Superstition-based government funding
Tuesday, May 17th, 2005From the BBC article ‘US chastity ring funding attacked‘:
The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against the US government over its funding of a nationwide sexual abstinence programme.
The ACLU says the Silver Ring Thing programme violates the principle that the state budget cannot be used to promote religion.
The programme, which targets teenagers, is an offshoot of a Christian ministry. Since 2003, it has received more than $1m from the Department of Health and Human Services.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the ACLU for pointing out the conservative right’s religious agenda… thank you. And for all of you who are reading this wondering whether or not I like Stephen Harper, my answer is no. If this is Harper’s agenda, I will not be voting conservative.
Last week I was cruising through the news trying to find interesting stories involving sex… but instead I was bombarded by article upon article reporting how abstinence programs are completely ineffective and that since programmes are teaching abstinence, there are less and less teenagers using protection when they do have sex. While the numbers of teenagers swearing abstinence to God is increasing, the number of teenagers still having sex remains the same (regardless of their petty promises to a ridiculous idol).
And if there is any question as to whether this really is an undeniably religious programme, just have a look at the following verses from the Bible that are inscribed on the ring: 1 Thessalonians 4, 3-4 (ie. “God wants you to be holy, so you should keep clear of all sexual sin. Then each of you will control your body and live in holiness and honour.”). Hmmm… isn’t that nifty. It’s crap like this that makes me joke to fundies about my devotion to the dark lord.
The other day I went for lunch with my friend Barbaråsa, and she told me a funny thing. If the term “faith” were replaced with the term “superstition” then would you sit back and allow the government to give so much money to these “superstition-based” programmes?