Virginity Pledges linked to Risk

The current edition of Nation's Health (June/July 2005) has an article by Bill Smith who is the Vice President of Public Policy with the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States.  The article is entitled, Virginity Pledges linked to risk.  I think this kind of data shows how ineffective the behavioral modification techniques that we use, in youth ministry and in the church, really are.  Manipulating kids into making commitments and thinking that we have accomplished spiritual formation is absurd.  The Holy Spirit alone generates authentic transformation and we can't manufacture that with shallow, safe, program-driven youth ministry tricks.

Download data_on_virginity_pledges_from_nations_health.pdf

Comments

[Monk-in-Training]

My Parish has a ten week progam of sex education for high schoolers, and a 4 week one for middle school kids. No holds barred, we answer every question they have, explain just how things work and what can happen should they use their God given ability to make choices. We also tell them that THEY are the ones to make those choices, and we offer them help to do so, we DO not extract empty promises, for some supposed result. Give them the truth, trust them to know how to handle it. As far as I can see, these "pledgers" are not also given any education, just told "don't do any thing"! Yea, that works.

BTW, no pregnancies, or STD's have erupted in our educated kids.

[Mike]

I think that honesty and open conversation is vital. Also, we have to make sure that our focus is on spiritual formation and ushering youth into the Presence of God. I really believe the Holy Spirit is the transformation agent. Also, physical contact while not something we want our kids involved in - is not the end of the world, their life is over, done, finished. We have to stay in the lives of the youth we work with regardless of choices they make. We chase too many away with our behavioral modification techniques of shaming and scorning them into "good thinking and good behavior."

[Chris King]

Mike and friends: is there other info out there on the errant belief that "purity weekends" are the most effective way to help students move towards Christ regarding how they relate in their sexuality and gender? Are there voices out there that speak to behavior management youth ministry that is called "relationship focused"...?
chris