Christians, is abstinence-only sex education really better?

Question

Do you think it prevents teen pregnancy?
Do you think it prevents the spread of STDs?

If so, you're quite incorrect!

http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/PDFs/impactabstinence.pdf

That is a study showing that students involved in abstinence only sex education programs and those not involved all have exactly the same chances of engaging in pre-marital sex AND remaining abstinent.

So, kids can remain abstinent without being told to, but even if they are told to, they'll probably have sex anyway!

Why not improve education on STDs and birth control, since many kids will be having sex anyway? Stop denying the truth!

To The Republican With No Name:

Sure, it wouldn't be MANDATORY sex education. I don't think it should be mandatory at all. But then again, that also means abstinence only sex education shouldn't be mandatory, and neither should other sex education.

Mandatory vs. optional isn't the issue here, it's the quality of education received.

crimmsonandclover:

I'm not saying "Yes, children of the world, go have all the sex you want!" I'm not suggesting that people have sex, in fact, abstinence IS the only way to prevent unwanted pregnancy and STDs, but the fact remains that teenagers will have sex. Since this fact will not change, they might as well be educated about it and those who think that only abstinence should be presented need to realize the truth of the matter.

Answer 1

Agreed.
If we teach anything sex education-wise in school it should be based on science. Values should be taught in the home and the church where they belong.

Answer 2

In all truth, I'm not for teaching abstinence only. Sex education should go like this:
"The only 100% sure way of preventing STD's and unwanted pregnancies is by abstaining from sex. Condoms, even if used correctly, still only have a 98% prevention rate. Most methods of birth control (again, even if used properly) only have a 99% prevention rate. If NOT used correctly, they're basically useless."

THEN go on to teach them how to use condoms, where to get them; teach them what the different symptoms of various STD's are (and the percentage of people that have them!); teach them about different methods of birth control, as well as where to get them.

After all that, stress AGAIN that the ONLY 100% sure way of avoiding unwanted pregnancies and STD's is abstinence. There is no such thing as "safe" sex unless it's NO sex. There is only "safer" sex.

Some teens will still have sex no matter what they're told. That's true. However, ever since abstinence was introduced as an option, teen pregnancy rates have gone DOWN, and so have the amount of teens having sex. I can get sources on these statistics. It was reported in several different major newspapers (Washington Post, for one), as well as on several different news stations' websites.

Answer 3

I am a Christian, and I agree that teenagers should be taught about every form of STD prevention and birth control, including and not limited to abstinence. Yes, abstinence is the best way to go, because no form of birth control fully protects against pregnancy or STDs. But, like you mentioned, alot of teenagers don't care, and will have sex regardless of the consequences. At that stage in life, our hormones are out of control, and most of us just can't seem to control our desires. So, I think teenagers should be taught about every form of STD prevention and birth control, and each one's failure rate, so they can make the best decision possible if they are planning on having sex.

Thank you for bringing this up. Alot of Christians seem to think that if we only teach about abstinence, that's all kids will do. They seem to have forgotten what it was like to be a teenager.

Answer 4

Absolutely not! I agree with you, that teens will do what they want, regardless of the type of sex education received. I think it is much better to put a girl on the pill than have an unwanted pregnancy. They will lie to their parents about it. Parents need to be cautioning their children about STDs, rather than pretending that their child will not have sex until marriage. These are the parents who are going to wake up in the middle of a nightmare!

I don't want my daughter to have to make the choice of having a baby or terminating a pregnancy. Both are wrong. I believe that a woman should be married when she has children and both of my daughters know exactly how I feel.

I warned both of them about having a baby out of wedlock and still live at home. The baby would be adopted by me. I'm not going to raise their child only to have it taken away when they leave home.

Answer 5

I think that kids need to know what their alternatives are. Just because they are being preached at to abstain does not mean that they will. My grandparents raised their children in a strict Christian home and 2 of the four were expecting children before they were married. I consider myself a Christian, but I did not wait until I was married, luckily I had access to information and resources to be able to protect myself from pregnancy and STDs, but not everyone does. I think schools sex education courses should teach alternatives to abstinence so those who choose to have sex can have the resources and knowledge to protect themselves and their partners.

Answer 6

You cannot judge by sending your kids to a class and expect it to all work out.

It takes education, and communication on the part of the parents. What do most kids that have birth control only know about STD's? Do you know how many viruses you can get and not even know about it until you get older and find out you are sterile, or worse have Cancer?

Do you know how many viruses are not stopped by latex condemns? Do you know that birth control pills can cause spontaneous abortions and do not always just prevent pregnancy? Do you know how many kids all of your partners have had sex with and how many diseases you are opening yourself up to? Do you know that most of these affect women more than Men? Do you know the emotional effects of Abortion?

My kids do. There are much worse things than getting Pregnant.

Peace be with you!

Answer 7

Why do people continue to refuse to believe that sex is driven by hormones and curiosity? Young people are genetically programmed to have sex once they can. There is plenty of evidence suggesting that people will have sex regardless of what they are taught. The import part is to arm them with knowledge, both good and bad.

When I was a kid the sure way to get me to do something was to tell me not to do it, so the abstinence [lack of] education is complete nonsense.

Answer 8

Well I am a Christian and have a daughter. And although I told her that abstinence would be better for her emotionally long term, and would lessen her chances of getting hurt or pregnant, when she was determined to have sex, and spoke to me about it, I also spoke to her about birth control/STDS and brought her to speak to our family Dr, at which time she went on a form of birth control.
How about not assuming that "Christians" are all the same. And we all have rose colored glasses on? I am a Christian but I am also a REALIST.
Thank you and have a nice day...=)

Answer 9

I think it doesn't matter.

I think this is America, and we have the right to teach our children however we want.

I think that, as an American, I should have the right to choose whether or not my child in a public school learns about sex ed or not.

Whether or not it works is irrelevant.

However, it has worked 100% in my family. But that is besides the point. I love how Liberals insist the government tells us how to live our lives. Sorry, but I don't want to live on Animal Farm.

We should have sex ed classes in school, and the student is automatically enrolled in it, unless the parent wishes them not to be, at which point they will be put in a class about, say ethics or whatnot.


EDIT---

The value of the education is proportional to the person teaching it. A good parent that teaches abstinence-only will be successful, as I was and my mother was.

However, a bad parent will not teach their child anything, be it abstinence-only, or safe sex. Both will be in one ear and out the other.

Answer 10

on the contrary i dont think it prevents it at all..ok abstinence IS thwe best way not to get pregnant..no doubt, but if someone does have sex they need to know of other ways to protect themselves...i think both should be taught. 1- abstinence does prevent and is the best way to prevent pregnancy, 2- BUT if you do ahve sex there are other ways to rpotect yourselves....Giving the people choices will give better results!

Answer 11

Just teaching abstinence-only is not the answer. It must be taught with Christian principles by Christ-like acting parents and church leadership. But I have attended non-religious, abstinence-only programs that were VERY influential.