The Sunday Telegraph ran an article yesterday called 'Britain is persecuting Christians'. The article tells how 640 prominent figures (mainly teachers and religious leaders) have signed a letter stating that teaching sex education in schools to minors is undermining morals etc. They are also aggrieved at recent cases where they state christians have been seemingly persecuted or discriminated in the work place. They are calling upon the government to drop legislation regards teaching sex education to pupils as young as seven, stating they need a childhood first as one example. Whilst I am inclined to agree children do need a childhood I also think they need to be aware of adult issues too, especially in today's modern society where media and television exposure only leaves kids asking questions at an early age anyway.
Back when I was at school I recall my parents tentatively telling me the basics, I suspect it was probably awkward for them, in school I don't think we got the official lowdown till about age twelve, by which time we all knew about 'how babies are made' and just sat there giggling nervously as the teacher prattled on but this was the late seventies after all.
Firstly I think in today's society you can certainly structure how it is introduced to young curious minds. In later years of course you can introduce the safe sex elements, which I suspect is pretty much how they handle it anyway these days.
Of course, if religious or faith leaders had it their way there'd be none of it, we'd be filling young minds with nonsense about Adam and Eve and big storks coming alone bringing bundles of joy. As a species of course we are driven to procreate, you reach puberty and all hell breaks loose in your mind and your body, if matters aren't understood then of course accidents occur, as they did back in the day so to speak when conceptions happened at early ages for a lot of women. These of course were women that had to endure shame, hand the baby over to elders or strangers and loads of other horror story scenarios. When asked why they'd had a baby so young the majority would plead ignorance as regards sex, so would males, after all it was a taboo subject. Most people had to find their own way forward sexually, gaining information either by experience first hand or by asking others shyly in confidence.
Thankfully we've moved on, sex isn't such a 'difficult' subject anymore, so explaining what is a perfectly natural act shouldn't really be a big deal, however we do need to be sensible about the approach and application of it. Emphasis in this day and age needs to be on the pitfalls of having children at an early age and the dangers of unprotected sex.
What I am really saying is young minds need to be open and not closed at an early age so things become understood.
As for people being discriminated in the workplace because of their faith, all I have to say is that firms and companies do have ethical frameworks and rules in place but that's the nature of the beast in the workplace anyway, rules vary from place to place. Whilst I personally would have no problem with anyone wearing a crucifix I can also see why organisations take a neutral line on religion, it just makes things easier. I don't think there's any prejudice against christians like they state, sure, exceptions may have been made for some faiths, Sikh's wearing turbans being the obvious one that comes to mind but this really isn't new. The work place should be a religious free zone except for issues of common sense. The place of work and the place of belief and worship need to be kept separate. You wouldn't talk (as we say in Britain) 'shop' in church, neither do you want someone rambling on about religion and morals in the work place.
Personally I am glad we are more open these days as a society and that the Sunday school mentality is beginning to fade, the truth of the matter is that christians are losing the grip they had in bygone days, when ignorance was preferred and sex was something muttered about whilst looking around cautiously.
Back when I was at school I recall my parents tentatively telling me the basics, I suspect it was probably awkward for them, in school I don't think we got the official lowdown till about age twelve, by which time we all knew about 'how babies are made' and just sat there giggling nervously as the teacher prattled on but this was the late seventies after all.
Firstly I think in today's society you can certainly structure how it is introduced to young curious minds. In later years of course you can introduce the safe sex elements, which I suspect is pretty much how they handle it anyway these days.
Of course, if religious or faith leaders had it their way there'd be none of it, we'd be filling young minds with nonsense about Adam and Eve and big storks coming alone bringing bundles of joy. As a species of course we are driven to procreate, you reach puberty and all hell breaks loose in your mind and your body, if matters aren't understood then of course accidents occur, as they did back in the day so to speak when conceptions happened at early ages for a lot of women. These of course were women that had to endure shame, hand the baby over to elders or strangers and loads of other horror story scenarios. When asked why they'd had a baby so young the majority would plead ignorance as regards sex, so would males, after all it was a taboo subject. Most people had to find their own way forward sexually, gaining information either by experience first hand or by asking others shyly in confidence.
Thankfully we've moved on, sex isn't such a 'difficult' subject anymore, so explaining what is a perfectly natural act shouldn't really be a big deal, however we do need to be sensible about the approach and application of it. Emphasis in this day and age needs to be on the pitfalls of having children at an early age and the dangers of unprotected sex.
What I am really saying is young minds need to be open and not closed at an early age so things become understood.
As for people being discriminated in the workplace because of their faith, all I have to say is that firms and companies do have ethical frameworks and rules in place but that's the nature of the beast in the workplace anyway, rules vary from place to place. Whilst I personally would have no problem with anyone wearing a crucifix I can also see why organisations take a neutral line on religion, it just makes things easier. I don't think there's any prejudice against christians like they state, sure, exceptions may have been made for some faiths, Sikh's wearing turbans being the obvious one that comes to mind but this really isn't new. The work place should be a religious free zone except for issues of common sense. The place of work and the place of belief and worship need to be kept separate. You wouldn't talk (as we say in Britain) 'shop' in church, neither do you want someone rambling on about religion and morals in the work place.
Personally I am glad we are more open these days as a society and that the Sunday school mentality is beginning to fade, the truth of the matter is that christians are losing the grip they had in bygone days, when ignorance was preferred and sex was something muttered about whilst looking around cautiously.
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