Monday, September 24, 2007
Protection?
Now, I don't like to use the word "protection" when it comes to contraceptives. Really, the protection they provide, if any, is more of a decreased risk in certain circumstances. Yet, there is no protection from the emotional, spiritual, etc. side effects that result from premarital sex. So, that is my take, but what are the condom companies saying?...
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Modesty as freedom
This is a wonderful post on Modesty Zone's blog about one woman's realization, sparked by Stacey and Clinton, that the way she dresses allows her to be more respected and to enjoy true freedom: http://blogs.modestlyyours.net/modestly_yours/2007/09/if-the-tv-show-.html.
Monday, September 17, 2007
40 Days for Life update
Unfortunately the 40 Days for Life campaign, which I recently wrote about, will not be taking place in Cincinnati. However, don't let this deter you from praying and fasting on your own. You will still be in solidarity with thousands of people from across the country.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
If she's willing to do it...
In his new Pure of Heart CD set, Jason Evert lists ten arguments people use to justify the use of pornography, from "sex is natural" to "if she is willing to be in pornography, why is it wrong?". As to the last objection Evert continues, posing the question as to how we know if the women in pornography actually freely and willingly participate. He moves on to speak about an interview with Pamela Anderson where she comments on her first time posing for Playboy. Scrolling through the Larry King Live archives (which I would not necessarily recommend) I came across the interview...
ANDERSON: I remember the first time I worked with "Playboy," my first cover, October '89.
I was in tears. I was afraid they were going to see something. That obviously changed rather quickly. I lost my modesty. But I loved doing "Playboy."
KING: Is it tough to pose nude?
ANDERSON: It was at the beginning. And then I just felt--you know, I just felt like there was nothing wrong with it. It was just a state of mind, and it was a very freeing experience for me. I was very shy.
If the pornography industry was for the women involved the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition or a dream job, would the normal reaction be, "I was in tears"? Even Pamela Anderson was once a shy, modest young girl, not wanting to start down the path in life Playboy laid before her. So, how did it come to this? Society has become an expert at watering things down, gradually wearing away at our consciences. How often do we compare ourselves to one who has a "greater sin" to validate our own wrongdoing, and how often do we want to push the envelope, always wanting to know exactly how much we can get away with. In The Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis says,
But do remember, the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the Enemy [God]. It does not matter how small the sins are, provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one- the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.
Earlier in the interview, Anderson had spoken of the abuse and violence in her family and past relationships... so, do we leave her there, with the hurt from her past, willing to take from her what we can simply because she is in some remote way "willing" to do so? As JP II said in Love & Responsibility, "The great achievement is always to see the values that others don't see and to affirm them. The even greater achievement is to bring out of people the values that would perish without us."
I think Christ is calling us to something much greater, where we search not for ways to avoid culpability, but ways to love. So, whether she is willing or not is not exactly the point that should even be addressed. We should be modeling ourselves after Christ, looking to see what will form us into better people striving for heaven, and not looking to see where things rank on the sin scale.
ANDERSON: I remember the first time I worked with "Playboy," my first cover, October '89.
I was in tears. I was afraid they were going to see something. That obviously changed rather quickly. I lost my modesty. But I loved doing "Playboy."
KING: Is it tough to pose nude?
ANDERSON: It was at the beginning. And then I just felt--you know, I just felt like there was nothing wrong with it. It was just a state of mind, and it was a very freeing experience for me. I was very shy.
If the pornography industry was for the women involved the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition or a dream job, would the normal reaction be, "I was in tears"? Even Pamela Anderson was once a shy, modest young girl, not wanting to start down the path in life Playboy laid before her. So, how did it come to this? Society has become an expert at watering things down, gradually wearing away at our consciences. How often do we compare ourselves to one who has a "greater sin" to validate our own wrongdoing, and how often do we want to push the envelope, always wanting to know exactly how much we can get away with. In The Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis says,
But do remember, the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the Enemy [God]. It does not matter how small the sins are, provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one- the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.
Earlier in the interview, Anderson had spoken of the abuse and violence in her family and past relationships... so, do we leave her there, with the hurt from her past, willing to take from her what we can simply because she is in some remote way "willing" to do so? As JP II said in Love & Responsibility, "The great achievement is always to see the values that others don't see and to affirm them. The even greater achievement is to bring out of people the values that would perish without us."
I think Christ is calling us to something much greater, where we search not for ways to avoid culpability, but ways to love. So, whether she is willing or not is not exactly the point that should even be addressed. We should be modeling ourselves after Christ, looking to see what will form us into better people striving for heaven, and not looking to see where things rank on the sin scale.
B16 on the most basic human right
Pope Benedict XVI was in Austria last weekend. As the rain poured down, the Holy Father reminded the crowds of the most basic human right: the right to life. Click here to read a brief summary of his address concerning abortion and euthanasia: http://www.lifenews.com/int426.html.
Too good to fit in a top ten list
Click here to read Dawn Eden's 10 1/2 Reasons to be Chaste: http://insidecatholic.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=244&Itemid=48
Monday, September 10, 2007
Fighting for our generation
Ever wonder what the point of praying outside of an abortion clinic is? Watch Bryan Kemper explain the value of YOU taking a stand to end abortion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-dj3BLjTC4. It's well worth the three minutes it takes to watch the video.
Standing for Life
An awesome opportunity to stand for the dignity of all human life is coming to cities throughout the country -- including Cincinnati! Check out http://www.40daysforlife.com/ to learn more about the prayer campaign and 24-hour vigils that will be taking place outside of abortion facilities from September 26-November 4. If you have never done something to speak up for the lives of the unborn, now is your chance to join thousands of Americans in showing the nation that the babies' lives deserve to be protected.
Modesty is always the best policy
I learned about this story from Dawn Eden (http://www.dawneden.com/blogger.html). Apparently, a 23 year old woman, Kyla Ebbert, was asked to wear more modest clothing on her flight with Southwestern Airlines (http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/Travel/Story?id=3571435&page=1). The flight attendant pulled the woman aside and informed her that her clothing was inappropriate for the airline's family values. Ebbert didn't have a change of clothing with her and didn't want to buy something for the trip, so she promised to adjust her sweater and skirt to cover a tad more skin. Finally, the flight attendant agreed to her compromise. Ebbert said she was so embarrassed that she requested a blanket during the flight to cover herself.
I think it's quite admirable that a male flight attendant would have the courage to ask this young lady to dress more appropriately. Instead of using this as a crusade for revealing clothing, as Ebbert is doing, I wish she would look at this situation as an opportunity to lead her to better respect herself. Too often, young ladies today don't realize their incredible value, and they dress to draw more attention to their bodies, thinking this is the only value they have. On the contrary, by dressing in a manner that respects oneself, others are allowed to more clearly see the person's value in more ways than just physically. Ultimately, don't we want people to be attracted to us because of our talents, sense of humor, intelligence and other aspects, in addition to how we look?
Maybe Ms. Ebbert will one day realize that perhaps the Southwest Airlines flight attendant was not only enforcing a policy, but also helping her to realize that her body should be treated as something precious, not a cheap commodity.
I think it's quite admirable that a male flight attendant would have the courage to ask this young lady to dress more appropriately. Instead of using this as a crusade for revealing clothing, as Ebbert is doing, I wish she would look at this situation as an opportunity to lead her to better respect herself. Too often, young ladies today don't realize their incredible value, and they dress to draw more attention to their bodies, thinking this is the only value they have. On the contrary, by dressing in a manner that respects oneself, others are allowed to more clearly see the person's value in more ways than just physically. Ultimately, don't we want people to be attracted to us because of our talents, sense of humor, intelligence and other aspects, in addition to how we look?
Maybe Ms. Ebbert will one day realize that perhaps the Southwest Airlines flight attendant was not only enforcing a policy, but also helping her to realize that her body should be treated as something precious, not a cheap commodity.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Theology ... Body ... What?!
Perhaps you have heard the phrase, "Theology of the Body" and wondered what in the world these two terms could possibly have in common. Pope John Paul II spent his first five years as pope explaining this phrase during his weekly Wednesday audiences in Rome. In all, he spent 129 Wednesdays developing this unique look at the human person.
So what does, "Theology of the Body" really mean? Well, theology is the study of God, so this phrase means the study of God, revealed through our bodies. The way God created us, particularly how He created us male and female, actually tells us a lot about God. It also tells us a lot about ourselves, and why God created sex. More will be posted here to explain JPII's awesome work and what it means for teens.
For now, check out these awesome books: Theology of the Body for Teens (www.tob4teens.com) and God's Plan for You: Life, Love, Marriage and Sex (www.davidhajduk.com).
So what does, "Theology of the Body" really mean? Well, theology is the study of God, so this phrase means the study of God, revealed through our bodies. The way God created us, particularly how He created us male and female, actually tells us a lot about God. It also tells us a lot about ourselves, and why God created sex. More will be posted here to explain JPII's awesome work and what it means for teens.
For now, check out these awesome books: Theology of the Body for Teens (www.tob4teens.com) and God's Plan for You: Life, Love, Marriage and Sex (www.davidhajduk.com).
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Freedom Writers
Over the weekend I was able to rent the movie, "Freedom Writers." I watched it with a friend, and we noted how the attitude of Erin Gruwell's fellow teachers and administration was remarkably similar to that of the advocates of "safe" or "safer" sex: Teenagers are going to do it anyway, so why should we expect anything different? In the movie, they weren't talking about sex, they were referring to studying and receiving an education, but the attitude is the same. Erin Gruwell, the main character, is a teacher who believes her students are worth more and are capable of more. She challenges them and gives them the tools they need to succeed.
This is the same attitude chastity educators seek to convey. We want you to know that you are worth more than the media and society thinks you are. We know that you can save sexual activity until marriage, and that, in the end, it will be far better than the cheap substitute of sex before marriage.
It was encouraging to see what Erin Gruwell was able to accomplish in the "Freedom Writers" (which is a true story). True respect of others sends a powerful message.
This is the same attitude chastity educators seek to convey. We want you to know that you are worth more than the media and society thinks you are. We know that you can save sexual activity until marriage, and that, in the end, it will be far better than the cheap substitute of sex before marriage.
It was encouraging to see what Erin Gruwell was able to accomplish in the "Freedom Writers" (which is a true story). True respect of others sends a powerful message.
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