-
Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:- Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
- Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
- Access to private conversations with other members.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!
teen pregnancy
- Thread starter Autodidact
- Start date
Kathryn
It was on fire when I laid down on it.
Also, certain subcultures within the US have a less negative response or stigma associated with teen pregnancy - and often this has very little to do with religion per se. For instance, a much higher ratio of Hispanic teen mothers are married BEFORE they get pregnant, than any other group. Now, you can say this is terrible - but it's more accepted in some Hispanic cultures than it is in other groups. Also - MOST black babies are born into single parent homes - with a much higher rate of teen pregnancy and teen moms in that culture. Also - it's more accepted, and less of an "accident." This is not as tied to religion as it is to other social issues, in my opinion.
Father Heathen
Veteran Member
Actually, no. The red states tend to be more religious and conservative (those who frown on birth control and promote abstinence only) than the blue states, yet it's the red states who have the higher rates of teen pregnancy. Nice try, though.
What I don't understand is the challenge these kids are having with preventing pregnancy.
Last edited:
Bismillah
Submit
Because unlike their blue state counterparts they refrain from abortions? I don't think it's too big a leap to assume that many religious factors come into play as well such as the use of contraceptives. Also like Kathryn's links demonstrated there is a high percentage of minorities within these states. Cultural differences such as when women marry or have children account for the varying rates as well.
Kathryn
It was on fire when I laid down on it.
The OP was misleading. It said that the more religious states have a higher teen PREGNANCY rate - but the chart it used to illustrate this assertion showed a higher teen BIRTH rate. Not the same thing.
Some of the states with the lowest teen BIRTH rates have the highest ABORTION rates. So - in those states, teens are getting pregnant at a high rate - they're just not giving birth.
So the question may not be "What is the challenge these kids are having with preventing pregnancy?" but rather "Is the teen PREGNANCY RATE higher or is simply the teen BIRTH rate higher? And why the diffference in abortion rates and live births among teens from different regions?"
linwood
Well-Known Member
Dp you have support for this statement?
Father Heathen
Veteran Member
Kathryn
It was on fire when I laid down on it.
I've already posted the stats for the percentage of abortions which are performed on teens, and abortion and birth rates by state. It's not that hard to do the math.
Kathryn
It was on fire when I laid down on it.
Well that's the important thing.
No - the important thing would be to reduce the teen PREGNANCY rate rather than rely on abortion to cull the ranks.
Which is done through genuine sex education and contraceptives... not abstinence only. Or do we disagree on this?
Kathryn
It was on fire when I laid down on it.
No, we absolutely agree. I would never condone, and have never condoned, abstinence ONLY sex miseducation. Though I do believe that abstinence should be presented as a viable, and possible, option, and should be encouraged rather than discouraged.
ninerbuff
godless wonder
Strictness and prohibition will always entice teens and adolescents to think they can make the same decisions like an adult. Religion usually refuses to discuss protected sex or sex at all with teens. Abstinence is the usual enforcement. Especially with the way hormones peak in teenage years, it's more important to educate than to prohibit.
Terrywoodenpic
Oldest Heretic
The diagrams show various parameters To do with religion sex and consequences.
It is clear that most teens have sex any way... but the consequences change with the established mores of their group.
It is clear that most teens have sex any way... but the consequences change with the established mores of their group.
logician
Well-Known Member
I did a study in a sociology class in college where I found that the highest rate of alcololism was in the group of fundamentalist religious folk. Somehow, strongly forbidding the use of something often has the opposite effect of encouraging it. That's just simple human psychology.
Kathryn
It was on fire when I laid down on it.
I wonder how the pregnancy/alcoholism/whatever rates are compared to income and educational levels, as well as "fundamentalist" religious folks. I would venture to say that it's more a socioeconomic thing than it is simply a religious thing. And I would also venture to say that the less educated and more poor one is, the more likely one is to cling to a form of religion that is more subjective and closed minded - ie, fundamentalism (regardless of religion - there are many different religions that have a more fundamentalist fringe group outside of the mainstream).
logician
Well-Known Member
Actually it was among fundamentalist Protestants. Catholics are more tolerant in the "drinking" category.
Kathryn
It was on fire when I laid down on it.
Actually it was among fundamentalist Protestants. Catholics are more tolerant in the "drinking" category.
Being a former Catholic myself, I KNOW that's right!
Walkntune
Well-Known Member
I agree with this that resistance causes persistence.I believe the negative effects of teen pregnancy needs to be addressed but also striving for a good life and marriage with family needs to be a central focus point.It is better to try and point teenagers in a good direction instead of just trying to deter them from a bad direction.