This link is support for the assertion I make when the issue of sexual abuse comes up that the Mormon Church and conservative churches similar to it foster an environment in which sexual abuse is more likely to occur:

http://www.hules.us/CS_ch02.pdf

For anyone who wants additional information, I like Sexual Abuse in Christian Homes and Churches by Carolyn Holderread Heggen.

http://www.amazon.com/Sexual-Abuse-Christian-Homes-Churches/dp/1597525723/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345340234&sr=8-1&keywords=sexual+abuse+in+christian+homes+and+churches



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/18/2012 10:11PM by robertb.

I guess I'm lucky I didn't become a pedophile or rapist. My parents didn't sexually abuse me, but there was a lot of that emotional distance, strict roles, suppression of feelings and demonization of sex.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/18/2012 10:43PM by Stray Mutt.

Fortunately, a small percentage of people turn out to be so affected. Most everyone else just ends up with hang-ups.

...starting here in the north wing.

Oh, the church left me with a lot of anxiety about sex. The "no oral sex" edict really left me feeling bad and at odds with myself and my wife. I felt after that I always had to watch myself and mistrust myself. I really hate the church for that.

Most TBMs and evangelicals I know hold the misguided belief that the majority, if not all, child molesters are homosexuals. Not only that, but they also oppose adoption rights for homosexual couples because they think having gay parents will cause the kid to bed gay.

It's funny how research shows otherwise, but then again, that's only if you believe in research.

It has been my experience that most criminals in general are very religious. I have never seen any actual studies, but I have seen ones that show that criminals are more likely to have low IQs, especially sex criminals, and other studies that show that religious beliefs are more prominent about the lower IQ.

Thanks for the Hules link Robert - this is something I want to learn more about - and I'm going to read the whole document (not in one day, obviously).

TOC here:

http://www.hules.us/CS_TOC.htm

A few episodes have featured cultures where women have complete control of their own sexuality. In these cultures, rape isn't even known.

Unfortunately these cultures are dying out due to pressure from the surrounding governments.

Only a couple of times. I'll have to check that out. Thanks!

Can you remember a culture mentioned that I may do some research on?

Cambodian Love Huts:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2174389/Cambodian-fathers-build-sex-huts-13-year-old-daughters.html

The Na

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosuo
http://web.pdx.edu/~tblu2/Na/myths.pdf

Lakota women were free to divorce and take lovers. There's a story about a Lakota woman who was interested in Crazy Horse, and he was shot in the face by her husband.

I'm sure there are other Native American tribes that allowed this, but nothing springs to mind right now.

All the husband's @#$%& has been tossed out the front door.

Having met some of the Dine women around here, they don't put up with a lot of bullshit. :D

Polyamory also has ethical emotional and sexual freedom as ideals. Of course, results vary as to how it works out. One of the worries of men is that richer, more powerful men can accrue women leave them without mates. The fear is that women's self-interest is to be one of several or many of a powerful man rather than the one of a less powerful man. So, all the efforts to make sure women don't leave.

From the link:

"Some conservative churches promote a family model based more on rules than relationships; these churches give emotionally abusive parents no reason to question their dysfunctional parenting style."

In other words: As long as the official rules are followed, the relationships will take care of themselves. It's like what was often said at BYU: "If you both have testimonies and obey the church, you will have a good marriage."

Following rules seems to give you permission to ignore a world of other realities. It gives you permission to think that if something is wrong, it's because someone else isn't following the rules properly.

It enables denial in you, and causes dysfunction in others.

Has anyone here heard of the Utah Boys Ranch/Turn About Ranch/ West Bridge Academy?

Child abuse and molestation is institutionally supported by the church, if it will benefit the church...

Read this:

http://utahboysranchwra.wordpress.com/trapped-in-a-mormon-gulag/

Then realize this place has four missionaries who work there, full time...

http://utahboysranchwra.wordpress.com/2009/04/15/west-ridge-academy-confesses-to-mormon-missionaries-on-staff/

For a long time, I tried to dismiss the connection between religious institutions and child abuse. I was skeptical in that I thought that any organization would have a certain number of creeps in it, but lately I'm becoming convinced that there's a deeper linkage. Thanks for sharing these links. I'm about ready to blame religion for yet another evil thing.

Thanks Robertb for posting those links. I'm going to send the article to a friend of mine who is a survivor of clerical sexual abuse.