Jenny Booth
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The Silver Ring Thing is a faith organisation aimed at promoting sexual abstinence with a view to cutting rates of teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases
It was set up by pastor Denny Pattyn while working at a Christian youth ministry in Yuma, Arizona, in 1996
Teenagers attend rallies with booming rock music - including the group's own rap, "Oh no, don't give it away..." - and are exhorted to stay pure
Recruits pay $12 for a Bible and a silver ring, which they wear to remind them of their pledge not to have sex before marriage. They are told that if they are going to break their vow they should take the ring off and flush it down the loo, rather than dishonour their fellow converts
The Silver Ring Thing launched in Britain in 2003 with rallies in major UK cities. Here, a Silver Ring Thing pack costs £20 and includes a ring, a Bible, an Abstinence Bible which includes New Testament scriptures, and stories of those who have taken part in A Silver Ring Thing, a 60 day journal and leaflets on staying pure
Kings Church, Horsham - where Lydia Playfoot's father Phil is the pastor - is the base of the Silver Ring Thing UK. Lydia's mother Heather is the company secretary of its business arm, and Phil Playfoot is the Parents Programme Director
Silver Ring Thing UK runs a four week programme for teenagers and parents, called SRT434, a reference to 1 Thessalonians 4, 3-4. The verses read: "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from immorality; that each one of you know how to take a wife for himself in holiness and honour."
The SIlver RIng Thing preaches against handing out condoms or instructing teenagers in safe sex, saying that neither addresses "the emotional and spiritual problems resulting from sexual activity among teens"
The US and the UK have the highest rates of teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases in the world
There are numerous teen abstinence movements in the US, where Christian groups agonise over the high rate of teenage pregnancies. The Bush administration gave $167 million to abstinence groups in 2005 alone. Other well known groups include True Love Waits
Medical research is divided over the merits of preaching abstinence. A study by Columbia University showed that belonging to an abstinence group delayed the start of sexual activity, but that when the teenage convert eventually did have sex they were one third less likely to use a condom, and were thus at higher risk of pregnancy or contracting STDs
Further research published in the British Medical Journal showed that the partners of boys in an abstinence programme were more likely to get pregnant
Both Britney Spears and Avril Lavigne were at one time high profile advocates of abstaining from sex before marriage. Lavigne's song "Don't Tell Me" has become an abstinence anthem, although the musician says she did not see it that way.
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Has no one read the bit which says research indicates that the partners of boys involved in TSRT are more likely to get pregnant and that, where kids might wait, they are less likely to use contraceptives?
Lavender , Glesgae,
To me the silver ring thta i wear represents that i have made a promise to God and myself. And those that know about the ring know what it stands for. Which by the way alot of people know about it even people that are not christian.
I have a boyfriend that i've been with for 3 years and both him and i wear our ring. none of us have slept wiht anyone or eachother so we are waiting til the day we get married.
One of his friends asked us the other day why we never engaged in sexual activity and another boy walked by and commented " Dont you see the silver ring they are both wearing"? "It means that they will remain sexualy pure til they wed". and the boy wasnt even a christian or wore the ring but however he told me he one day saw a documentary about it and it caught hi sattention so he knew everything about it.
Basically...i love the idea..and on the day of my weddingi will take off my ring and the day my future child i will hand THEM my RING to continue the chain ..........
Amarilis, miami, florida
I think that the silver ring thing is an excellent idea. It can help teenagers to realised what can happen when a sexual relationship goes wrong e.g. STDs and unwanted pregnancies. It also helps them to say no and know that God's on their side.
Alison Holme, Birmingham,
I think this is a great idea, since alot of young people continue to lose the virginity and engage in sexual immorallity simply because they don't understand the importance of waiting and why God had asked us to abstain.It would be very encouraging to have more information on such topics so that if young people do deciede to engage in such activities they would have the knowledge of what they are doing, and therefore would be able to face the consequences.
Sparkel Marchan, Gasparillo, Trinidad
I hate the word absitinence, not because I dislike the concept but because it's such an ugly word. It implies a joyless repression which is not what it's about. I am dedicated to my belief that sex should be enjoyed within marriage, but I don't wear a ring. At the end of the day, I know that when I get married, I'l be the only person that my husband has ever slept with and vice versa. If I got pregnant it'd be a cause for celebration not anxiety. I wouldn't get any stds because we'd be totally monogamous. That's why it doesnt matter about the stat that you're a third less likely to use a condom, you've nothing to catch (+ if you get married you are more likely to use longer term contraception).
So many people get hurt by committing themselves to a sexual relationship and having it torn apart again. I know that when I end up having sex, it will be with someone who deeply cares for me and who is committed to my happiness. I don't see much wrong with that.
Rachel, Birmingham,
So once again a religious brigade, preaching that all men (and womeon) are irretrievably evil, says we should repress all knowledge and people will be good again. It doesn't work, it never worked and it never will work.
Education, education, education - the only answer to the benighted cause of repression!
KR, Stockport,
I think Terry Virgo, Newfrontiers and the Silver Ring Thing would all agree that men and woman are equal in value, though not in role.
As for what these people / organisations would say to men, it might be something like: treat women with respect and protect their purity at all costs, put their wellbeing before your own, and if you want to have sex with them, then commit yourselves to them in marriage.
I personally think that shows a great deal more respect and valuing of women than our society currently does! Casual sex is hardly a demonstration of deep respect for another person. Taking the most intimate part of a person in a brief and meaningless act is hardly respectful. But waiting for marriage demonstrates the ultimate valuing and respect for another person.
Toby, UK,
Let's tackle the root of the problem of unwanted pregnancies and STDs including HIV, cervical cancer which is a sexually transmitted disease or having sex with a promiscious partner, herpatitis C which leads to liver cancer, genital warts, genital cold sores, pubic lice, glandular fever to name a few. The answer is not safe sex (if there is such a thing) esp. when drugs or alcohol is involved, the brain is elsewhere, but total abstinence until marriage to a life long partner.is. I know that sounds like the dark ages and most people esp. the young wont agree, but that is 100% assurance to avoid the unpleasant side effects of casual sex. Let's not forget about the emotional damage as well. God has created sex for the purpose of creating life, relationship, bonding, mutual respect and not the benefit of self but the giving of self to a loved one. No wonder there are so many depressed youngsters esp. those who are sexually active, they feel depraved, worthless and unloved.
mia, Brisbane, Australia
Another unexpected side effect of these abstinence movements may be people marrying younger than they should, basically mistaking lust for love.
LB, London,
Teen pregnancy and stds mm well speaking from the dark ages we were told how bad getting any kind of "clap" was bad for you so, I went to reasonale lengths to decrease my chance of getting any kind of "clap" the fact young people are getting lots of unwanted pregs and std is not suprising to me overhearing what could be termed conversations or looking at their mannerisms and general facial expressions indicates STUPIDITY and nothing can save you from that.
Greg Lyons, Sydney, Australia
As a little boy I thought this would happen. When I grew up, children would be told off by adults for being too conservative.
The last thing a sexually active female teacher wants is for most of her teenaged pupils to be virgins. The silver ring thing is a big threat to them.
Attagirl Lydia.
Malcolm McLean, Bradford, UK
What shame that the school/s cannot spend more time and effort stamping out the very largescale bullying that is going on in many schools rather than worrying about pupils wearing rings that promote an ideal ,chastity, that the school should be getting behind and encouraging !!.
Sergei, London, UK
Complementarianism, Terry Virgo, New Frontiers & The Silver Ring Thing - nuff said! Oh, praps not. Just in case you don't know - Mr Playfoot believes in complementarianism - that means men and women are UNequal - yep - unequal. ie men are the leaders of & 'superior to' women in all things......
Sarah, Leeds, UK