Harry C,

You wrote: "Yes we have the other end, drug addicted no-hopers for whom prostitution only adds momentum to their downward spirals, though does the legal side of the industry have much bearing on such people? They've always been around and the legitimate places would/should do their best to screen them out."

That's not my fundamental experience in counselling. It's not primarily "the drug addicted no-hopers" who go into prostitution. Those who become prostitutes often become addicted to illicit drugs afterwards. Why? They have told me that it was their attempt to numb the pain of the lifestyle. Most often drug addiction comes after entering prostitution -- in my counselling experience.

I'm of the view that prostitutes should be warned of the dire consequences of selling their body through such a degradation of women (but we must not forget the men who are also selling their bodies).

Thank you for your article Lyle.

I am not concerned that you have a Christian faith. I am concerned about what you are saying.

Some years ago (early 1980s), when I worked as a drug and alcohol counsellor, I saw four groups of women who were in prostitution. I reckon these same groups are operating today.

There were women who were drug addicted and who prostituted to support their habit. They were sad and remorseful women with no hope.

There were women who had been the victims of child sexual abuse - who turned to drugs and prostitution. They were sad and remorseful women with no hope.

There were unemployed women (such as women with protracted mental illness) who could not see another way. They were sad and remorseful women with no hope.

There were women who did not fit any of the above - housewives and university students who enjoyed sex and wanted more money. It was a simple as that.

The differentiation between an STD and an SDI is rather wierd (I know that is not your stance). An infection can become a disease. A disease cannot become an infection - unless the disease develops a concommitant infection. What a load of yet another politically correct heap of crap.

Cheerio for now
Kay

Cheddar, another empty vessel, filled with delusion, just like your pews. “But you have given highest place to sexual urges”. Really, where did I say that. “You insult people with physical handicaps by inferring they cannot enjoy sexual relationships”. Where did I say that.

Cheddar, just like a lot of your ilk, can't see past your self righteous illusions. If you have worked and not just been condescending with those that have disabilities, either physical or mental, you would understand the difficulty they have in expressing, and also being able to participate in some normal aspects of life without help. Sex is a biological process, not a fault in humans as with religion, sex is a reality.

“You insult people with physical handicaps by inferring they cannot enjoy sexual relationships. “So your solution is send them to a prostitute where they are involved in a dehumanising and demeaning empty act.” “Cannot enjoy sexual relationships”, “that are a dehumanising and demeaning act”. Your doing a good job at being a minister. Make up you mind, if it is enjoyable how can it be demeaning.

So you are the sole judge for them are you, typical of the self centred fearful religious. What is sex for you, the example of the constant number of religious being charged as sexual deviants, I can understand that. For you, sex may be that way, but for real people it is meaningful in many ways. Some that I would not agree with.

The dehumanising and demeaning acts on this earth, presently, come mostly from the ideological religious (blanks).

Religion, minor in fact, of major importance for its destructive reality.

Cheddar.. don't worry too much about "Alchemist" :) its takent this long for the rest of us to get him trained to the point where u can even understand his posts... previously he was just a flowing diatriabe of anti-religion stuff.. sentences not ending, just merging etc.... no paragraphs... Well done Alchemist.. you have passed OLO-101 :)
Now we just have to work on his inner life a bit, (A LOT) and help him through the dark times.

Prostitution in any form is degrading. If it is practiced by those 'independant, businesslike' girls who are just doing it for the love of sex and some extra $$$ for uni, well, the chickens will come home to roost at some time in life for sure.

Lets just hope that when they (and Alchemist) here the 'knock' ... they will open. I think you will know my meaning there.

Welcome also to OLO from me, I haven't seen your posts, but then, it might be like Church "Hi....haven't seen you before, how long have you been coming"?.. reply "err.. 3 yrs" :)

Lyle, aka Scoop writes, "However, my interest in the issue of prostitution is not for religious but rather reasons of social harm."

As one Christian to another Lyle, this is not good enough. I don't buy it nor I suspect do many of our opponents. It looks like a piece of dissembling.

To be a Christian in any biblical sense means that your Christian understanding affects all of your life. To say that your views are not held for religios reasons but for other reasons is dualistic and less than fully faithful to your profession to be a follower of Christ who most certainly spoke to a related issue (John 8).

Speaking the truth in love :) well said David P

"Let us stir one another up to good works"

Lyle.. there is no reason for your faith not to impact your assessment of social phenomema, and every reason for it to DO so,
but we also have the democratic right to express well reasoned views on social issues such as this one.

The only thing I'd add, is that IF you are speaking in a mode where it is coming strictly from your/our faith, then indeed lets all say so.

There was nothing in your article that I saw which needed that qualification. Perhaps write another on the 'Christian view of Prostitution" ? :)

blessings in Him