Purity

[TopazRaven]

http://player.vimeo.com/video/12803273

This has to be the most amazing video I have ever watched.

[Nate]

I approve of that video. Purity rings are the biggest scam ever perpetrated on young people with good intentions.

[steenajack]

Okay, I thought I'd post up my personal views on purity, dating, courting, and relationships and the like:

First off, I'll start by saying that I agree with pretty much everything aliveinHim said, except for #1. I personally don't want my first kiss to be on my wedding day because...well to be blunt it would just be a bit awkward for me. (I just really don't want my first kiss to be in front of a bunch of people.) It doesn't mean I'm against people saving it for their wedding day. Heck, I used to be one of those people, and hey if you can save your first kiss for your wedding day then that's cool and all. Personally though, I don't think it's for me. HOWEVER, it doesn't not mean that I don't value my first kiss. Call me over-sentimental, but I just personally see my first kiss as something kinda special. So, I want to save it for a special time and HOPEFULLY for the guy I marry. So, I've decided to save my first kiss until God says I can give it. So yeah. ^^;

And about the whole dating vs. courting thing....here's how I see it, I personally don't condemn someone for dating. Hey, my parents dated. I don't mind dating for marraige, as in you're dating someone to find a future spouse...so you're looking for a real relationship. I personally just don't believe in shallow dating, as in dating just for the heck of it. For me personally, I just don't "date" as in I see a random cute guy, ask him out, then we keep going out on dates until we like/love eachother...personally, I just don't think that's for me. Maybe for other people, but I just don't want to find a husband like that. It just seems....kinda awkward to me. If I were going to ask someone out, I'd prefer to know/like them before I even go out on a date.
So, how does Steena like to approach this sort of thing? Simple: I prefer the friend approach. I'd like to be in a romantic relationship with someone who was my friend first. Why? Because it feels more real and genuine that way. TGJesusfreak posted something similar, and I agree with pretty with what he said. When you're friends with someone, you learn to care for them as a person, and just really see who they are. There's no pressure for romantic stuff, so the person will just be themselves around you. You can learn to really care about them as they are, not just as a romantic partner, but as a person in general. Y'know? IDK, to me this approach just feels more natural, where as "dating" someone to see if I'll eventually like them....just feels kinda forced to me. Don't get me wrong, I'm certain that people who date don't always date people they barely know/just met. I'm just saying my personal opinion, and my personal opinion is to marry your friends, someone that you already have a sort of chemistry and a trust with.
Also, another thing I want to note, I don't want a boyfriend JUST to have a boyfriend. If I ever engage in a relationship, I'll treat it as such: A relationship, something of value not just a silly fling. So yeah, personally I'm not into recreational dating....I mean, if I was going out on a date with my boyfriend that's a whole other story entirely...but yeah. I guess I'd prefer to at least like and know someone well before going on a date with them, and I aim for real relationships. I "court/date (whatever you want to call it)" to get married....so yeah.....I guess I'm more of the "going on a date with someone I already love" type and the "marrying her friends" type...or something like that. XD!

Anyway, that's my 2 cents.

[steenajack]

[quote="TGJesusfreak (post: 1461081)"]Well actually dude. That highly depends on your definition of courting. idk what yours is. But mine is Dating with the intent of something more (AKA Marraige) so I guess dating and courting in MY mind are a bit interchangible XD]

^^^What he said^^^^

[TGJesusfreak]

[quote="steenajack (post: 1461766)"]Okay, I thought I'd post up my personal views on purity, dating, courting, and relationships and the like:

First off, I'll start by saying that I agree with pretty much everything aliveinHim said, except for #1. I personally don't want my first kiss to be on my wedding day because...well to be blunt it would just be a bit awkward for me. (I just really don't want my first kiss to be in front of a bunch of people.) It doesn't mean I'm against people saving it for their wedding day. Heck, I used to be one of those people, and hey if you can save your first kiss for your wedding day then that's cool and all. Personally though, I don't think it's for me. HOWEVER, it doesn't not mean that I don't value my first kiss. Call me over-sentimental, but I just personally see my first kiss as something kinda special. So, I want to save it for a special time and HOPEFULLY for the guy I marry. So, I've decided to save my first kiss until God says I can give it. So yeah. ^^]

She said what i said... ONLY 10 TIMES BETTER. XD thanks for that steena. The whole friend thing helps you to keep a clearer mind when/if things become more.

I am the same way about the kissing thing. It's not bad... i just dont want mine to be in front of a buncha people... when i have never kissed a girl before.... it would be freakin awkward. (ESPECIALLY in front of your parents and soonto be in-laws!) but to those who can commit to that, by all means feel free! XD

[Nate]

I am the same way about the kissing thing. It's not bad... i just dont want mine to be in front of a buncha people... when i have never kissed a girl before.... it would be freakin awkward.

What if you were a secret agent and you just rescued the President from ninjas and then you had a breathtaking helicopter chase of the perpetrators and they'd kidnapped your girlfriend and you heroically saved her while blowing up their chopper and did a death-defying landing in the middle of Times Square? Are you saying you wouldn't kiss her right then and there with the crowds of people watching? What kind of dashing secret agent are you anyway?

[TGJesusfreak]

What if you were a secret agent and you just rescued the President from ninjas and then you had a breathtaking helicopter chase of the perpetrators and they'd kidnapped your girlfriend and you heroically saved her while blowing up their chopper and did a death-defying landing in the middle of Times Square? Are you saying you wouldn't kiss her right then and there with the crowds of people watching? What kind of dashing secret agent are you anyway?

XDDDDDDDD Ok, THEN i might kiss the girl. because honestly, if i had the guts to do all that awesome acton adventure stuff then i wouldnt be so nervous kissing her in front of everyone. XD ... but as we al know.. i am not awesome v____v

[Dante]

AliveInHim... Maybe someone else has pointed this out, don't know, but I couldn't help but say that your avatar might not be as dedicated to purity as you are... I mean, I can't really tell but...

-Sorry ^_^ I just had a lulz temptation I couldn't miss.

[aliveinHim]

AliveInHim... Maybe someone else has pointed this out, don't know, but I couldn't help but say that your avatar might not be as dedicated to purity as you are... I mean, I can't really tell but...

-Sorry ^_^ I just had a lulz temptation I couldn't miss.

Yah, true. It breaks my heart (runs off in the corner and starts crying). I know :sob: the truth hurts (cries even harder).

[FllMtl Novelist]

What if you were a secret agent and you just rescued the President from ninjas and then you had a breathtaking helicopter chase of the perpetrators and they'd kidnapped your girlfriend and you heroically saved her while blowing up their chopper and did a death-defying landing in the middle of Times Square? Are you saying you wouldn't kiss her right then and there with the crowds of people watching? What kind of dashing secret agent are you anyway?

XDDDDDDDD Ok, THEN i might kiss the girl. because honestly, if i had the guts to do all that awesome acton adventure stuff then i wouldnt be so nervous kissing her in front of everyone. XD ... but as we al know.. i am not awesome v____v

LOL you guys. XD

And, you are both awesome. o_o

[Yamamaya]

Isn't the guy who created purity rings the same guy who said that if his daughter did have premarital sex, he'd rather her bf not use a condom because of its limited protection? If he said that, I don't even.

Purity rings make no sense to me. "Yo dawg you just spend a whole bunch of cash for a ring that represents purity...or something."

[Furen]

it's as if the rings were to prove that people save their selves for someone or something like that @.@

[Hansha]

Whatever people got to do I suppose. If it helps them somehow then why not?

[K. Ayato]

I hate when they look like engagement rings. While I myself wore a "True Love Waits" ring, I didn't wear it solely to remind myself to save sex for marriage, but rather to remember that love is patient. Every time I found myself wanting to cut corners to be with the man who is now my husband, I'd look down at that ring and be reminded.

[Atria35]

Whatever people got to do I suppose. If it helps them somehow then why not?

The problem is I'm not sure there are any solid numbers backing up that they work (for most people), and at this point some people even have ceremonies with purity rings that are gross and creepy (they act out like and even look like weddings between dads and daughters, promising purity until he gives her away at marriage).

[Hansha]

The problem is I'm not sure there are any solid numbers backing up that they work (for most people), and at this point some people even have ceremonies with purity rings that are gross and creepy (they act out like and even look like weddings between dads and daughters, promising purity until he gives her away at marriage).

eww...I've seen a documentary on purity balls that sounds a lot like that but I didn't know the purity rings were apart of that. I just saw them sign a certificate. I thought it was just some teen fad.

[Atria35]

eww...I've seen a documentary on purity balls that sounds a lot like that but I didn't know the purity rings were apart of that. I just saw them sign a certificate. I thought it was just some teen fad.

I have no idea if they're still that popular, but yea. I've seen those things, too.

[Radical Dreamer]

As far as I'm concerned, purity rings are a way for someone to capitalize on people's values. XD It's silly and doesn't mean anything. Get engaged or don't get engaged; don't bother with a "pre-engagement," and don't waste money on a pointless ring. I probably sound super cynical, but I just think the whole idea is kind of silly, given how some people use it. XD You don't need anything on your finger to be pure. XD

[Dante]

I might note, even though a purity ring might just be a way to capitalize on other people's values... isn't a wedding ring similar in concept? (albeit significantly more expensive)

The symbol is only worth as much as it means to the person. When I was 21, I drank a root beer to signify that I wasn't going to try alcohol (I have a long history of alcoholism in my family that ended with my parents and I hope to continue what they started). Drinking a root beer in and of itself seems silly, but it's symbolic value for me had long lasting effects in my life, I'm now nearly 25 and my driver's license still declares I'm under 21 XD. Now of course, I'm doing this for medicinal purposes - but symbols can be very powerful if their user places a lot of value in them.

[Yamamaya]

[quote="Radical Dreamer (post: 1462764)"]As far as I'm concerned, purity rings are a way for someone to capitalize on people's values. XD It's silly and doesn't mean anything. Get engaged or don't get engaged]

Radical Dreamer, super cynical? That's impossible. The XD lifestyle doesn't allow for silly ole pessimism.

[Okami]

I had two purity rings before I traded them out for my celibacy ring. It's a constant reminder of purity and life for me, that God is the one giving me strength, that it doesn't come from me.

[Nate]

Purity balls are disgusting and creepy. Having seen pictures of them, I can safely say it is one of the most vile and repulsive things I've ever laid eyes on.

[Hansha]

Purity balls are disgusting and creepy. Having seen pictures of them, I can safely say it is one of the most vile and repulsive things I've ever laid eyes on.

You should watch the documentary. The main dad gave me shivers.

[K. Ayato]

The thought alone is unnerving.

[aliveinHim]

Look, all a purity ring is a piece of jewelry. If your heart is not in the right place, I don't see why you should wear one. Honestly, I get annoyed when I see single girls who wear rings on their left hand. I wear my purity ring on my right hand because I don't want guys to already think I'm married or engaged. I hate it when purity rings look like engagement rings/ wedding bands. Purity balls are somewhat disturbing. Your wedding is your wedding. Keep your heart pure and you have no need to have all that extravaganza.

[Hansha]

Look, all a purity ring is a piece of jewelry. If your heart is not in the right place, I don't see why you should wear one. Honestly, I get annoyed when I see single girls who wear rings on their left hand. I wear my purity ring on my right hand because I don't want guys to already think I'm married or engaged. I hate it when purity rings look like engagement rings/ wedding bands. Purity balls are somewhat disturbing. Your wedding is your wedding. Keep your heart pure and you have no need to have all that extravaganza.

Yes, and some of the girls that attend the purity balls are to young to even know what it means. Kinda bringing it up before it's needed. To me that can do more harm than good.

[Htom Sirveaux]

As far as I'm concerned, purity rings are a way for someone to capitalize on people's values.

Oh, like Testamints!

[Nate]

...those are actually pretty awesome, I'm not gonna lie.

[Radical Dreamer]

Oh, like Testamints!

Exactly like that. XDD I have a whole rant about the commercialism of Christian book stores, but I won't go into that here. XD Needless to say, I feel like purity rings were made to fall into the same camp. XD If they help people out, that's great, but I can't imagine the purpose behind them being anything more than "this will be great for business!" XD

[Htom Sirveaux]

@Nate: All's I know is they remind me of that "Jesus - The Freshmaker!" picture. XD

@Corrie: You just used "XD" four times in as many sentences. XD. XD, indeed.