Family Life International(Australia) (FLI) recently distributed a leaflet called ‘The World’s Greatest Con Job … The Real Truth About Condoms’. I received one of these (a leaflet, not a condom) from the National Civic Council’s ‘Australian Family Association’ and found little ‘real truth’ but a long list of reasons why readers should postpone sex until marriage:

It is the only 100% foolproof way of avoiding unplanned pregnancies.

So all pregnancies within marriage are planned? Don’t think so.

It is the only 100% foolproof way of ensuring that you don’t catch a sexual disease.

Provided that you continue to have sex only with your marriage partner and (big ‘and’!) your (pre-maritally chaste) partner continues to have sex only with you. As you can never be fully certain of the latter, how is this a ‘100% foolproof’ method?

To avoid the deadly virus (HIV) that causes AIDS.

A special case of the preceding ‘advantage’ and subject to the same provisos.

It saves you unnecessary heartache, emotional turmoil, regret and unfulfilled expectations.

Looks good, but in fact this is totally dependent on the nature of the individual relationship. An unfortunate marriage may itself bring about the same, or even worse consequences. You can’t insure against life!

There is no chance of being used just for sex.

‘Less chance’, not ‘no chance’. And you may have robbed yourself of an ultimately rewarding (perhaps even blissful) relationship through focusing so hard on one aspect.

… Virginity is a precious gift that you can only give to one person and once it is given you can’t get it back again.

This seems to overvalue the status of virginity. Surely bringing some sexual experience to marriage can also be seen as a ‘gift’.

There are some more reasons on the list, but I really think FLI needs to come up with a more convincing pamphlet.

Filed in: Sexuality