Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Sexually transmitted diseases or venereal diseases are diseases that are transmitted through playing sex or exposure to sex .
They can be transmitted through blood, use of unsterilised syringes, sharing of sharp blades, needles, Knife but basically it is through sex intercourse .
In other words STDs can be transmitted basically through physical contact with sexual organs of a person already infected .
There are many types of STDs/ VDs but the worst are syphilis, gonorrhoea, which affect or cause damage to body and mind if not treated quickly.
For instance if syphilis is not treated in the early stages it remains latent in the body for years and later develop to cause more effect especially in body for years and later develop to cause more effect especially in body and brain .
If passed on to the new born child it can become blind, lame or can die
Gonorrhoea on the other hand can cause greater effects since it show no symptoms in women. A girl, if not treated may have her a varies infected or tubes blocked and may fail to bear child (sterility) .
Syphilis in the same way can cause worse damage where a woman's vagina can even be blocked by wounds so are men .
Sometimes a man's male organ may need to be cut off when the infection has worsened .
Venereal diseases can be treated early with penicillin but today it is less effective because the organism is more resistant.
Therefore the affected person should not stay away .
There is also need for prevention which is better than cure, abstinence and avoiding sex outside marriage is a better option .
Can cause mental and physical disorder. Some can respond to drugs but later can fail to get treated.
Gonorrhea may make women sterile .
Can cause severe damage to the body and mind .
Some STDs do not respond to drugs; in other words they are incurable and can lead to death of victim especially AIDS .
Some STDs like AIDS can lead to social rejection; many people fear AIDS patients and this increases physical and psychological pains .
In some severe cases a man can loose his sexual organs; normally they cut it off .
Incase of pregnant women, it may make the unborn child damaged in body and mind.
There must be love (agape) in marriage.
Medical check up before marriage.
Total abstinence from sex before marriage.
Follow biblical view / teaching about sex.
Avoid unspecialised syringes, blades, knives.
People should know that to have VD is not be shy to declare oneself for medication.
The church should counsel and guide victims so that they repent instead of condemning them.
Give practical solutions by setting examples for Holy living .
"Sex like fire is a good servant but a bad master" As a Christian Comment on the Statement.
Sex is the physical union, conjugation, copulation between male and female reproductive organs .
The above statement is correct and acceptable .
In as much as fire helps us in cooking food, boiling water, warming ourselves, producing light in times of darkness; sex serves our needs
However, if fire is wrongly used it may be disastrous to us and our property so is sex .
Sex is only recommended in marriage .
Sex unites couples together
It is a good servant and is used for procreation .
It stablises marriage .
It acts as a remedy against sin .
It is used for companionship .
It is useful outlet of passion .
It acts as a complement to what one lacks.
However, sex impulses may lead one to defilement. (There are many stories in the press such as Muwanga's example on a 3 month baby.)
Sex before marriage is fornication .
Sex outside marriage is adultery .
If it overwhelms one to rape it is a bad master .
Unfaithfulness can lead to STDs, imprisonment.
If it leads one to bad habits like lesbianism, masturbation it is a bad master.
It can lead to prostitution .
If no love is involved it leads to shame .
It may lead to frotteorism, paediphilia, voyerlism etc .
Immorality can lead to divorce I death. All in all sex is a good servant when used in marriage but if misused I abused it may be a bad master.
2) "The church is to blame for the wide spread of Venereal Diseases (VDs) in Uganda" Comment
Stand, No the church is not to blame for spread of VDs
The church is encouraging abstinence among young people for example the Gilovimo campaign headed by apostle Mitala which calls upon the young to wait having sex until marriage
Church encourages sex education among the young, emphasizing the importance of sex for example pastor Kayanja and Jesca Kayanja of Rubaga miracle centre have, gotten a programme called "girl power" project with the aim of imparting sex values in girl child
Church condemns practices of sex deviation in society like homosexuality, prostitution etc for example in 2010 pastor, Martin Sempa of Makerere Community church together with other Christians they had a peaceful demonstrations' along the streets of Kampala protesting against the practices of gay marriages in Uganda
Church encourages faithfulness in marriage and monogamous marriages
The church is encouraging holy marriages among its believers
The church carries out sensitization among its believers through seminar, conferences among others on the dangers of VDs
The church is praying for the people especially the infected
It organizes counseling and guidance especially to the infected people.
In its sermons, church leaders preach against sin which leads to sex misuse hence VD's.
church has sex set up programmes to help sex deviators like homosexuality and prostitution
However, the church can be blamed for the spread of VDs
Some church leaders have not lived exemplary life as they involve in practices like adultery.
The church condemns use of preventive measures like condoms yet some Christians find it hard to abstain and being faithful to one another.
The church has failed to control their nights prayers were some people turn to risky sex
Some church leaders condemn use of HIV drugs and only emphasise spiritual matters
Some church leaders encourages homosexuality e.g. the retired Bishop Ssenyonga who supports gay marriages and even presided over the funeral rite of gay activists Kato in Mukono
However, there are other factors responsible for the wide spread of VDs in Uganda
- Permissiveness in society especially among the young
- Commercialization of sex through prostitution and homosexuality e.g. at night in Kampala along the Speke road prostitution sell themselves
- Decline in religious values among people
- Un avoidable circumstances like accidents
- The belief in some people that "I can't die alone"
- Polygamous marriages or concubinage e.g. late Paul Kafero who died and he had many concubines
- Influence of the mass media with sometimes pornographic materials
- The infect of slums which are highly congested
b) To what extent is the church blamed for the past spread of aids?
To a smaller extent
Church leaders have failed to live exemplary lives use of condoms.
Many churches are pre-occupied with spiritual dimensions of life and not the material world.
Not much evangelisation has been done in areas where AIDS is highly concentrated.
Not much has been done to convene seminars, workshops, conferences on AIDS but interest is more on conversions.
The church has not cooperated full with government to curb the spread.
Churches have continued to encourage long and continuous night prayers.
Rarely, does church import sex education to both married and unmarried.
Church has not come with enough programmes for services for those with related problems.
However the church should not be blamed for the spread of AIDS to a large extent because:-
Some culture deserves the blame especially inheritance.
Carelessness of medical workers especially use of injection by syringes and blood transfusion.
Phonographs and mass media which exposed sex calling for desire.
Dislocation and disintegration of families of the victims.
When parents die children are left in a terrible state; lacking parental care, guidance especially the young.
Many go through into the world of superstition and witchcraft.
Many give up life and relationship so some even commit suicide.
There is a feeling of revenge; not to die alone one goes on infecting others.
The scourge has made the country seek assistance from foreign donors e.g. TASO, A/C for counselling services and social relief including the global fund.
There is high rate of street children leading a wandering life.
However, if fire is wrongly used it may be disastrous to us and our property so is sex.
Sex is only recommended in marriage.
Sex unites couples together.
It is a food servant and is used for procreation.
It stabilises marriage.
It acts as a remedy against sin.
It is used for companionship.
It provides openness.
It is useful outlet of passion.
It acts as a complement to what one lacks.
It is a useful outlet of passion.
In the same way, sex impulses may lead one to defilement (there are many stories in the press such as Muwanga's example on a 3 month baby.)
Sex before marriage is fornication.
Sex outside is adultery.
If it overwhelms one to rape it is a bad master.
Unfaithfulness can lead to STDs, imprisonment. If it leads one to bad habit like lesbianism, masturbation it is a bad master.
It can lead to prostitution.
If no love is involved it leads to shame.
It may lead to froterism, paedophilia, voyeurism etc.
Immorality can lead to divorce/ death.
Tremendous decline on morals.
Loss of religious convictions.
Not all victims are Christians are Christians so others religions can be blamed.
General poverty in pursuit of materials goods.
The church cannot police people because the bible is the standard of reference and people have the free will.
Unfaithfulness of marriage partners.
All in all sex is a good servant when used in marriage but if misused / abused it may be a bad master.
1a) Adolescence is a period of "uncertainty" Discuss
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Adolescence is a period when one is neither a child nor an adult but in between the childhood and adulthood stage. |
ü The adolescents are always rebellious i.e. against their parents, school and of her authorities for example in the movie of titanic, a' girl rebelled against her parents to marry a man the parents preferred but instead went with her age mate (fellow adolescent)
ü The adolescents sometimes seem to behave like children and at times like adults for example the adolescents in high schools often manifest these habits at different times
ü The adolescents are always sensitive and get upset very easily out of minor issues
ü They take exaggerated care over their physical appearances so as please especially the member of the opposite sex.
ü They always desire to make the world a better place
ü They always desire people to believe in their idealism and if they don't, they turn into cynicisms (lack of trust in values).
ü During this period of adolescence, sexual attraction also increases rapidly i.e. need to meet members of the opposite sex socially e.g. girls at high school
ü It's a period of pairing off, boy wants someone to be his girlfriend and girl wants a boyfriend
ü The adolescents easily become shy and easily embarrassed before members of the opposite sexes.
ü The boys always become aggressive and they like showing off.
ü Sometimes they fall in love so wild and regard each other as the perfect i.e. suffer from infatuation.
b) How can a Christian an adolescent keep him herself pure?
They should also resist sex before marriage for example Joseph who was 17 years of age but resisted the sexual advances from pontiphars wife
They should also seek for guidance and counseling from elders on matters of sex not to make mistakes for example David's son Amon who sought for guidance from his friend on the feelings he had for the sister Tamer, the friend 'ill-advised him and he made a mistake to rape the sister
They ought to engage in, constructive leisure activities to avoid being idle since an idle mind is a devils' workshop for example Jesus when still young could go to temple always for prayers
They should read the word of God for guidance on sexual purity
Adolescents should pray to God for guidance on sexual purity
They should also attend Christian seminars, conferences, workshops to be equipped with skills.
They should pray against infatuations or lust and pray for true love
They should wait to have sex until marriage since any sex outside marriage is a sin
They should have self control over their bodies which is encouraged in the bibles.