Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: jclark@sdcc6.ucsd.edu (John Clark) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: PCUSA report on human sexuality Message-ID: Date: 10 May 91 07:32:36 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of California, San Diego Lines: 36 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article kriz@skat.usc.edu (Dennis Kriz) writes: + +I can't see how a church can tell a pair of teenagers that sex at +their age can *ever* be "responsible" ... But I would hope that the As a matter of fact, this age seems to be the one at varience with the past. In previous times 'teen-agers' were married and contributing to the society. But now that is considered inappropriate, but essentially left no alternative to the sexual motivations in the young. As for family orientation, once a long time ago I work on a youth hot line. It was constant source of amazement to me to hear a young girl complaining that 1) she was pregnant 2) the parents in a fit of self-righteousness told her to leave("we don't want you to corrupt your sister"). I don't hear parents saying much different today. You may 'encourage' the behavior you want, but it seems when your efforts fail the angry is all that remains. It is no surpise to me that in this environment which emphasizes 'chasity' so much, and the consequences of not measuring up so greate that 1) young woman want abortions 2) young men deny culpability. The young women who have continued their pregnancy inspite of social ostricism and get support from parents are often not likely to repeat the process. The ones who get tossed, often end up in the endless cycle of finding someone to take care of them, get pregnant and tossed again. Of course you may not see it since those who wind up in this state usually do not go to church or school. So what you don't see is not a problem. Every once in awhile your reminded by some sensationalist new report, or some preacher trying to whip up support for why everything is going to hell in a handbasket. -- John Clark jclark@ucsd.edu