January 29, 2009
The Abstinence Teacher - fiction with an agenda
And they say we are always shoving our values down society's throat. Really, it's fully the other way around. Those advancing the untested, unstable, unrooted, social "progressive" agenda of the godless left never sleep. At every opportunity in every American community - front door, back door, side door, the value system this nation was founded on is getting assaulted. The only thing standing in their way is the church which they are hell-bent on silencing and discrediting.
Now the "agenda" comes at us "innocently" through the "Life Bookclub" sponsored by the Argus Leader, Zandbroz Variety Store and the Siouxland Library System. Here's the ad:
The title and the cover design - birds and bees - caught my attention first. Then I read some reviews online… "The Abstinence Teacher is a gentle exploration of the tensions between faith and secularism." The Wall Street Journal says; Abstinence is really a gateway for Mr. Perrotta to tell a much bigger and more complex story about religious identity in America… a deeply moving story of a man and a woman who see each other on opposite sides of a religious divide."
People magazine says; "With abstinence programs and disputes over what can be taught in schools regularly making the front page, The Abstinence Teacher hits on prominent social fault lines." Reviewers raved about author Tom Perrotta - at his rock star best… those who haven't curled up on the couch with this writer's books are missing a very great pleasure… he's the Steinbeck of suburbia…
The New York Times said… Perrotta "sets his cast of flawed parents and un-airbrushed kids against the stained-glass background of muscular Christianity on the march." Men's Vogue dubs this "a startlingly relevant and stunningly perceptive examination of the evangelical takeover of American exurbia."
Evangelical takeover? Whaaatt? It's not evangelicals trying to rewrite the time-tested definitions of right and wrong in American society. We are the ones trying to stop those who want to blow up the moral foundation that has rested underneath our society these past two hundred plus years. These book reviews eerked me enough to spend $13.95 and an evening and a half this week to read the books 358 pages.
The first thing I noticed about the book is that it is fiction. But I mean fiction in the sense that it does not accurately describe or depict those, like me, who believe sex outside of marriage is morally wrong and bad for society. The author admits he only went to a PromiseKeeper conference once and he thanked those who took him. I guess that was his "research trip" to the write hundreds of pages about what those who attend those events and churches are like. The bottom line is he depicted those like me as he thinks we are, or wants us to seem, at no time did I sense he was accurately describing us.
His description of the villain pastor in town, Pastor Dennis of the Tabernacle of Gospel Truth, as one backed by Christian lawyers working pro-bono ready to "sue anyone for wearing the wrong color socks" was interesting. Is the author not aware that long before there were pro-bono legal groups fighting for traditional values, we had three decades of the ACLU hammering away at traditional America such that now we can't even say In God We Trust anymore? The leading "Christian" characters in the book were controlling, hypocritical, and abusive. Why didn't he describe the gay couple as controlling and abusive? There are as many or more examples of that as there are examples of pastors who embarrass Jesus. The book is fiction with an agenda and that agenda is to make good seem bad and bad seem good.
Equally noteworthy is how the author displayed no real grasp of the abstinence message. More time was spent describing the layers of makeup the Wise Choices curriculum rep (Virginity Consultant) was wearing than the rationale behind what she had to say. Yet, all the other characters, like the main character Ruth Ramsey and her gay couple friends, were lovable and full of compassion and integrity. A number of graphic sexual trysts (even soft-core porn) throughout the book serve to keep us from falling asleep while reading.
I'm sure there will be a spirited discussion at the LIFE book club meeting at Zandbroz on the 19th. Those present will be able to discuss which churches in our town are on the moral crusade as was the villain church in the book. At the end of the night those who selected the book for the book club discussion will have accomplished their goal of indoctrinating a few more in the false reality that people like me are monsters and secular progressives are enlightened.
Comments on The Abstinence Teacher - fiction with an agenda »
PC @ 6:26 pm
Steve,
I hope you're going on the 22nd. This book is a continuation of the calculated effort by the liberal media to sway the general public left of moral. Have you noticed how many TV shows and movies portray wacko Christians as the terrorist recently?
I can't wait for the wonderful (yet terrible) day when the Spirit of the Living God is poured out in this nation and the motive of every heart will be laid bare to the light of Jesus Christ. Who will be enlightened then?
AC @ 6:54 pm
What is so wonderful about our country is the fact that we are allowed the choice to read what we want, fiction or non-fiction. Does every thing I read really have an "agenda"?
I have not read this book so I cannot comment as to it's 'goal' but it is interesting that your blog to contend justice for the unborn, would even give press to it.
The Life bookclub is meeting on Feb 19th, not the 22nd, and I'm sure if you were really that interesting, they still wouldn't be discussing you and your church.
You've really gone off your rocker on this one.
What may get discussed is Abstinence Education and the real merit of it. Quite possibly the most disturbing thing about Abstinence Only education is that it has been used to put money in people's pockets with a "do as I say, not as I do" mentality. We in Sioux Falls know that only too well.
Leslee and friends have infiltrated our public schools with the message that has given her the ability to drive a nice car and treat her employees poorly. I'm sure she means well, but I want my kids to learn abstinence is best, but also the dangers of std's or unwanted pregnancies without the use of a condom.
Maybe you saved yourself for marriage (and that is something I commend you for, honestly) but Leslee didn't, like the majority of christians and non-christians.
Yes, we want to teach of children not to make the same mistakes we did, but lessons and real moral values are learned through experience. We are ignorant not to protect our children in case they make the same mistakes.
Nikole @ 8:40 pm
AC, I understand your point. But I have a question for you then. I am a recovering meth addict. I have over 11 years of sobriety now (Thank you, Jesus). But does that mean that I should teach my children that A) Drugs are bad, but since I did them you may too and B)Since you're going to do them anyway then let me show you the right way to cut a line?
I am not trying to attack you or lessen your point of view. I am simply trying to look at this from all angles. It's because of the mentality that we should never look for our children to rise above the mistakes that we made that we have some of the problems that we have in society.
They're going to do it anyway so let's give them a condom, or they're going to do it anyway so let's buy the beer for them or they're going to do it anyway, so let's find them a drug dealer or they're going to do it anyway so let's _________ fill in the blank.
Do you understand where I'm going with this? Could it be that it's time to start teaching our children a better way and holding ourselves and them to a higher standard?
Haggs @ 10:11 pm
Nikole - Those on the safe sex side of the issue don't support kids having sex. We would love it if teenagers stopped having sex. Any good sex ed class should emphasize abstinence above all else. But since studies have shown that some kids will have sex no matter what you do (even if they've gone through an abstinence only program), we want those kids to be safe.
You can't put chastity belts on kids. Some kids will rebel no matter what you say. It doesn't mean you're a bad parent or a bad Christian, some kids will just rebel no matter what. So what should we do about those kids? Ignore them? Let them have unsafe sex because we refused to teach them about the safe sex options. Just let them get an STD, possibly AIDS?
I think that would be wrong.
As for the book: Based on the first couple reviews in this post, I thought the book was just a discussion of the issue of abstinence education. It sounded pretty good because I enjoy books that discuss issues that I have an interest in. But the New York Times review and your description might've changed my mind. I'd rather read a book on this issue that looks at both sides relatively equally and fairly even though I might disagree with one side.
Though I'm tempted to go to this event since I'm sure the discussion will be entertaining.
AC @ 6:27 am
Thank you Haggs for explaining to Nikole what I meant. I would love for my kids to practice abstinence, but as you said, the facts are there, plus we all know the decisions we made.
I would never tell my kids "hey, your dad and I had sex before we were married, and it was a mistake, and I don't want you to make the same one", but as a parent I try to guide and teach them to make good decisions. But I refuse to wear blinders to that facts that people have sex, young and old, married or not.
As for the book: it FICTION. That means it's not a true story buy a made up one.
Steve @ 8:47 am
http://blog.abstinence.net/2008/05/02/the-abstinence-teacher/ I noticed another review on this from the Abstinence Clearinghouse. They were way too kind.
Steve @ 8:55 am
Other reviewers who see what I saw in this book:
The story itself reads like an after-school special, and is hellbent on portraying abstinence education as grossly misleading. The book’s portrayal of evangelical/born-again Christians is equally unflattering and misleading. The author, Tom Perrotta, seems to want readers of his book to believe that evangelicals are all weak hypocrites and fanatics with a unified mission on par with the Crusades to covert all nonbelievers at any cost while at the same time using their faith as a crutch to cover up their unhappiness. It was amusing to read the part when Ruth Ramsay, the sex-ed teacher who begrudgingly teachers the abstinence-only sex education curriculum (which has been forced upon the school as a result of the threat of legal action) expresses her disgust over the false or misleading statistics she’s been told to give to her students, and proceeds to advise them to visit the website of Planned Parenthood for more “accurate” information — as if Planned Parenthood doesn’t have it’s own agenda that is harmful for young people. http://www.mattmargolis.com/blog/archives/2007/12/06/the-abstinence-teacher-by-tom-perrotta/
and
Your writing annoyed me throughout this book, Tom, and for several reasons. First, I felt like everyone and everything was painted in broad strokes. Rich, suburban white people live in mini-mansions and drive giant SUV’s and are inexplicably sad inside — those might all be true descriptors, but you need to be a little more penetrating in order to be truthful in such a portrayal. Or how about this one: all gay men are urbane, call each other “honey” and have single women as best friends? Or: all men when they get together talk about sex and porn, thereby making the Christian in their midst feel uncomfortable. Or: sin, for a Christian, comes down to sex, alcohol, and lust. Or: all Christians are boring and puritanical, or fanatical and meglomaniacal. Or: all single women only think about the last time they had sex. http://www.pajiba.com/the-abstinence-teacher-book-review.htm
Andrew @ 8:55 am
The facts? The facts are we live in a sexually charged and saturated soceity. Do you honestly believe the numbers of teens having sex were this bad at any time in our country before the 60's? And how is it okay to indoctrinate the many for the sins of the few? All you are doing with Government funded sex ed is giving the nod of acceptibility to the few and pulling in a few more who otherwise would have abstained. The facts? The fact is that all this has done is pave a golden road, in taxpayer dollars, strait to the front doors of planned parenthood and their evil, yes I said evil, commrades. Which by the way is also heavily funded with tax payer dollars. Fact: I am seeing a pattern here. But I know full well this will do nothing to convience those on the "otherside" of this issue any differently. The fact is I am really sorry for you AC and Haggs because I use to say the same things when I was blind and deceived. The End
Detroit Lewis @ 2:16 pm
Steve - you really don't know much about the owner of Zandbroz do you?!
You make me laugh.
Steve @ 2:27 pm
Detroit - enlighten me please. I will confess I have formed conclusions about the owner of the store just by looking at the witchcraft the place is saturated with and through the discernment of spirits. Am I wrong?
Detroit Lewis @ 3:40 pm
Him and his wife are uber-liberal, I think they would laugh at your assumptions, but hey, everybody does.
Mrs. Zandbroz @ 9:35 pm
Steve,
Witchcraft? Seriously? …….grow up. How junior high of you to spread lies about people you know nothing about.
Steve @ 8:40 am
Mrs. Zandbroz, Is it really spreading lies or immature when I write a sentence about what I discern in terms of the spiritual environment in your store? I am sorry to have offended you, not my intent at all. I believe I clearly stated above I could be wrong about the conclusions I formed. I would think as a business person in this community you would find it helpful to hear what at least one person's first reactions to a visit to your store. Maybe you don't care. I think you do.
The goth?, goddess?, new age?, drug?, wicca?, occultic/sorcery symbolism, pentagram-type paraphernalia… do you have a better word for this stuff than the one I picked - witchcraft? You have many great things in your store but when that stuff greets me at the door I turn around and leave. Do you expect a church in town to sing your praises when you choose to become a gateway bringing spiritual pollution into our community? Sorry to have to be the one to tell you but though some obviously don't, many parents keep their kids away from these types of places. As a church that does deliverance ministry for people who dabble in the dark side and end up bound we teach our young people what stuff means and represents and the power they are touching and welcoming into their lives.
I'm sure you have a niche market for this stuff but what you could have is a spot where a guy like me sends van loads of teenagers downtown for malts and sodas on a weekday night. Each kid would probably drop $10-15 buying stuff. If I gave the word our staff would buy and give out Zandbroz gift cards to hand out in the gift packs we give out to visitors on the weekends. Your place could be more popular on summer nights than B&Gs as a guy like me spreads the word to 30-40 churches in town that Zandbroz is a great place to take your family.
BTW, Detroit Lewis is the one who said you were uber-liberal and I really don't even care about that at all. Good for you. I pray you prosper. The purpose of the blog post was not to pick on you or your store. Sorry that happened.
Head Vaednari @ 3:28 pm
I agree with Steve. I'm so sick of this witchcraft crap crawling from the bowels of Hell into our daily lives. I want to go to a bookstore because I want to buy a good book, not be assaulted by evil images and atmospheres…do you have any business sense at all?
And you know what? I sure as Hell don't laugh at Steve's assumptions. Neither do many, many others.
And I totally agree with Andrew…it wasn't until this stupid sexual revolution that everyone started screwing around so openly as they do today. It's just sick, and it all came from…can you guess? Drugs! The same stuff you guys seem to expose so openly on entry. And along with the crack pipes and the bongs and the LSD came the rise of hedonistic Wicca (and the Goddess and HORNED GOD) and Satanism (gee, I wonder who has horns in that?). Free love+drug usage=sexual excess/perversion and a gateway to Hell's own Prince of Darkness…and every Demon under his damned rule.