Biblical Long Term Solution To The Following Diseases

A true scientific study of abstinence would have to examine behavioral consequences of abstinence. Abstinence is a behavioral change, and may affect other behavioral changes. Perhaps people become more aggressive, and violent crime increases. Perhaps people become more passive; the will to procreate is lost and we suffer population loss. Or a lack of innovation.I don't know. All I know is that large-scale abstinence is a huge change, and like any huge change, would come along with side-effects. Without anticipating those, you can't properly anticipate whether abstinence will accomplish what you hope.Remember, you're talking about people. And many of the people are without the faith you have. How do you think abstinence, whether forced (mandated) or chosen, would affect us all? What are the medical effects of a lack of sex? Really, we'd need to know that in order to try to predict behavioral changes. And like I said, you need to know behavioral changes to be able to predict how these different diseases will change.It all seems so implausible, I can't imagine giving any real answer. I don't see how it could be done, so I don't have any idea how it would effect people, let alone entire societies, let alone the balance of societies in the world.Ben

If you reduce the incidence of STDs before marriage, then (assuming monogamy in marriage), you would reduce the incidence in marriage. Less partners would have the disease, so less partners would transmit the disease to their partners. I.e. less incidence in the overall population of married people.At least, that's what my little brain is telling me. Same thing goes here too. If you have less people carrying STDs (because you reduced sexual transmission), then you have less people possibly transmitting an STD from a non-sexual source. You'd have less blood donors who might have STDs, for example. Or less kissing partners with STDs.At least, that's what my pop-tart supported brain is telling me today.

Like I said in my original response to your OP, I think you'd have to do a lot more work to eliminate other factors and pin incidence of STDs to the level of promiscuity of cultures.Not to mention backing up all your statements of data with actual figures. Which you may have done and I missed it.But without all those things, I just don't see it as a strong or compelling case. Too many "what if's" or unaddressed questions for my taste.I'd love it to get the answers though...

No.In 1997, there were about 532,980 cases of gonnhorea in the USA. In Japan, there were less than 9000.Unless you think Americans are 60X more promiscuous than Japanese, then your oversimplified analysis is not scientific.There are other factors. See previous posts for suggestions on what other factors may be involved, and what questions need to be answered.For stats, see:
Japaense: tpc223.html (Table 1)
American: National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP) | CDC (Slide 9) and http://www.census.gov/prod/3/98pubs/p23-194.pdf (p. 7)

Look, let's not talk about things we don't know about.There's prostitution in all big cities. Nothing special about Japan there.Divorce rates in the US are what, 50%? "Soulmates" is a very ... culturally defined thing. What does it really mean, practically speaking? That people get along well, that their marriage will work out, that the relationship will be more rewarding than any other? I wouldn't say Japanese people don't have these values.You are talking about a group of people who you know little about in a non-complimentary fashion. Frankly I think it's a poor way to approach discussion, a bad method for relating to others, and gives the wrong message to anybody who's reading.

As far as I know, there is zero regard for virginity in Japan. In fact, according to a poll of 7 Japanese women, the opposite is important--to be well-versed in sexual acts, so as to be knowledgeable enough to give pleasure to your partners. A virgin is simply considered to be an amateur, an undesirable trait.The women I've talked to are all big-city girls, though. I'm not sure what's up in the countryside.

schraf,Sorry for getting cranky (again). To me, there's a big difference between [producing observations, hearsay, or facts] and producing those things along with judgements. I felt your tone was judgemental and, since I have tight ties to the Japanese culture, I am really sensitive to it. I think this is way too strong a statement. In the cities, among the younger generation, it seems to me pretty well accepted. However, since prostitution usually (as far as I know) runs via the mafia, it has the same "I don't want something to do with it" feeling associated with it. Furthermore, as far as I know, the older generation, and the people in the countryside, certainly do feel differently. The lines are not drawn by religion, but otherwise I don't see much of a difference. I know very few friends who are against prostitution except on religious grounds. The division in Japan may come from different ideals, but a division is there. Well, let me get back to what I objected to: The implication (in my eyes) was that a lack of "soulmates" meant a focus on crazy sexual pleasures, promiscuity, chaos. THAT is what I objected to. Sorry if I read too much into it. I think that's a fair observation. I'd say, be wary of people who either are Americanized, are American, or who love American / English-speaking things. I find they tend to paint Japan with a very judgemental brush, and in a poor light, and to really idealize America. I don't like that, and I'm sensitive to it.Sorry for taking it out by being a bit aggressive with you. AbE: and thanks for taking it in stride.I am glad to share my experiences and observations from living in Tokyo, travelling around Japan, and knowing my girlfriend's family a bit. I'll try to do so more ... with ease next time.BenThis message has been edited by Ben, Wednesday, 2006/01/25 11:11 PM