At the end of the seminar, they receive a silver ring that they wear on their wedding finger and sign a vow of absitenence until they are married.

There may be some pros for this. Possibly. But to me, it just seems to be advocating sexual repression. It is my opinion that sexual immaturity is on of the biggest reasons why so many first-time marriages fail. It's like trying to compete in the olympics without ever having trained and expecting not to lose.

I may be in the minority though...

 

[David Gould]

The main thing that I worry about with this sort of thing is holding people to some impossible standard with the threat of condemnation hanging over them if they fail to meet it.

I have no problem with people being told factual information about the risks of sexual promiscuity. But to ask a young person to commit to something like that is too big of a step, in my view.

It is a difficult issue, though.

 

[Arikay]

I agree with David, it seems dangerous. Statistics have shown that abstinence only teaching isn't more effective than standard sex ed (not 100% perfect). Thus there Will be those who fail and those that fail at silver ring abstinence might have worse guilt and be hurt more by their failure than those that don't make such commitments, which seems to be contrary to the idea of protecting our children.

Also, in my opinion (and I believe the stats back me up, if I could find them again) Sexual immaturity helps the spread of STDs, thus teaching lessons that don't fix sexual immaturity isn't very effective at the prevention of STDs.

 

[Riddick]

Can you imagine how special your marriage would be if you abstained from sex until you were married?

It would definately be some sort of special.

btw, sex before marriage is a risky proposition, no matter how you slice it. You want to do it before marriage? Ok by me, just be ready to accept the risks...AIDs, the bad forms of Hepatitis like Pamela Anderson has, and many others.

 

[flicka]

Can you imagine how special your marriage would be if you abstained from sex until you were married?

It would definately be some sort of special.

btw, sex before marriage is a risky proposition, no matter how you slice it. You want to do it before marriage? Ok by me, just be ready to accept the risks...AIDs, the bad forms of Hepatitis like Pamela Anderson has, and many others.

Heh...my marriage is pretty special regardless

 

[BarbB]

The Silver Ring Thing is being publicised as a health/safety movement, but really it seems to me as being run primarily by a Christian agenda. If you haven't heard of it, it is a program whereby teens specifically go to a seminar/trainnig session/whatever and learn about the evils of pre-marital sex, getting scared with all types of STD statistics (which, it must be said, are generally quite accurate and well sourced). At the end of the seminar, they receive a silver ring that they wear on their wedding finger and sign a vow of absitenence until they are married.

There may be some pros for this. Possibly. But to me, it just seems to be advocating sexual repression. It is my opinion that sexual immaturity is on of the biggest reasons why so many first-time marriages fail. It's like trying to compete in the olympics without ever having trained and expecting not to lose.

I may be in the minority though...

So don't allow your children to participate! I don't understand why you are upset that Christians are trying abstinence programs to curb premarital sex, pregnancies, STD's, etc?

 

[JohnR7]

But to me, it just seems to be advocating sexual repression.

Which means you know nothing about the gift of celibacy. You seem to know nothing about the work God can do in a persons life in this area.

People who are sinners in general, and also people who are in the bondage of the sin of sex, usually try to justify themselves. They are often deceived into thinking there is nothing wrong with what they are doing. Or if they do acknowledge that it is a sin, they will think that somehow they are going to get away with it and not have to pay a price for their sin. They are hard of hearing and there are people who are reading this post who have eyes to see the words, but they do not have ears to comprehand what I am saying.

Paul warns us not to be deceived. You will reap what you sow.

Galatians 6:7-8
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. [8] For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Paul clearly tells us about corruption. I see people who clean their car or their motercycle untell it looks spotless to me. They do not want to see any corruption on them. But they do not keep themselves clean, and they allow corruption in their own body.

 

[michabo]

The problem is that abstinence programs lead to an increase in unplanned pregnancies, and STDs! The reason should be obvious: teens like sex and some will have sex despite their noble intentions. But those who plan to abstain will not take the precaution of purchasing condoms or other birth control devices. This has been demonstrated time and time again - when abstinence programs are introduced, pregnancies and STDs increase. When they are removed replaced with proper sex education classes, the figures immediately drop.

 

[flicka]

Which means you know nothing about the gift of celibacy. You seem to know nothing about the work God can do in a persons life in this area.

I though 'the gift of celibacy' is how you describe someone who chooses to stay celibate, not for someone waiting until they can have sex...

Besides, it's not about that anyway. The problem is teaching abstinence only, without the benefit of additional education should someone slip up despite their best intentions.

 

[USincognito]

We live in a world where teens are sexually mature at 12, partially legally mature at 18, finally legally mature at 21 and not really considered mature until they're 25 or 30.

Therein lies the problem, not whether one takes a particular stance regarding type of sex education. We either need to realize that kids are ready for reproduction younger - and demand commensurate maturity in all their other activities, or find a way to postpone puberty until they are beyond the mall and video game stage.

 

[Edward Vil - E for short]

Or kill them. Dead kids don't....fornicate.

 

[StainedClassKing]

The problem is that abstinence programs lead to an increase in unplanned pregnancies, and STDs! The reason should be obvious: teens like sex and some will have sex despite their noble intentions. But those who plan to abstain will not take the precaution of purchasing condoms or other birth control devices. This has been demonstrated time and time again - when abstinence programs are introduced, pregnancies and STDs increase. When they are removed replaced with proper sex education classes, the figures immediately drop.

This is strongly supported statistically. In the Texas Panhandle where I live, abstinance is very heavily taught and promoted. We have one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the entire USA. The Christians, of course, take this as evidence of sin and every year, double the efforts. And every year, the teen pregnancy rate rises.

 

[Edward Vil - E for short]

The teen adolscentacide level should rise instead.

 

[nadroj1985]

But to me, it just seems to be advocating sexual repression. It is my opinion that sexual immaturity is on of the biggest reasons why so many first-time marriages fail. It's like trying to compete in the olympics without ever having trained and expecting not to lose.

I think it is placing way too much importance on sex to say that sexual inexperience is a big reason for divorce. If it is a big reason, I think the problem is not the inexperience, but too much emphasis on the sexual part of the relationship.

 

[JohnR7]

Or kill them. Dead kids don't....fornicate.

It is just a matter of time. People who do not repent of their sin, will die in their sin.
God is patient not wanting any to perish, but for all to come to repentance and a saving knowledge of the truth.

 

[Edward Vil - E for short]

It is just a matter of time. People who do not repent of their sin, will die in their sin.
God is patient not wanting any to perish, but for all to come to repentance and a saving knowledge of the truth.

Hey, yeah? So you and me, right? Coupl'a shotguns, some Jim Beam...you can bring your holiness, I will bring my decadence and we can air our the abdomens of a couple million teens! Then we can go get the porn addicts! And then maybe the Disney park workers. I'll drive.

 

[StainedClassKing]

Fundamental Christian ideals concerning sex are just not realistic.

 

[Edward Vil - E for short]

Fundamental Christian ideals concerning sex are just not realistic.

...whereas the rest of their ideas are perfectly realistc.

 

[Sopharos]

Hmm, this goes down with the category "Department of Freethought Suppression". But what's even worse is a pop star telling people against sex before marriage. And the worst part; this has actually happened, and it happened in New Zealand.

I present to you, the first New Zealand Idol: Ben "the fundie" Lummis. Okay, he's hot and young and all, but he should stick to music and being cool and leave politics to the idiots at the Beehive.

 

[StainedClassKing]

...whereas the rest of their ideas are perfectly realistc.

Well, no, I wouldn't say that. It's just that few things can be so easily shown to be false more so than their claims regarding teaching abstinance and teen pregnancy.