I understand that a fundamentalist ethos is a vital part of many American Christians' personal spiritual lives, and that they derive joy and satisfaction from following it. I don't begrudge anyone their ability to start schools or enforce rules in them, even silly, silly rules like "you can't go to your girlfriend's prom."
(After all, why didn't the school suspend Tyler when they found out he HAD a public-school girlfriend? Surely he was holding hands with her before they went to prom together! Surely the fact that they were dating was proof enough of his lust!)
The trouble with the fundamentalist mindset interacting with the world at large, though, I think is twofold: first, such a rigid code of conduct doesn't allow for any discussion of inner life or motives (thus burying actual emotional or mental issues with "sins" such as wanting to look at beautiful girls, and obscuring the difference between dancing with your girlfriend and having unprotected sex), and second, that these kids are almost certainly totally uneducated in sex ed.
And a lot of them will have sex anyway. They won't use protection because they won't be prepared to, won't have access to it, won't know how. They'll end up pregnant or with STDs. And that does affect society as a whole.
Schools are allowed to have their own rules. But when they start withholding vital health information that might influence the wellbeing of society, that's when I feel entitled to speak up.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost
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