I decided to wait until certain “celebrities” had lost their limelight before breaching this subject. Conservative evangelical arguments revolve around two things: sexual abstinence and anything not abortion. However this leads to problems once reality sets in. Perhaps the biggest campaign is an abstinence-only pledge. However, very few evangelical teens actually follow through with this to marriage (source). In fact, evangelical teens are no different than other teens regarding sexual practices with only one exception: evangelical teens delay their “debut” 18 months longer to age 16. This combined with the push for abstinence-only education leads to evangelical teens not knowing how to effectively use contraception. As a result, groups which have high abstinence-only pledge rates (read evangelical teen groups) also have higher rates of STDs and unwanted pregnancies (source). All of this leads to the conclusion that sexual education should be an important part of any teen’s upbringing.
A second strand in this discussion is the reaction on failure. While many would believe that a family which pushes for abstinence-only would be devastated when a teen revealed her being pregnant, the opposite is the case. Most evangelical families are nonchalant on hearing this news. This eventually leads to early marriage, divorce, and other “dysfunctional” dynamics which society–particularly socially conservative society–abhors. In othe words, conservative evangelicals tend to breed an environment which fosters the very things they abhor.
It seems to me that there is a major problem with the Christians who want to separate “sacred” from “secular” and yet not hold a pacifist view. Here’s the problem:
If one really believes in the “sacred”/”secular” dichotomy, then government and relations between states/nations must be included in the “secular” part of it. To then support any kind of involvement of one’s government with another government is to immediately deny that separation. It is much like one advocating “separation of church and state” while also advocating a “Christian nation.” The two sides are mutually exclusive. Therefore, if one wishes to hold to the dichotomy, one must also adhere to pacifism regardless of the war.
Have you noticed how “war” has become such a buzzword that it has lost its meaning? Let’s look at all the non-war wars: Cold War, the War on Drugs, the War on Aids, the War against Terror. Almost every decade has had its own “war” that (1) wasn’t a real war and (2) was a losing battle. We can look at the statistics on drug use and on aids. We’ve seemed to have lost those wars, so we got a new one: the War on Terror. Now, this is a special breed because it has many different terrorists. First, there were the good ole’ terrorists. Then the bioterrorists. The latest form of terrorism is now narcoterrorists. This special breed is a combination of the War on Drugs and the War on Terror. Now we can advance on one enemy in two ways: terror or drugs. At this rate, we’ll have so many wars, there will even be a War for Peace. Try fathoming that.
i got this phone call today from the David Vitter’s campaign HQ. First question: “Can we count on you for voting for David Vitter?” Nope. i’m not sure about the senate race yet. Second question: “What is the main issue that would influence your vote?” All of them. Third question: “Which issue would you like to know about?” Education and the Arts. “Sorry, i don’t have that information. i have (lists everything currently popular in the newspaper).” Social Security sounds good. “Blah blah blah.”
Thank you for calling my cell phone around dinner time. “Be sure to watch the senate debate tonight.” Saw it last week when it was first aired. “Oh. i didn’t know about that…have a good day.” Sorry, i’m unconvinced. You are the weakest link. Tchüß.
Gotta love politics.
And, for those of you who may have forgotten: i love my girlfriend. She is wonderful. She makes my blood boil.
Talk
RSSJeffrey
Clint, christopher, Jasen
Chris
thainamu
Chris Martin
Wilson, Rick, brad, christopher, brad, christopher, brad, christopher, brad