Abstinence Only Education - How it really works
I am currently reading the book "Kingdom Coming" by Michelle Goldberg. It is about the rise of Christian Nationalism in the USA.
The following is from the book (I am typing, so forgive any typos or such).
the backstory - Pam Stenzel has a degree in psychology from Jerry Falwell's Liberty University and was appointed by George W. Bush to head a 12 person panel dedicated to abstinence only eductaion for kids in US schools. And now, a wonderful little gem showing just where those tax dollars are going. Also, it should be noted that "Reclaiming America for Christ" is a radical two day seminar for Christian Nationalists who want to bring America into the realm of Christian Taliban methodologies. Fringe element? Not when you see that those who George W. has set up with powerful positions in the current regime. Scary and bone chilling. And now the quote from the book:
...At "Reclaiming America for Christ," Stenzel told her audience about a conversation she'd had with a skeptical businessman on an airplane. The man asked about the abstinence education's success rate - a question she regarded as risible. "What he's asking," she said, "is does it work. You know what? Doesn't matter. Cause guess what. My job is not to keep teenagers from having sex. The public schools' job should not be to keep teens from having sex."
The her voice rose and turned angry as she shouted, "Our job should be to tell kids the truth!"
"People of God," she cride, "can I beg you, to commit yourself to truth, not what works! To Truth! I don't care if it works, because at the end of the day I'm not answering to you, I'm answering to God!"
Later in the same talk, she explained further why what "works" isn't what's important - and gave some insight into what she means by "truth." "Let me tell you something, people of God, that is radical, and I can only say it here," she said, " AIDS is not the enemy. HPV and a hysterectomy is not the enemy. My child believing that they can shake their fist in the face of a holy God and sin without consequence, and my child spending eternity separated from God, IS the enemy. I will NOT teach my child that they can sin safely."
The crowd applauded.
Of course, Stenzel isn't just teaching her child...
This is from "Kingdom Coming A Rise of Christian Nationalism" by Michelle Goldberg.
This isn't fiction folks. And if anyone wants to pay Pam a visit,
http://www.pamstenzel.com/