Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site decwrl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!zehntel!dual!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-miles!chabot From: chabot@miles.DEC (L. S. Chabot) Newsgroups: net.women Subject: Re: birth control Message-ID: <824@decwrl.UUCP> Date: Fri, 1-Mar-85 11:08:48 EST Article-I.D.: decwrl.824 Posted: Fri Mar 1 11:08:48 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 3-Mar-85 03:05:04 EST Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP Organization: DEC Engineering Network Lines: 30 I am by no means blaming silence about birth control on religion, but I do list it as an influence. Religions may be opposed to adultery, casual sex, violence, &tc, which we see on tv, but violence gets punished, and the criminals usually confess on the witness stand or before. Or, at least, violence by the bad guys anyway. Adultery and casual sex...well, it seems more like if you get caught you get punished: if you're caught in bed, or a baby results, at least your life gets messed up internally if not externally. And you're right, this isn't necessarily the message religions would want to give about sex--they'd be more on the side of you always get caught and you always get punished for sins. Mentioning birth control in a sex situation takes the recreation out of it. If you have to think, gee, it can't be fun? Fun means no responsibilities? I think even more importantly, there is a pervading belief that sex is only for procreation not recreation, and if we acknowledge its procreative possibilities by taking actions to prevent them, then we are being bad, sinning, using sex for fun instead of for what some deity created it. Even those raised with little no church training are not necessarily immune to this pervading opinion. And it's a really idiotic attitude. I'm pretty sure from the comments made by teenagers and other naive people, that taking precautions equals you know what you're doing and you're therefore guilty. It would be much better to take the healthier attitude of understanding human sexual behavior and being educated and responsible about it. This is something in which parents can be of great help, by talking honestly rather than refusing to talk about such dirty and embarassing subjects. L S Chabot UUCP: ...decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-amber!chabot ARPA: ...chabot%amber.DEC@decwrl.ARPA USFail: DEC, LMO4/H4, 150 Locke Drive, Marlborough, MA 01752