There seem to be a lot of American Christians who don't necessarily practice what they claim to believe. I know a lot of Christians here at my University, for example, that claim Christianity as their religion but live with their boyfriend/girlfriend and don't really share their beliefs on a regular basis. I think sometimes Christianity is a "default" religion and people claim it without knowing what the teachings of Christ really are. So you're right, culture might have something to do with it.

I just wish that the churches (*cough* Catholic *cough*) would stop crusading against sex with bold lies and false truth, like the pope preaching that condoms spread HIV and AIDS. Not everyone is going to wait until marriage, and those who don't should at least be smart and take precautions. Those who do have the joy of exploring their sexuality together, from scratch, as a loving couple. Sex is something good! It's not meant to feel good *just* to encourage reproduction. Men and women can get off individually on and on their own with some work, without the help of another. I don't think the human body would have been created this way if sex was meant to be for reproduction alone.

/agree

Totally agree with your last statement. I've never believed that it's just for procreation. I believe it's for both enjoyment and procreation.

I'm not sure I heard about the Pope's statement about condoms, but I do know that the current Pope declared the use of condoms to be acceptable as birth control in countries that are suffering from HIV infection. I'm not Catholic so I don't normally keep up with those kinds of current events, but I think we talked about it in another forum recently.

Well that's good that we're getting somewhere.

To me, if you're going to use birth control or protection against disease...condoms are just the best and easiest, because you don't have to modify your body's hormones or stick things in you (Nuvaring lol) in order to combat nature. A simple rubber does the trick.

Ah, I think TAI was mentioning a statement the Pope made last month. It was very odd.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29734328/

This is the article I meant, as well. He didn't mean that condoms themselves help spread AIDS, he simply meant that contraception helps promote sexual immorality, which helps spread AIDS.

Christina,

Not that I'm pro-Catholic or pro-pope, but I think there has been a misunderstanding amongst people of what the pope actually said. They seem to think he meant that condoms help to spread AIDS, when he really meant that a contraception mentality doesn't help to STOP the spread of AIDS....from the angle that contraception only helps to promote a sexually immoral people. Pope rejects condoms for Africa

One reporter at another paper actually reported it as the pope having said that condoms help spread AIDS.

I really do remember a recent article though where the Pope said they were okay only when HIV spreading was an issue. I think I got the article from Lauren (stars may collide).

yeah, I remember that as well. I think the Church is not very sure what to do with the subject. I definitely recall some officials admitting it could help with HIV/AIDS, but then the Pope goes to Africa himself and says that condoms are increasing the problem of the spread of AIDS, so it's strange.

Ah yes, the "unchangeable Church" (capital 'c'!) Not surprising.

the criticism stems from this:
"You can't resolve it with the distribution of condoms," the pope told reporters aboard the Alitalia plane heading to Yaounde. "On the contrary, it increases the problem."
(from my link)
I get that condoms can't stop AIDS from spreading in Africa, but it's strange to me to say it INCREASES the problem.

That is because it is being taken out of context. The context is that the use of contraception promotes sexual immorality, which increases the problem.

BTW, I'm not agreeing with his statement. I'm simply providing information as to the context of his statement.

The statement isn't out of context. It's very clear what he meant. He's saying that giving out condoms doesn't help prevent the spread of AIDS, because giving out condoms is supporting immoral behavior. That's a ridiculous thing to say, because condoms are preventing the spread of the disease, regardless of what he thinks about the way he is transmitted.

I'm not going to argue this in this thread. I'm not disagreeing with you, but I also see it from his side of the argument. But that's the final word I'm going to say on the pope and condoms.

I just realized the link I provided was from 2005. *shakes head*

Here's the one from March 2009....

Pope's condom stance sparks row

I think it's rude for people to be having sex jokes at a ceremony. Some people are private or they are very nervous about sex especially if they are still virgins. Why does everyone have to know they are virgins? We all know what happens at honeymoons. I wish you did say something. If it was my wedding and people were making sex jokes, I would of said something. My day and if it offended me I will let everyone know. No one made sex jokes at my wedding. I wasn't a virgin but that is such a weird subject to bring up when my parents and my grandparents are there.

IN A CHRISTIAN WEDDING, IF IT'S A CLOSE-KNIT CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY, IT'S GENERALLY ASSUMED THAT THE BRIDE AND GROOM ARE VIRGINS. OF COURSE, THAT IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE - BUT REFERENCE TO THEIR VIRIGINITY IS NOT SEEN AS EMBARRASSING IN THE SLIGHTEST. IT'S SEEN AS SOMETHING POSITIVE - TO BE PRAISED AND PROUD OF.

WHAT WOULD BE SEEN AS EMBARRASSING AND UNACCEPTABLE WOULD BE A JOKE THAT BROUGHT THEIR VIRGINITY INTO QUESTION - A SUBTLE (OR NOT SO SUBTLE) SUGGESTION THAT THEY MIGHT NOT REALLY BE VIRGINS. IT'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT CULTURE TO MAINSTREAM, WHERE BEING A VIRGIN IS SEEN AS SOMETHING EMBARRASSING AND TO BE KEPT HIDDEN.

I'm no prude, but there are certain people that I don't want to mention sex to. Close knit families and friends is one of them. Sex is one of those things where I'd only want certain people to know about my sex life. My parents, grandparents, and old family friends don't need to know my status. Its a personal thing to me. Sharing it with some friends is another thing. Like I said, I'd choose who gets to know about my sex life.

WELL, I DON'T THINK THESE WEDDINGS ARE TALKING ABOUT THE SEX LIFE OF THE COUPLES, YO. SIMPLY MENTIONING THAT SEX IS PART OF MARRIED LIFE AND INTIMACY. AS I SAID, THE WHOLE VIRGINITY THING IS TOTALLY JUST ASSUMED IN THESE CHRISTIAN CIRCLES. IT'S NOT LIKE THE VIRGINITY ASPECT IS BEING 'REVEALED' - IT'S SIMPLY ASSUMED. BY FAMILY, FRIENDS AND CLERGY.

I'm the same way.

I want *nothing* to do with sex when I'm around my family. I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to get on the topic. Nothing. It's awkward and weird.

But then I'll go to my friends and tell them EVERY detail of what I did last night.

*shrug*

Do you want to know what I think? I can't wait to get married because than a lot of "Christian" people will stop putting us down for giving away our virginities and having a child before marriage. I am so very grateful for my new church family because of the fact that they don't judge us in any way even though they know we live together and they know we have a daughter.

So at my wedding it will probably be a big joke that it's finally ok.

I think that it shouldn't be assumed that the bride and groom are virgins. I know that as a Christian that is a moral that we're all supposed to carry, but not everyone does. Some Christians divorce and some Christians are gluttonous and some Christians will engage in premarital sex. Christians aren't perfect and that's the glory of it - we can be forgiven for the mistakes we make. Assuming that they are virgins can be extra awkward for the bride and groom if they're not. It's not a hard thing to keep hidden from people and in that circumstance the joke would be completely inappropriate... and probably embarrassing.

that's inappropriate no matter what religion, age, or sexual experience. my dad says it's tacky and rude. he marries people as part of his job. lol. you can joke about it in the reception, but the actually wedding ceremony isn't the place.

i was totaly 7 months pregnant at my wedding. i can't remember if the best man mentioned my virginity or lack of... i need to find my copy of the speach. if he did i probably laughed though.
i asked my vicar whether that was ok when i first met with him to talk about getting married. his reply was 'most people are nowadays' :D