Mr. Murad may have something of interest to say about boys and the work of Germaine Greer but to be honest I don't care. I take with grains of salt those who identify as Christians or Jews if they conjoin that with the truth or accuracy of their opinion. Mr. Murad has done that here and yet also had the temerity to say "trade-up?"

I wonder, does this religion come with an arrogance quotient?
1/26/03 12:54:11 AM    

This is true. There is not nearly enough education and research in sexuality and health.

"But there is ample evidence for abstinence programs' effectiveness, according to Heritage Foundation senior research fellow Robert Rector. In April, he wrote a report detailing the scientific evaluations of ten abstinence-only programs. Such curriculums, he concluded, "have repeatedly been shown to be effective in reducing sexual activity among their participants."

This is great! The more methods that work to slow the spread of disease and heartache the better. As long as one choice does not disallow another choice everyone should be happy.

"A 2001 study published in the American Journal of Sociology found that teens who make virginity pledges stay virgins 18 months longer than those who do not."

The subject of this study is the group called True Love Waits

"A study commissioned by Focus on the Family is due next year."

Rector writes, in The Effectiveness of Abstinence Education Programs in Reducing Sexual Activity Among Youth, "Not only do such programs, by their very nature, minimize the abstinence component of sex education, but many of these programs also implicitly encourage sexual activity among the youths they teach. Guidelines developed by SEICUS, for example, include teaching children aged five through eight about masturbation and teaching youths aged 9 through 12 about alternative sexual activities such as mutual masturbation, "outercourse," and oral sex. 16 In addition, the SEICUS guidelines suggest informing youths aged 16 through 18 that sexual activity can include bathing or showering together as well as oral, vaginal, or anal intercourse, and that they can use erotic photographs, movies, or literature to enhance their sexual fantasies when alone or with a partner. Not only do such activities carry their own risks for youth, but they are also likely to increase the incidence of sexual intercourse."

This seems to be pretty accurate for how the child's sexuality develops. The idea here should be that with firm parenting, community involvement, and a thorough education a child will grow up able to make the best decisions.

7/10/02 9:04:53 PM    

A solar god, possibly Tonatiuh or maybe Xiuhtecuhtli offering rubber, while on the high alter a rubber ball is burning.

As early as the sixth century the indigenous in South and Central America used rubber as part of religious ceremonies.

see Rubber Technology

6/14/02 11:22:34 PM