http://karenrayne.com/2007/08/23/thoughts-on-sexuality-religion-and-age/ Thu, 17 May 2012 22:57:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 http://karenrayne.com/2007/08/23/thoughts-on-sexuality-religion-and-age/comment-page-1/#comment-187 Dorian Fri, 24 Aug 2007 12:31:00 +0000 http://karenrayne.com/?p=130#comment-187 I was listening to a tape this morning about religion and sexuality. The preacher/minister/priest (I'm not sure what his credentials were) talked about the bible as basing most of its beliefs on faulty premises (such as the one where the white stuff that comes out of the man is the entirety of what makes babies, so therefore anything that wastes sperm is killing babies - therefore masturbation and homosexuality is a heinious crime). He also spoke of all Christian religious history being a bad thing for girls, placing them as the bad one in the Garden of Eden and being visiting with "the curse" (pain in childbirth and bleeding monthly to remember their sins). I struggle with how adolescents can work through these difficulties and develop a healthy sense of their own sexuality. I am in agreement with Karen that the OWL program through the Unitarian-Universalist Church can be helpful. I'm in agreement with Dr Rayne and Dr Epstein that adolescents are sometimes able to make better decisions than some adults regarding their sexual activities and choices. I believe strongly that adolescents need thoughtful caring adults to talk to about these issues. I encourage each person reading to go out and be more in connection with adolescents (if you are an adult) or adults (if you are an adolescent). If the first person you reach is not someone you like and can connect with - don't assume it is because of the age - keep looking for someone else! I was listening to a tape this morning about religion and sexuality. The preacher/minister/priest (I’m not sure what his credentials were) talked about the bible as basing most of its beliefs on faulty premises (such as the one where the white stuff that comes out of the man is the entirety of what makes babies, so therefore anything that wastes sperm is killing babies - therefore masturbation and homosexuality is a heinious crime). He also spoke of all Christian religious history being a bad thing for girls, placing them as the bad one in the Garden of Eden and being visiting with “the curse” (pain in childbirth and bleeding monthly to remember their sins). I struggle with how adolescents can work through these difficulties and develop a healthy sense of their own sexuality. I am in agreement with Karen that the OWL program through the Unitarian-Universalist Church can be helpful. I’m in agreement with Dr Rayne and Dr Epstein that adolescents are sometimes able to make better decisions than some adults regarding their sexual activities and choices. I believe strongly that adolescents need thoughtful caring adults to talk to about these issues. I encourage each person reading to go out and be more in connection with adolescents (if you are an adult) or adults (if you are an adolescent). If the first person you reach is not someone you like and can connect with - don’t assume it is because of the age - keep looking for someone else!

]]> http://karenrayne.com/2007/08/23/thoughts-on-sexuality-religion-and-age/comment-page-1/#comment-186 drrobertepstein.com Fri, 24 Aug 2007 03:14:00 +0000 http://karenrayne.com/?p=130#comment-186 I just wanted to thank you for your blog and to point out that I explore these issues in detail in <i>The Case Against Adolescence: Rediscovering the Adult in Every Teen</i>. It includes a foreword by the late psychotherapist Albert Ellis, who calls it "one of the most revolutionary books I have ever read." Dr. Joyce Brothers says that it is "profoundly important," and Deepak Chopra calls it "rigorous and persuasive." For further information, see: http://TheCaseAgainstAdolescence.com. I just wanted to thank you for your blog and to point out that I explore these issues in detail in The Case Against Adolescence: Rediscovering the Adult in Every Teen. It includes a foreword by the late psychotherapist Albert Ellis, who calls it “one of the most revolutionary books I have ever read.” Dr. Joyce Brothers says that it is “profoundly important,” and Deepak Chopra calls it “rigorous and persuasive.” For further information, see: http://TheCaseAgainstAdolescence.com.

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