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Jon Penk of Northglenn writes:

In response to Dan Lyons letter (Danger of Abstinence, July 2), the decision isn’t a one time ordeal but it comes in the heat of the moment in any situation when the hormones are turned on. It’s one of the most difficult decisions to make especially when it “feels right” to give in. Studies have shown consistency that those who saved themselves for marriage are much happier that those who didn’t. They have lower stress levels and a higher degree of trust in the relationship. For more info, go to www.frc.org. Yes our youth have hormones, just like we all do. But like us, they must learn to control them.

This letter has not been edited.

READER COMMENTS

A non-Christian propaganda source for your claims would be appreciated.

A Christian church I know of was going to have a parade of premarital virgins but they had to cancel it: One was sick, and the other refused to march alone.

Jon Penk wrote:

"Studies have shown consistency that those who saved themselves for marriage are much happier that those who didn’t."

citations Please!

How about citations the other way. With the divorce rate and huge numbers of children born to single parents, I say unfettered sex is working! Sex is a want NOT a NEED. It is not essential for the survival of the individual. There is nothing wrong with virginity. It is a good thing. There are however, big problems with pre-marital sex.

"Sex is a want NOT a NEED. It is not essential for the survival of the individual."

Tom, would you agree it's essential for the survival of our species? Do you know how beneficial regular ejaculation is for a man's health? Are you against masturbation?

You also asked:

"How about citations the other way."

Why should I provide citations? I'm not the one making claims without substantiation.

The species is fine, thank you. We will not be going out due to lack of propigation. I have seen studies demonstrating what Jon has stated. I am not sure if you can measure happiness. Charles, masterbate to your hearts content...I really do not care. Wash your hands and it is truely safe sex. But so is abstinence.

have as much sex as you want, married or not, just take responsibility for the actions you take, as they do have consequences, beneficial or otherwise.

Anon at 7/8 2:56
Try looking at the website. I did and I found excellent citations that I went to and validated such as the CDC, Columbia University, Yale University and the like. It's a whole lot faster than searching through these individual sites not knowing what to look for.

But based on your comment you really don't care to spend the time it takes to look up the information and see if the writer is right or wrong.

What no one is considering is that the problem with abstinence is not abstinence, but it is only teaching abstinence. All those that want to promote abstinence, usually just teach abstinence. So when a teen that does not know any other way to protect themselves steps off the abstinence bandwagon, they tend to get pregnant more often then their birth control savvy cousins. Go ahead and teach abstinence, but also teach about birth control. It is the only moral choice that gives teens all the information they need to protect themselves.

Tom assured us:

"I have seen studies demonstrating what Jon has stated"

Could you provide a link or reference so we can look at the study and judge it's validity?

...

(crickets)

I have tried both abstinence and birth control and I prefer birth control. Do you know any pretty women who like older men?

The letter writer must be pro-abortion

dear abstinence supporters, if you will do some research, real research, not that stuff with religion all mixed up in it , but some cold hard facts , you will see towns like Lubbock Texas, 240,000 people one major university (Texas Tech) several high schools , more churches than the rest of the U.S. excluding miss, Alabama, Georgia...1 sex ed program (abstinence), ....now you see what they teach and how and why, religion, cause jesus would not like that....now some more facts on this abstinence program they have... highest std stats per capita u.s. highest teen pregnancy per capita, highest hiv per capita....why ? i ask , well if the church would get out of the govt. business, out of the schools, and completely out of the Texas state legislature and teach an actual sex education class and educate the parents too, cause we all know catholics are against birth control especially the brown ones in Texas(yes we all know who they are) there would not be this problem, it should be up to the parents to teach their kids right from wrong, but as we all know people are a stupid creature in mass quantities. educate the people and leave religion out of it, it has no place in education of any sort unless you are going to school for religion

and for all you people out there bashing left and right, pick a side and stick with it, in a war of left or right , why not pick right over wrong, not left or right

The root of this problem seems to be public schools...

the root of the problem is the religion in the public schools and the legislature in Texas (a.k.a. the belt buckle of the bible belt) if you teach sex education teach all sex education not just one form, teach abstinence as well as other kinds of protection

This doesn't need to be an issue in public schools, which should stick to teaching math, English, science and history...not moral values etc...sex education should be left to parents and peers.

L

I did go to the FRC site, and found none of the "consistency" of studies the writer claims.

Point me to the ones I missed.

Back in the good old days, my parents and many of their peers married in their late teens, not for love or because they were ready to make a lifelong commitment, but because they were horny and were expected to hold out until the wedding night.

Many of these marriages were highly dysfunctional, seems alcoholism, domestic violence and infidelity were the parental norm among my peers. Many of these marriages would limp along indefinitely, others ended in ugly divorces. Either way, the children paid the highest price.

Rushing into marriage for the sake of sanctified sex is not an answer. Seems practicing abstinence, using reliable birth control (when you change your mind) and choosing to have a child only when you're ready, is the best bet.

Roy,
what does sex education have to do with "moral values"?
The idea is to tell students about risks of infection and pregnancy, how the psychology and phsyiology of sex works, and how to avoid risk.

Ignorance is never the best choice.

I have always loved the term "Saved Themselves". What have they "saved"? Did they earn interest?

If a person marries very late in life should they still be "saving" or are they allowed to "spend" some along the way?

too precious!

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