Christians: Please help me understand this!?

Question

We know that the Blue states didn't go for Bush and that there is a pretty firm correlation between Red states being more religious and Blue states being less so. What are the top 15 states for high rates of teen pregnancy? All Red. Of the 16 lowest rates, all but three were Blue states (including the bottom 6):
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/12/6/145758/107
Furthermore, the rate of teen pregnancies in the U.S. is twice as high as any other industrialized nation:
http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_teens.html
The above study concluded "U.S. teenagers have higher STD rates than teenagers in other developed countries—for example, England, Canada, France and Sweden—because they have more sexual partners and probably lower levels of condom use." Sweden had the lowest rates of both teen pregnancies and STDs.
Now, cross-reference that to the fact that the U.S. is the most religious industrialized nation and Sweden among the least: http://www.umich.edu/~urecord/0304/Nov24_03/15.shtml

I don't get it. Can you help please?

Hawop: If only the world really were run by Satin.

(Satinist - love the way it feels against my naked skin!)

Answer 1

You stated certain facts from your links but left out others that I pasted on here for all to see. For example the data was from the mid 1990's, (1995 to be exact), over 10 YEARS AGO! When looking at the charts, you can see very little difference in sexual activity not to mention this little quote just above the charts "Differences in levels of teenage sexual activity across developed countries are small." And when looking at thechart for sexual activity, the US is indeed NOT the highest. Also look at some charts on average income in the blue states. It's much higher than in the red states, but that is not mentioned in that one sided website.

BELOW I HAVE PROVIDED UPDATED FACTS DATING FROM 1990 TO 2005 AND A "RELIABLE" LINK FROM THE CDC. ENJOY!

Trends by Age

The estimated pregnancy rate for young teenagers 15-17 years fell from 77.1 per 1,000 in 1990 to 44.4 in 2002, a 42-percent drop (Table 2 and Figures 1 and 3). During the recent period, 2000-2002, the rate fell 13 percent. During 1990-2000, the rate fell about 4 percent per year while during 2000-02, the rate dropped 6.5 percent annually.

The rate for older teenagers declined more modestly, falling 25 percent from 167.7 per 1,000 in 1990 to 125.0 in 2002 (Table 2 and Figures 2 and 3). The rates declined continuously for older teenagers: about 2 percent annually during 1990-2000 and about 3.6 percent annually for 2000-2002. Pregnancy rates for both age groups in 2002 are record lows for the Nation since this series of rates began in 1976 (1, 2).

Rates by Race and Hispanic Origin

Pregnancy rates for black and white non-Hispanic teenagers dropped by about 40 percent each during 1990-2002, whereas the rate for Hispanic teenagers fell about 19 percent (Table 2 and Figure 4). Pregnancy rates for white and black non-Hispanic teenagers declined fairly steadily through the period 1990-2002; the decline for Hispanic teenagers began after 1994. The pace of decline in the pregnancy rates by race and Hispanic origin increased in the recent period 2000-2002 compared with 1990-2000: Rates fell 6 to 7 percent per year during 2000-2002 for black and white non-Hispanic teenagers and 2.5 percent for Hispanic teenagers, compared with annual declines of about 4 percent for black and white non-Hispanic teenagers and 1.6 percent per year for Hispanic teenagers during 1990-2000. Among age subgroups, pregnancy rates fell for all race and Hispanic origin groups between 2000 and 2002, except for Hispanic teenagers 18-19 years whose rate was unchanged.

Pregnancy rates for black teenagers were substantially higher than for white or Hispanic teenagers in 1990. By 2002, the rates for black and Hispanic teenagers were very similar and were each more than two and one-half times the rate for non-Hispanic white teenagers (Figure 4).

Trends in Pregnancy Rates by Outcome

Rates for all components of pregnancy among teenagers have fallen since 1990 (Table 2). The birth rate dropped 28 percent from 1990 to 2002, whereas the abortion rate declined 46 percent. During the 1990s, the abortion rate fell more rapidly than the birth rate. Since 2000, these two trends have been similar with annual declines of about 5 percent for each. The birth rate has continued to fall since 2002, and has now declined 33 percent from 1990 through 2005 (5). Overall, four in seven teenage pregnancies ended in a live birth in 2002, two in seven in induced abortion, and about one in seven in a fetal loss.

The fact is that the root of the problem needs to be addressed. Pushing contraceptive use is like putting a band aid over an infected wound, although you don't see the infection anymore, it's still there. You must get to the root of the problem to make the infection go away. If you want to get to the root, look back to the beliefs in the earlier years of American society (pre 1960's) verses today and you will begin to see those numbers rising more and more each decade.

Answer 2

While I can't agree with a blanket statement that most atheists know more about Christianity than Christians, I would agree that some (or many) Christians believe by faith alone, and may not see the religious texts in an unbiased view. From personal experience, it seems that some Christians are afraid that religious studies of various religions could change or shake their faith--so they avoid it. They may also avoid challenges to their beliefs by claiming that their presuppositions of the Bible negate any historical facts that may alter the truth and reality of the texts. I think it's truly important to be well read and educated on the background and history of Christianity. If people can't handle the truth of the Bible (for example, pseudoepigraphical texts) then they may need to rethink their faith in the first place.

Answer 3

It is hypocrisy....but the major tenant of Christianity is that we are not perfect but just forgiven. The problem with your statistics is that a lot of Christians with a self righteous attitude have screwed a lot of things up. It usually is spelled out in fanaticism. The red states are mostly republican, right? Well usually that means the Christians that are in that state are way more legalistic and harsh with their children than other states. They put so much pressure on their children to "be perfect" that they go out and rebel. Since they think that there children could do no such of a thing then they don't teach them about condom use and the importance of IF they are promiscuous then they probably need to use protection so that they don't get pregnant or catch a disease. I came from a family like this in the wonderful republican state of Indiana. I ended up making a lot of mistakes in my teens and early twenties that I shouldn't have. It's really about grace and education. Stop pretending that people are not going to do this and stop helping them to make better decisions about it when they do.
I hope this helps.....

Answer 4

I say a high rate of pregnancy is b/c of lack of education and human nature having a rebellious streak. Basic human psychology but of course the Xians are determined that sex not exist until there's couple. Yeah, right.
BTW, some idiot said 'all you far left liberals love to procreate then have abortions'. That is the dumbest thing I've ever seen. The CHOICE to have an abortion is not an ideal thing...I sincerely doubt anyone wants to get pregnant so they can have one. Also, abortions are not cheap. Talk about a stressful situation. You anti-choice people need to get a clue and realize abortion is not a form of birth control.
Please, EDUCATE YOURSELF!

Answer 5

Sure. Google poverty and ethnic diversity. You can also note that the poorest states also have the highest rates of charitable giving, even excluding religious giving. Most miserly state? Massachusetts.

If you think comparing Sweden to lower Alabama is apt, that is the first problem on your plate.

Answer 6

The problem is although people say they serve one God this country and world is truly run by satin. it is a constant struggle for Christians to fight to serve God and if we're not serving him at home first our children suffer. satin knows Gods word better then we do he knows how to use it against us he sneaks up from behind and sometimes we don't catch him until it to late. think about some of the laws being made today there not put in place for all but to make a few sinners happy. God is our father is he proud of you? does our lives glorify him? If it did things might be a little different.

Answer 7

Sure. Blue states and more liberal countries are more likely to teach sex education to their children. Where kids know how to prevent STDs and unintended pregnancies, they're more likely to take steps to do so.

It's mostly about education levels, IMO.

Answer 8

The red states have higher rates of teen pregnancy because the blue teen states abort all their babies. (blue states have the highest abortion rates)

All that study says is that america is better at tracking that stuff than other countries who spend their tax dollars on stuff they can use, like healthcare instead of silly studies like this.

Also who cares if teenagers get STDs...if they are not having sex, they dont have to worry about STDs. If they worry about STDS its because they are having sex. They do it to themselves, Religion tells them not to have sex before marriage. If they dont listen, they face the consequences. USA is not the most religious...they just all claim to be Christians, but they are really hypocrits because they dont follow any of the teachings. Its like calling yourself a republican, but always voting democrat during every election. You are not a republican if you are always voting democrat...you are democrat! That analogy is that you can call yourself a Christian all you want, if you dont follow the teachings though you are NOT a Christian.

Answer 9

Well, I guess that goes to show that it is possible for someone to say they are a Christian but not really live it, now doesn't it? If these people were truly born again, as they claim they are, there would be a difference in their behaviour. I will go out on a limb and guess that probably most of those who claim to be saved really aren't. "By their fruits ye shall know them", after all. Christians aren't perfect, we still mess up, but when you see someone who claims to be saved but continues on living in sin....they probably aren't saved.


***EDIT***
The high rate of teen pregnancies may have nothing to do with the religion of the families of these girls. Does anyone know if all these pregnant girls come from "Christian" homes, and if so, how Christian are they (i.e., are they really involved in their faith or do they only go to church ince in a while?). I suspect it has more to do with the sex-saturated culture in which we live. It is in our music, music videos, teen magazines, tv shows, movies (I have found that pg movies often have more sexual references than R movies....weird huh?), and they have sex ed classes in grade school in some states. It is insane. If you are going to drown your children in sexual imagery don't be shocked when they act out and start imitating this behaviour. Know what? My parents, my ILs, and many of my friends' parents, never allowed their kids to watch sex scenes, MTV, or shows with lots of sex scenes. We didn't listen to bump-'n-grind music, and we didn't read all those silly trashy teen mags. And you know what? All of us have survived our teen years with our virginity intact (well, except me - I gave mine away when I was 19, on my wedding night!). No STDs, no pregnancies, no sexual experimentation, no broken hearts and regrets. I think that not being soaked in the sex culture had much to do with it.

Answer 10

That's an easy question considering we know how you far left liberals love to procreate...then kill 'em while they are in the womb. A conception means absolutely nothing to democrats whose whole campaign centers around what is good for "self" and not others.

Answer 11

What do you reckon....30 minutes before you get reported?.....good luck! (LOL)

EDIT: Bravo...you've beaten the 30 minute hurdle....only the fundamentalists and radicals will keep chasing you now...run like the wind my friend!