I'm getting tired of writing about Creation so this will be short. I told you I have ADD, right?
But what I continue to find disturbing and problematic is the insistence that only Christians are OK. There was less talk about converting people from other religions than I expected, I admit, but there was all kinds of talk about how only Christians can have good marriages, only Christian teens will survive with their morals intact, only Christians can withstand the temptation to use drugs and alcohol and so on.
This is the Fear Factor, nothing else. If you don't become a Christian, you'll be a failure. If you don't become a Christian, you'll never be happy. (this was not from the musicians, mind you-- except a couple of the more conservative ones-- it was from the speakers). Since a I know a number of people from a variety of religious backgrounds (and also some who have no religious preference at all) who have happy marriages, healthy teenagers, and well-rounded lives, this is just ludicrous to me. Not to mention that I know plenty of Christians who have difficult marriages and difficult teenagers. I think this is one of the main reasons that conservative Christians tend to hang out with each other and avoid close friendships with non-Christians-- because their prejudices just wouldn't hold up to reality. We all have similar struggles. There's no magic pill/religious belief that buys you an easy ride.
Oh, wait, I'm up on my soapbox again.
But I'm only getting started, because the thing that really got me going was the haranguing about female sexuality. Or the smothering thereof. Not everyone brought this up, but it was a constant theme. Modesty. Abstinence. Virginity. I'm not opposed to any of those things. In fact, since my daughter was in the 10-12 year old range in the midst of the Britney Spears rage, I would have been happy to hear a little more of it than was being said at that time. As part of a range of healthy sexual options for teens, abstinence works just great for me. BUT what mystifies me is why it's all directed at GIRLS. OK, in order for them to be sexually active, there is usually a guy involved. These people may be opposed to sex education, but there's no way I'm believing they don't know that. How come NONE of it was directed at the guys? Nothing to the guys: keep your mind out of the gutter, keep your pants up above your crack, keep it in your pants (excuse me for being blunt).
I think I've made my point. Packing up soapbox and moving on. I guess this wasn't exactly short but it was short-ER.
Love and kisses,
Aunt BeaN
The sexuality thing definitely has to be preached to both sexes. My boys have been reminded often to keep it in their pants. (The second part of the advice - accompanied by references to male responsibility, paternity suits and the availability of condoms - is that if you choose to have sex before marriage, do not be stupid about being stupid).
ReplyDeleteIt seems that conservatives have created something of a cult of virginity, elevating premarital sex into an unforgivable sin. And they have made virginity something to be pursued, rather than a part of a responsible relationship. While the consequences of sex can be significant and long-lasting, so can the consequences of gluttony, greed, and gossip, not to mention lying, various forms of theft, etc.