(this is a repost) If some religious people say that homosexuals cause and spread AIDS, what is to be said....

Question

about the religious missionaries who go to say, South Africa, where the rate of AIDS is the highest (over 23 million cases) and they refuse to teach anything but abstinence (which scientifically has been shown to not work and has a HIGHER rate of unprotected sex practices). They go there and only educate about abstienence because many don't believe in birth control methods, so they refuse to educate about condoms or make them available. So, couldn't it be said that the same religious people who say homosexuality spreads/causes AIDS are only encouraging the spread themselves?

I'm saying abstinence leads to a higher rate of unsafe sex practices, because abstinence doesn't work! People are human and people have sex! And when they DO, since all they've been taught is abstinence, when they DO have sex, they're at a higher rate to do it unprotected because they haven't received the proper education on how to protect themselves. It's been scientifically proven that people who are only taught abstienence have a higher rate of unprotected sex than people who have been educated about safe sex. Not saying they have sex MORE than people who don't practice abstienence, just saying when they DO have sex, chances are higher for it to be unprotected.
This happens many times with teenagers and young adults.

Answer 1

I wouldn't say they were encouraging it as such, merely not providing adequate education in the right way. It's a shame when it is so easy to prevent.

Answer 2

Bush's global gag rule and reduced provision of contraceptives including condoms (they prefer to stress abstinence as preventing HIV) is in fact resulting in increased rates of HIV infection. Several organizations that try to prevent and deal with the consequences of HIV/AIDs in other countries are trying to call attention to this. I'll post a link of a report on this.

HIV/AIDs affects heterosexual people and children as much or more than homosexuals in many countries.

And to above---abstinence doesn't work because people have sex. Its a normal part of the human condition whether you like it or not --regardless of whether your religious beliefs agree or not. Yes, if people didn't have sex then abstinence would be the 100% effective answer. Since this is not realistic then condoms and education work best. Many new infections are married women who contract it from their unfaithful spouse or a spouse who contracted it before marriage. So marriage itself is not a protection.

Answer 3

Whoa! Your conclusion is partially valid, but what the buffoons who spread abstinence are doing doesn't encourage homosexuality, just permiscuity. Both are immensely wrong. What needs to be done is help people get married, make it easy to contract a marriage, and educate people that you don't have to have everything perfect in your life than go find a spouse last. A spouse is on the top of the list!

Peace to those who use their intellect.

Answer 4

I totally agree with you. I think to some extent religious people are to blame because they prevent people from protecting themselves.

I know it's not right to say this to some extent but I'm partly right - religiously. Fornication is wrong, that's what the Bible says. But let's not forget that it's not God's will for us to be captives (captives of diseases, captives of the devil's work (fornication is the devil's work as well etc.). We are more productive if healthy to God and for God so the best way to keep healthy is to use a condom if and when having sex. Remember that any sin is not easy to stay away from because it's like a desire and once you have that desire it's really difficult to just avoid committing that sin.

I think those religios people should understand that people don't sin because they want to but because it's difficult not to.

Protect yourself from HIV and the ONLY best way to do so is to use a condom.

Answer 5

You are correct in your assesment.

Many Christian Idealists have been touting a JUST SAY NO philosophy to sex for a long time. What's the result? As the song says, "People are still having sex."

These Idealists need to recognize that sin can be forgiven, but HIV and AIDS cannot be cured.

STOP preaching abstinence.
START teaching safety.

The people of the world need your help.

Answer 6

The pope really needs to sort that out. Note that it's only technically catholic missionaries that are required to only teach abstinence and not supply birth control.

Answer 7

Do you realize how poor most people are in much of Africa?

A missionary from East Africa was in our church a few weeks ago. Most people there do not have any health care. Even in the best hospital most people die from simple things. Most people there have little regard for life. The doctors reuse the same hypodermic needles (they will use a new one one whites because they know about the danger of reusing needles).

Answer 8

ABSTINENCE: abstention from sexual intercourse (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/abstinence)

How can abstinence have "a HIGHER rate of unprotected sex practices" according to you if people aren't having sex? I guess I don't get your question. How has abstinence been scientifically proven NOT to protect against AIDS!? Since AIDS is transmitted through the exchange of bodily fluids... I'm not getting your point.

I think that when people assert that the use of condoms is foolproof in protection against STDS and AIDS, that is irresponsible. Our school systems ignore the option of abstinence, which HAS been proven to be and is logically the best defence against STD and AIDS.

And in terms of the missionaries, they are simply following through on their beliefs which state that sexual relations are to be reserved for within the bonds of marriage.

I'm going to ignore the "homosexuality" element in your question because I think it just clouds the issue you are really driving at... in terms of abstince, in trying to inflame the discussion around a discussion of morality and homosexuality.

Answer 9

Monogamy is the only safe sex. Condoms may help prevent AIDS but other STD's including HPV which causes ovarian cancer are not stopped by condom use. The only cure for the pandemic facing this planet is for people to care enough not to put others at risk for horrible diseases, and stick to one sex partner.

Answer 10

Where do you get the lie that abstienence doesn't work? It does work when one works to better their world and the lives of others in their community. That your trying to put shame on people who show you the error of following tradition, just makes you into being the ignorant savage you were before you learned of a better life. Stop twisting the truth to justify sin.